Feedback

While I am happy for the 2007 graduates and their apparent increase in jobs and pay, as a 2008 graduate, your cover story (Stephanie Maatta, “Jobs and Pay Both Up: Placements & Salaries 2008,” LJ 10/15/08, p. 30–38) was just depressing. I know many people who are either having a difficult time finding a position, or are forced to take positions they normally would not consider to be ideal just to pay the bills. The economy, as everyone knows, is awful. Quite frankly, looking at your cover about how librarianship is on the rise, well, it just feels like a lie. When you search for entry-level jobs, the pickings are slim. Few and far between. Mostly part-time. So again, good job for those who graduated in 2007. But for those of us who didn't, your cover and article come off as extremely frustrating and out of touch with the current job market.

—Leah L. White, Chicago

In response to concerns that “Jobs and Pay Both Up: Placements & Salaries 2008” (LJ 10/15/08, p. 30–38) contained generalizations about new LIS grads based on too small a response, LJ asked the author, Stephanie Maatta, to explain why the results actually yield a very good representation of the universe of LIS graduates. Her explanation:

As with other surveys, it's impossible to gain 100% participation, and that means there is some error and bias in the results. However, based on the number of responses received (1,768 in a pool of 5,317 graduates) and with the help of a statistical analyst, the LJ survey has less than +/- 2% error, with a 95% confidence level. There are a number of additional things to note. First, in terms of demographics, the percentage of respondents is consistent when compared with similar surveys, including female/male ratios and percentage of minority respondents. In particular, the LJ survey is consistent with the annual ALISE survey of the LIS programs (approximately 80% female students reported, 20% male students, and approximately 11% minority students). There is a high degree of reliability in the annual survey, since the same questions have been asked in the same manner for many years and with consistent responses. Most important, the LJ survey is a valid and reliable tool to help graduates prepare for the job market. It should be used in conjunction with other similar tools and surveys for a well-rounded and comprehensive view of the marketplace.

I admire Joseph Grosso for having the guts to write “Mission Aborted?” (BackTalk, LJ 9/15/08, p. 34). He questions if libraries have abandoned their mission to further reading to adopt a culture that embraces and promotes “multimedia” materials—especially gaming. Grosso expects to be “derided” so I'll try to be gentle....

Gaming in public libraries has promoted more reading—at least among the teens I worked with...as a teen specialist librarian for the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (EVPL), IN. Teens were not only offered electronic gaming events...but also given the opportunity to oversee the programs. They assisted by setting up, monitoring, and cleaning up. They developed new and highly creative spin-offs....

As the teens realized they could take an active role in the library, they began to view it as their favorite “hang out,” even when there was no gaming. During those times, the teens...began checking out large numbers of books. At EVPL's Central Library, where most teen programming occurred, circulation of teen (YA) reading materials (not electronic) increased over 18 percent....

The increased circulation of teen literature was a direct result of the gaming. It brought the so-called “reluctant readers” to the library.... Gaming events allowed the teens to develop a special love for the library. The leadership they assumed and the social interactions they experienced will convince the teens to be library users and supporters as adults.

—Maryann Mori, MSLIS, Des Moines

Sorry, Richard Kort (“Narrow-minded toad,” Feedback, LJ 11/1/08, p. 9), you have been in the library business too long. You should have used some of those skills to research the information to see what is true and what is political rumor. Only a “bigoted, narrow-minded toad” could attack a fellow American so viciously.

—C. Korthals, St. Charles, IL

In “Jobs and Pay Both Up: Placements & Salaries 2008” (LJ 10/15/08 p. 30–38), a total of 36 students from the University of Kentucky SLIS program responded to the survey. Of those responses, 35 were usable, as Table 3 in the article enumerated. The program did not provide any institutional data about its graduating class.

Due to an editorial error in “Jobs and Pay Both Up: Placements & Salaries 2008,” the University of Kentucky SLIS program was mischaracterized as being an I-school (information school). It is an L-school (library school). Apologies.