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Tue Dec 6 21:19:24 EST 2011

2 things hurting science library recruiting. First is money. If you think 
about the money available to traditional scientists (engineers, chemists, 
etc.), it is very different than what an informational professional would 
earn. It took me quite a while to convince my wife that money was not the 
most important thing, but happiness and health were more important. From 
my undergrad acquaintances, more than half would say they wanted to be 
chemical engineers because of the money. 

Second, I do not think many people with a science background understand 
library/information science and its importance. If I had not worked in the 
library as a student assistant, I would never have appreciated the 
importance of the library and its staff. I probably would not have done 
well on my reports, without the skills I learned working in the library. 
There is still that stereotype out there of the old lady sitting behind 
the counter yelling at kids. Generally people do not know the 
possibilities in library science. for example, I took my wife to a couple 
of the student SLA meetings at Kent State to expose her to more of my 
interests. She left the meeting with a new respect for information 
professionals and my goals. She did not realize all the companies that had 
libraries: chemical manufactures, hospitals, newspapers, law offices, etc. 
She did not realize all the various backgrounds librarians had.

I think two directions need to be taken to increase the amount of interest 
in the sciences. First, educate the current science students to the 
opportunities in the science information. Second, adapt non-science 
librarians into the positions as needed. Yes, I believe it is harder to 
convert a non-science librarian to the sciences, instead of a scientist to 
a librarian. But, I have met a lot of successful librarians in the 
sciences, who did not have science backgrounds but learned it on the fly.

Brian Gray
Univ. of Akron S&T Library/Advanced Elastomer Systems
Kent State SLIS student

Buffy Choinski <ulemc at OLEMISS.EDU>
Sent by: CHEMICAL INFORMATION SOURCES DISCUSSION LIST 
<CHMINF-L at indiana.edu>
12/04/2002 09:01 AM
Please respond to CHEMICAL INFORMATION SOURCES DISCUSSION LIST

        To:     CHMINF-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
        cc: 
        Subject:        Re: Fwd: Science Librarians (fwd)

The University of Mississippi is facing the same challenge.
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/HR/employ/faculty.html#2372

How are libraries supposed to recruit science librarians if there are none
out there to apply?  Is it possible to recruit an English major fresh out 
of
library school and train her/him to be a science librarian? I have my
doubts. What, then, is the answer?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Buffy Choinski
Science Librarian, University of Mississippi Libraries
http://www.olemiss.edu/~ulemc/
Refereed Articles Editor, Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship
http://www.istl.org

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Stern" <david.e.stern at YALE.EDU>
To: <CHMINF-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Science Librarians (fwd)

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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I am also forwarding my message to the ASIST Science &amp; Technical Information SIG discussion list. We just had this discussion at the Annual meeting during our planning meeting. Probably half of the people in the room had science backgrounds, but the other half had been &quot;thrown into the fire.&quot; The ones without science backgrounds have successfully taken on science related positions, and really enjoy it. The STI SIG is planning a session at next years meeting about this topic specifically (Education of scientist librarian, which is more important, science or librarianship?).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I do not see an answer in the future. I have an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering, and worked at the Univ. of Akron S&amp;T Library throughout my schooling. I decided I really enjoyed the information side of the sciences, and recently started working on my MLIS at Kent State. I also continued my employment with the University of Akron. In my introductory class of 50 people, I am the only one with a science background or desire to be in the sciences. I am also involved in the student chapter of SLA. Of the 50 or so members I have met, only one other person had a science background and was going to continue in the sciences after graduation.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">From my 8 years with U. of Akron and one semester in library school, I see 2 things hurting science library recruiting. First is money. If you think about the money available to traditional scientists (engineers, chemists, etc.), it is very different than what an informational professional would earn. It took me quite a while to convince my wife that money was not the most important thing, but happiness and health were more important. From my undergrad acquaintances, more than half would say they wanted to be chemical engineers because of the money. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Second, I do not think many people with a science background understand library/information science and its importance. If I had not worked in the library as a student assistant, I would never have appreciated the importance of the library and its staff. I probably would not have done well on my reports, without the skills I learned working in the library. There is still that stereotype out there of the old lady sitting behind the counter yelling at kids. Generally people do not know the possibilities in library science. for example, I took my wife to a couple of the student SLA meetings at Kent State to expose her to more of my interests. She left the meeting with a new respect for information professionals and my goals. She did not realize all the companies that had libraries: chemical manufactures, hospitals, newspapers, law offices, etc. She did not realize all the various backgrounds librarians had.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I think two directions need to be taken to increase the amount of interest in the sciences. First, educate the current science students to the opportunities in the science information. Second, adapt non-science librarians into the positions as needed. Yes, I believe it is harder to convert a non-science librarian to the sciences, instead of a scientist to a librarian. But, I have met a lot of successful librarians in the sciences, who did not have science backgrounds but learned it on the fly.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Brian Gray</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Univ. of Akron S&amp;T Library/Advanced Elastomer Systems</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Kent State SLIS student<br>
</font>
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<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Buffy Choinski &lt;ulemc at OLEMISS.EDU&gt;</b></font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: CHEMICAL INFORMATION SOURCES DISCUSSION LIST &lt;CHMINF-L at indiana.edu&gt;</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">12/04/2002 09:01 AM</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Please respond to CHEMICAL INFORMATION SOURCES DISCUSSION LIST</font>
<br>
<td><font size=1 face="Arial">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;CHMINF-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; cc: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Subject: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Re: Fwd: Science Librarians (fwd)</font></table>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2><tt>The University of Mississippi is facing the same challenge.<br>
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/HR/employ/faculty.html#2372<br>
<br>
How are libraries supposed to recruit science librarians if there are none<br>
out there to apply? &nbsp;Is it possible to recruit an English major fresh out of<br>
library school and train her/him to be a science librarian? I have my<br>
doubts. What, then, is the answer?<br>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br>
Buffy Choinski<br>
Science Librarian, University of Mississippi Libraries<br>
http://www.olemiss.edu/~ulemc/<br>
Refereed Articles Editor, Issues in Science &amp; Technology Librarianship<br>
http://www.istl.org<br>
<br>
----- Original Message -----<br>
From: &quot;David Stern&quot; &lt;david.e.stern at YALE.EDU&gt;<br>
To: &lt;CHMINF-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU&gt;<br>
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 4:11 PM<br>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Science Librarians (fwd)<br>
<br>
<br>
| Don't feel too alone, we have posted twice at Yale and still have no<br>
viable<br>
| candidates.<br>
| &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http://www.library.yale.edu/lhr/jobs/mp/LDTF8722.html<br>
|<br>
| Chemistry librarianship must be a great market for the qualified.<br>
|<br>
| &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;David<br>
|<br>
|<br>
| At 02:38 PM 12/3/2002 -0500, Frederick W Stoss wrote:<br>
| &gt; &gt;From: Alysse Jordan &lt;aj204 at columbia.edu&gt;<br>
| &gt; &gt;Anyone know any science librarians who are actively seeking employment?<br>
| &gt; &gt;Columbia has been trying unsuccessfully to recruit a Chemistry<br>
Librarian<br>
| &gt; &gt;for over a year. If you know of anyone, please feel free to send me<br>
names<br>
| &gt; &gt;or send them my contact info. Thanks! -Alysse<br>
| &gt; &gt;<br>
| &gt;<br>
| &gt;CHMINF-L Archives (also to join or leave CHMINF-L, etc.)<br>
| &gt;http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/chminf-l.html<br>
| &gt;Search the CHMINF-L archives at:<br>
| &gt;http://listserv.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=chminf-l<br>
| &gt;Sponsors of CHMINF-L:<br>
| &gt;http://www.indiana.edu/~cheminfo/chminf-l_support.html<br>
|<br>
| David Stern<br>
| Director of Science Libraries and Information Services<br>
| Kline Science Library<br>
| 219 Prospect Street<br>
| P.O. Box 208111<br>
| New Haven, CT &nbsp;06520-8111<br>
|<br>
| phone: &nbsp;203 432-3447<br>
| fax: &nbsp;203 432-3441<br>
| email: &nbsp;david.e.stern at yale.edu<br>
|<br>
| CHMINF-L Archives (also to join or leave CHMINF-L, etc.)<br>
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<br>
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