Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society (한국도서관정보학회지)

Korean Library and Information Science Society (한국도서관정보학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Field Perceptions on the Staffing Situation of Academic Libraries

대학도서관 인력 현황에 관한 현장 인식 조사

  • 나은엽 (경북대학교 문헌정보학과) ;
  • 나상오 (경북대학교 문헌정보학과) ;
  • 이종욱 (경북대학교 문헌정보학과)
  • Received : 2024.02.26
  • Accepted : 2024.03.21
  • Published : 2024.03.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed the trends in staffing changes in academic libraries over the past ten years and surveyed staff working there to assess their perceptions of staffing levels and the current criteria for staffing allocation in academic libraries. We utilized statistical data from academic libraries to analyze staffing changes from 2014 to 2023. The survey was conducted through an online questionnaire targeting library staff, and responses from 216 respondents from 4-year universities and junior colleges were analyzed. The analysis of staffing changes revealed a decrease in the average number of employees in large 4-year universities and junior colleges, with a decrease in regular positions and an increase in non-regular positions. Survey results suggest causes such as declining school-age population and admissions quotas, budget shortages in universities, and structural adjustments. The perception of staff from 4-year universities and junior colleges regarding the criteria for staffing allocation was mainly negative, suggesting improvements such as increasing and refining criteria numbers, specifying standards for full-time librarians, clarifying criteria for compliance, and enhancing enforcement of standards. The results of this study can enhance understanding of staffing situations in academic libraries and serve as fundamental data for improving staffing criteria in the future, based on an understanding of librarians' perceptions on the ground.

본 연구에서는 최근 10년간 대학도서관 인력 현황 변화 양상을 분석하고 대학도서관 현장에 근무하는 사서들을 대상으로 인력 현황과 현재 적용되고 있는 대학도서관 인력 배치 기준에 대한 인식을 조사하였다. 인력 변화에 대한 분석은 2014년부터 2023년까지 10년간의 대학도서관 통계 데이터를 활용하였다. 인식 조사는 도서관 직원을 대상으로 온라인 설문을 실시하였고, 4년제 대학과 전문대학 도서관 소속 응답자 216명의 응답을 분석하였다. 인력 변화 분석 결과, 대규모 4년제 대학과 전문대학 도서관에서 평균 직원 수는 감소하였는데, 정규직은 감소하는 반면 비정규직은 증가하는 추세를 보였다. 설문조사 결과 이러한 원인을 학령인구 및 입학 정원의 감소, 대학의 예산 부족 및 구조 조정 등에서 찾을 수 있었다. 대학도서관 인력 배치 기준에 대한 4년제 대학, 전문대학 직원들의 인식은 대부분 부정적이었고 이에 대한 개선 방안으로는 기준 수의 상향 및 세분화, 정사서 및 정규직을 명시한 기준의 구체화, 기준 산출 항목의 수정, 기준 이행의 강제성 강화 등이 제시되었다. 본 연구의 결과는 대학도서관 인력 배치 현황에 대한 이해를 높이고 현장 사서들의 인식을 파악하여 향후 대학도서관 인력 배치 기준 개선을 위한 기초적인 자료로 활용할 수 있을 것이다.

Keywords

References

  1. Choi, Jae Hwang & Lee, Jongwook (2022). A comparative study on current status and changes of academic libraries between South Korea, North America, and the United Kingdom. Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society, 53(1), 283-304.
  2. Jung, Young mi & Lee, Eun Ju (2020). A study on the development of creative and cooperative learning spacesfor university libraries in Korea. Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society, 51(1), 201-225.
  3. Korea Accreditation board for Vocational higher Education (2023). Guide to the 2024 Accrediting Commission for Community Colleges.
  4. Korea Education & Research Information Service (2009). Statistical Analysis of Academic Library Data for the Year 2009. Seoul: Korea Education & Research Information Service.
  5. Korea Education & Research Information Service (2023). Analysis of the Results of the 2023 Academic Library Survey. Daegu: Korea Education & Research Information Service.
  6. Korean University Accreditation Institute (2024). Guide to the Accreditation of Institutional Assessment and Accreditation for the First Half of 2024.
  7. Lee, Jongwook, Kang, Woojin, & Jung, Youngmi (2023). Field perception analysis on policy outcomes of academic libraries. Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society, 54(4), 415-436.
  8. Lee, Yong Jae, Jeon, Sun-Gu, & Jeong, Jin-Gyeong (2023). A study on librarians' perception about the current status and establishment of academic library development plan. Journal of the Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science, 34(4), 331-350. http://dx.doi.org/10.14699/kbiblia.2023.34.4.331
  9. Ministry of Education [n.d.]. Lookup Statistics, Rinfo. Available: http://www.rinfo.kr/stat/search/basic/1
  10. Noh, Dongjo (2009). A study on recognition of academic librarian about ALA's core competencys of librarianship. Journal of the Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science, 20(4), 237-250.
  11. Noh, Younghee (2016). A study on librarians' perception about the changing role of university libraries. Journal of the Korean Society for Information Management, 33(2), 227-256. http://dx.doi.org/10.3743/KOSIM.2016.33.2.227
  12. Noh, Younghee (2017). A study on cognitive survey for employment prospect of library and related organization. Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society, 48(1), 43-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.16981/kliss.48.1.201703.43
  13. Noh, Younghee, Ahn, Inja, & Oh, Se-Hoon (2013a). A study on the employment circumstances and employment status of temporary librarians. Journal of the Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science, 24(4), 259-280. http://dx.doi.org/10.14699/kbiblia.2013.24.4.259
  14. Noh, Younghee, Ahn, Inja, & Oh, Se-Hoon (2013b). Analysis of field librarians' employment needs and human resource development in librarianship. Journal of the Korean Society for Information Management, 30(4), 61-91. https://doi.org/10.3743/KOSIM.2013.30.4.061
  15. Oh, Sunhye & Kwak, Seung-Jin (2021). A study on the development of the research support service model of the university library based on the research life cycle. Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science, 55(3), 321-342.
  16. UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE LIBRARIES PROMOTION ACT. Presidential Decree No. 32528.
  17. Youn, You-Ra & Jung, Young mi (2023). Analysis of user demand for university library services in Korea. Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society, 54(4), 229-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.16981/kliss.54.4.202312.229
  18. Cox, A. (2023). How artificial intelligence might change academic library work: Applying the competencies literature and the theory of the professions. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 74(3), 367-380. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24635
  19. Cox, A. M. & Corrall, S. (2013). Evolving academic library specialties. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 64(8), 1526-1542. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.22847
  20. Ducas, A., Michaud-Oystryk, N., & Speare, M. (2020). Reinventing ourselves: new and emerging roles of academic librarians in Canadian research-intensive universities. College & Research Libraries, 81(1). https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.81.1.43.
  21. Mandal, S. & Dasgupta, S. (2019). Changing role of academic librarians in 21st century: a literature review. Pearl: A Journal of Library and Information Science, 13(1), 35-44. http://doi.org/10.5958/0975-6922.2019.00006.8
  22. Rabasa, T. A. & Abrizah, A. (2022). Academic librarians' roles and competencies in research partnership: a qualitative study. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 27(3), 69-95. https://doi.org/10.22452/mjlis.vol27no3.4