Merging roles and skills of New Zealand information professionals : a content analysis of job advertisements

Abstract

This report investigates whether library, records, and other information roles and skills are merging or whether they remain separate. The research has taken a quantitative approach with a content analysis of job advertisements for information professionals over a three-month period (April - June 2007) to identify the skills, qualifications, experience, and other factors, which New Zealand employers seek. The study identified a broad range of job opportunities available than just those with titles of librarian, records manager, or archivist. In today's technologically driven society, there are many more opportunities to be involved. This study identifies which skills employers are seeking in information professionals today. The study profiles the skills according to industry, type of organisation, and information disciplines: library, records, archives as well as information management/knowledge management, web, and IT. The results found there were a broad range of similar skills used across the disciplines; some of a specialist and some a general nature. Communication skills featured as a highly sought after skill with it being ranked in the top five across disciplines, industry and organisational types. However, it was not obvious from the research that library, records, and other information roles are merging.