Wastage within the library and information profession: a report

Abstract

The Class of '88 Study of the National Cohort Study of Newly Qualified Librarians and Information Workers, Birmingham Polytechnic, identified wastage as a crucial issue of the 90s. Wastage is taken to mean the loss of qualified librarians and information professionals, who leave the profes sion shortly after qualifying (20 per cent of the qualified workforce leave the profession in less than 3 years after qualifying). A questionnaire survey was conducted in 1988, 1989 and 1991 to determine the factors governing wastage. Concludes that action is needed to nurture and develop the skills and enthusiasm of new professionals; and to improve the pay and career structure of library and information science and the nature and number of posts available. The Study felt that if these improvements are not intro duced soon, the consequences for the profession could be catastrophic. 'I started outside the profession and stayed out'. This is just one com ment reflecting the wastage of new professionals in the library and information field. This article identi fies one of the main issues facing library and information employers and educators today; that of wastage. It discusses the extent of wastage in the library and information profes sion and why wastage occurs and places this discussion in the context of the changing employment climate of the 1990s.