The Information Technology Influence on LIS Job Descriptions in South Africa

Abstract

IT (information technology) and its association with communication technology (information and communication technologies (ICTs)) have changed the way libraries operate. Today, ICTs play a very important role in the library environment. Traditional library tasks such as cataloguing, circulation, and collection development, which were performed manually a few decades ago, have now been automated to a lesser or greater extent. This has led to changes in some library and information science (LIS) job titles and job descriptions over the years. As a result, LIS professionals have been compelled to acquire IT skills. This study was conducted to investigate whether IT has an influence on LIS job titles and requirements in the South African LIS job market. It sought to answer these questions: (1) Has IT influenced job titles in the LIS job market in South Africa? (2) What IT knowledge and skills are required in the LIS job market in South Africa? A newspaper scan for LIS-related job advertisements over a period of four years, 2009–2012, was conducted on a weekly newspaper, The Sunday Times which has an extensive section of careers/job advertisements. Five hundred and eighty one LIS job advertisements were analyzed, and of these 75 had IT titles and/or requirements. The results revealed that IT has a significant influence on the LIS job market in South Africa. This has led to LIS jobs requiring basic computer literacy, and advanced IT knowledge and skills (e.g. computer networking, database administration, web development, etc.). An emergence of new LIS job titles is also observed. The study recommends that South African LIS schools and the work sector should intensify formal and informal (e.g. continuous education) IT education and training in order to meet the demands of the current job market.

Keywords:

• information technology
• LIS job market
• LIS education and training
• job advertisement
• newspaper scanning
• South Africa

Notes on contributor

Mzwandile Shongwe is a lecturer in the department of Information Studies, University of Zululand, South Africa. His teaches IT related courses, research methodology and knowledge management. His research interests are: IT for development, Library and information science education and training and knowledge management.