January 18, 2017

Educopia Study Finds Library, Archives, and Museum Employees Asking for Professional Development

By Hannah Ballard

69% of survey respondents voiced desire to continue education and professional development in a report offering direction for assessing needs and filling gaps

ATLANTA – January 18, 2017 – Today, Educopia released its Self-Identified Library, Archives, and Museum Professional Development Needs 2016 Edition report revealing a strong shared desire for continuing education and professional development across these cultural fields. Sixty-nine percent of library, archives and museum (LAM) professionals surveyed indicated having a “high-level” of interest in continuing education and professional development with cost as the main driver in their choice for learning offering.

“This needs assessment report highlights shared professional development needs across the LAM fields through focus group and survey results, highlighted findings, and guidance and instrumentation for future data gathering,” said Christina Drummond, lead editor the report and Educopia’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. “As common professional development needs become clear, training providers are better equipped to develop such skills.”

More similarities than differences were found across the fields, such as a need for more intermediate to advanced technology training in the average LAM professional. Significant needs in community engagement areas were indicated by all sectors and needs tied to physical preservation principles and skills around conservation were identified by nearly one third of respondents. Also of note, a significant need for disaster management planning related skill development surface from 29 percent of the librarians surveyed versus their counter parts in archives, 17 percent and museums, 15 percent. The project also released dynamically filterable data visualizations for planners to examine the needs in their own state at: https://public.tableau.com/views/MtLdashboardset/MappingtheLandscapes

In collaboration with LYRASIS and TrueBearing Consulting and through funds received by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Educopia facilitated this project for the Assessing the State of the Field task force of the Coalition to Advance Learning across Archives, Libraries, and Museums. The shared competency taxonomy and data collected from the national survey and focus groups offer a framework for strategizing around professional development initiatives with an overview of current perceptions, needs, assets and barriers, levels of competency and confidence in the LAM sectors. Further information will be shared by Tom Clareson, Senior Consultant for Digital & Preservation Services at LYRASIS at the, American Library Association’s Atlanta Midwinter 2017 News You Can Use session on Sunday, January 22 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.

Media Contact: Hannah Ballard, hannah@educopia.org