From Science to Librarianship: Career Motivations of the Scientist-Turned-Librarian

Why might someone with science training pursue an information career? This secondary analysis of the Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science (WILIS) study compares those who earned a natural science degree prior to the LIS program with others who did not. The results point to more similarities than differences. All LIS graduates showed broad agreement on job motivations, values, and satisfaction; however, some differences were found. Science majors were less interested in school libraries and more in special libraries. Scientists were more likely to self-identify as "information professional" alone or in tandem with "librarian" and more likely to cite computer interest as one motivation. Science graduates were significantly more likely to claim responsibilities for academic research and publications, database development, and "other" IT and consulting. Very few entrants to LIS programs have science degrees, but the potential exists to attract more