Content Analysis of Job Announcements for Digital Library Professionals from 2011 to 2019: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

The skills required of academic library professionals are greatly influenced by the rapidly evolving digital technologies. The purpose of the present study is to observe the current state of job qualifications, skills and competencies required for working in academic digital libraries in India. The study was conducted to identify the 15 top ranked skills demanded for positions in academic digital libraries. A typology of 44 skills and competencies resulted from the content analysis of 180 job advertisements of academic digital libraries in India from January 2011 to December 2019. The resulting typology was divided into five different categories: technological skills, technical skills, information skills, collection development skills, and soft skills. The findings were found to emphasize the skills required for technical services. In addition to technical skills, employers were seeking candidates with basic computer knowledge, Microsoft office skills, website development and designing, database management, and networking skills. Moreover, the findings indicate that good communication skills were most in-demand in job advertisements. Ability to conduct information literacy programs and knowledge of digital resources and skills to build institutional repository are also emphasized in the study.