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new roles, same skills: exploring paths to health sciences research careers after library school

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CONCLUSIONS: • Non-traditional roles for health librarians offer flexibility and independence. Balancing that flexibility is the duty to adapt your skills so they are relevant to your organization, and to find ways to remain current and connected to the field of health librarianship. • Personal interests that are nurtured outside of education and professional roles can have influence over future career development and job duties in flexible roles. LIS programs can do more to make students aware of and consider non- traditional roles through curricular inclusion, mentorship opportunities and co-op work. • CTC captures some but not all of the factors that led each respondent to their current position. Chaos Theory elements such as “nonlinearity” and “emergence” were mentioned often; other factors like ethical motivations or physical work environments were not accounted for explicitly in the theoretical framework. Recurring Career Elements • Non-traditional careers provide flexibility, independence • Coursework (either in health or not) builds transferrable skill set • Personal interests hold influence over specific areas of skill development • Prior work experience (in and outside of libraries) affected future opportunities THEME 3: CTC, though useful, did not account fully for career choices and factors Though using the theoretical frame to find parallel themes and sometimes surprising differences in all the non-traditional paths, Chaos Theory of Careers did not account completely for all the details in our responses. For example, Doug’s main goal upon beginning his ML/IS program was to work outside of a library setting. Though there may have been elements of emergence in his decision-making, his story was one of self-recognition, goal setting and career achievement. Though it may remain difficult to predict what comes next in his career path, his development so far has somewhat defied the chaotic nature of the other responses. THEME 2: MLIS programs required, but could do more. All participants reported the importance of foundational LIS skills. Although we work outside of libraries, all of us use a librarian’s skill set heavily in the workplace. That said, all respondents felt that ML/IS training could have done more to help build awareness of alternative career options. Though it may not be possible to identify which students will end up in non-traditional health careers, ML/IS programs may provide support for such careers through: • Non-traditional or research related co-op work opportunities • Mentorship from health researchers or other information professionals • Sophisticated research training • Broadening beyond the traditional public/academic/special foci Commonly Reported Skills • Searching • Synthesis • Instruction • Applied Research activities • Writing and editing • Interdisciplinary Collaboration THEME 1: Complexity and unpredictability reign in career choices. All career development timelines portrayed a complex blend of personal, professional and educational interests. Because career decision-making is so complex, it seems next to impossible to predict who ends up in non-traditional positions. Most of the participants reported wanting to be in a traditional setting at the start of their ML/IS programs. All now report satisfaction with their positions. All participants included at least one completely unique element in their decision making. Mary-Doug noted among the pros of her consultancy the physical work environment and the ability to take her two dogs, the “office assistants,” out on coffee breaks. Devon took no coursework in health librarianship, and was training to become a youth services librarian. Initial goals • Mary-Doug: Academic librarian (sciences) • Doug: Non-traditional librarian • Daniel: Digital collections • Devon: Teen librarian • Elisheba: Health librarian; International development CHAOS THEORY OF CAREERS (CTC): A traditional approach to career development typically focuses on defining “key attributes” of the job seeker and matching those to compatible jobs. The Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) challenges that paradigm by assuming significant complexity and unpredictability, and takes a dynamic view of individuals. Within CTC, the individual recognizes that career decision making is affected by many different and ever-changing influences, making long-term predictions impossible to make. Chaos Theory has six distinct key elements: 1. Complexity. A range of influences holds sway over our lives, and understanding them may help to explain choices and changes. 2. Emergence. Emergence traces the influence of past events onto our current careers. 3. Nonlinearity. Nonlinearity speaks to the reality that often seemingly trivial events can have significant impacts on one’s career path. 4. Unpredictability. Related to nonlinearity, unpredictability can be thought of as “chance events.” 5. Phase shifts. Phase shifts occur when the entire character of the system changes dramatically. 6. Attractors. Attractors are the constraints of the system, i.e., our values and limits. Bright J, Pryor RGL. The Chaos Theory of Careers: A User’s Guide. Career Development Quarterly. 2005;53(4):291-305. METHODS: A purposive sample of five information professionals with Master’s level training in LIS (ML/IS), working in HSR in British Columbia, were selected to collaborate on this poster. Three of the five participants work at the University of British Columbia in some capacity, but the departments and positions vary widely in responsibility and scope. One participant works for the Government of British Columbia, and the final participant owns a consultancy that completes reviews and environmental scans for health-related academic and government clients. To explore differences in career paths, five questions grounded in Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) were developed. Additionally, each participant created a career development timeline that included any elements of their lives that they considered to have had an impact on their career. We engaged in group thematic analysis and discussion in order to discover themes within our stories that might shed light on how librarians end up in non-traditional health research careers. By framing our stories within CTC, the reports explore the applicability of ML/IS training for research positions, and shed light on career development in health services research after ML/IS programs. Sample Interview Questions • Describe how you came to have your current position: How and why did you obtain or create the position? How (if at all) has it evolved over the time? • How did your MLIS program prepare you or not prepare you for your current job? New Roles, Same Skills: Exploring Paths to Health Sciences Research Careers After Library School CHLA 2011 BACKGROUND: As health sciences research (HSR) activities expand in Canada, so do career opportunities for health librarians and information professionals. Given that library and information studies (LIS) curricula do not typically address non-traditional career paths in-depth, how do health librarians end up in non-traditional HSR jobs? This poster explores a combination of environmental factors, chance events, and individual interests that draw information professionals away from the traditional library setting and into HSR. DANIEL HOOKER Researcher, eHealth Strategy Office, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia. ELISHEBA MUTURI Program Analyst, Ministry of Health Services, Province of British Columbia. DEVON GREYSON Information Specialist, Centre for Health Services & Policy Research, University of British Columbia. DOUGLAS SALZWEDEL Trials Search Coordinator, Cochrane Hypertension Group, University of British Columbia. MARY-DOUG WRIGHT Principal, Apex Information. Poster by Nelson Shen Graphics Designer Inspiration from 2008 NYC Subway Diagram by Vignelli Associates Canadian Health Libraries Association Conference, May 26-30, 2011 Calgary, Alberta C C S

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A poster exploring career paths to health services research positions for health librarians, using the Chaos Theory of Careers. Presented to the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA) 2011 Conference in Calgary, Alberta, on May 28, 2011.

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Page 1: New Roles, Same Skills: Exploring Paths to Health Sciences Research Careers After Library School

CONCLUSIONS:•Non-traditionalrolesforhealthlibrariansofferflexibility and

independence.Balancingthatflexibilityisthedutytoadaptyourskillssotheyarerelevanttoyourorganization,andtofindwaystoremaincurrentandconnectedtothefieldofhealthlibrarianship.

•Personalintereststhatarenurturedoutsideofeducationandprofessionalrolescan have influence over future career development andjobdutiesinflexibleroles.LISprogramscandomoretomakestudentsawareofandconsidernon-traditionalrolesthroughcurricularinclusion,mentorshipopportunitiesandco-opwork.

•CTCcapturessome but not all of the factorsthatledeachrespondenttotheircurrentposition.ChaosTheoryelementssuchas“nonlinearity”and“emergence”werementionedoften;otherfactorslikeethicalmotivationsorphysicalworkenvironmentswerenotaccountedforexplicitlyinthetheoreticalframework.

Recurring Career Elements•Non-traditionalcareersprovideflexibility,independence•Coursework(eitherinhealthornot)buildstransferrableskillset•Personalinterestsholdinfluenceoverspecificareasofskilldevelopment

•Priorworkexperience(inandoutsideoflibraries)affectedfutureopportunities

THEME 3: CTC, though useful, did not account fully for career choices and factors

Thoughusingthetheoreticalframetofindparallelthemesandsometimessurprisingdifferencesinallthenon-traditionalpaths,ChaosTheoryofCareersdid not account completelyforallthedetailsinourresponses.

Forexample,Doug’s main goal upon beginning his ML/IS program was to work outside of a library setting.Thoughtheremayhavebeenelementsofemergenceinhisdecision-making,hisstorywasoneofself-recognition,goalsettingandcareerachievement.Thoughitmayremaindifficulttopredictwhatcomesnextinhiscareerpath,hisdevelopmentsofarhassomewhatdefiedthechaoticnatureoftheotherresponses.

THEME 2: MLIS programs required, but could do more.

Allparticipantsreportedtheimportanceoffoundational LIS skills.Althoughweworkoutsideoflibraries,allofususealibrarian’sskillsetheavilyintheworkplace.

Thatsaid,allrespondentsfeltthatML/IStraining could have done more to help build awarenessofalternativecareeroptions.Thoughitmaynotbepossibletoidentifywhichstudentswillendupinnon-traditionalhealthcareers,ML/ISprogramsmayprovidesupportforsuchcareersthrough:

•Non-traditionalorresearchrelatedco-op workopportunities

• Mentorshipfromhealthresearchersorotherinformationprofessionals

•Sophisticatedresearchtraining

• Broadeningbeyondthetraditionalpublic/academic/specialfoci

Commonly Reported Skills•Searching•Synthesis•Instruction•AppliedResearchactivities

•Writingandediting•InterdisciplinaryCollaboration

THEME 1: Complexity and unpredictability reign in career choices.

Allcareerdevelopmenttimelinesportrayeda complex blend of personal, professional and educational interests.Becausecareerdecision-makingissocomplex,itseemsnexttoimpossibletopredictwhoendsupinnon-traditionalpositions.MostoftheparticipantsreportedwantingtobeinatraditionalsettingatthestartoftheirML/ISprograms.Allnowreportsatisfactionwiththeirpositions.

Allparticipantsincludedatleastonecompletely unique element in their decision making.Mary-Dougnotedamongtheprosofherconsultancythephysicalworkenvironmentandtheabilitytotakehertwodogs,the“officeassistants,”outoncoffeebreaks.Devontooknocourseworkinhealthlibrarianship,andwastrainingtobecomeayouthserviceslibrarian.

Initial goals•Mary-Doug:Academiclibrarian(sciences)

•Doug:Non-traditionallibrarian

•Daniel:Digitalcollections•Devon:Teenlibrarian•Elisheba:Healthlibrarian;Internationaldevelopment

CHAOS THEORY OF CAREERS (CTC): Atraditionalapproachtocareerdevelopmenttypicallyfocusesondefining“keyattributes”ofthejobseekerandmatchingthosetocompatiblejobs.TheChaosTheoryofCareers(CTC)challengesthatparadigmbyassuming significant complexity and unpredictability,andtakesadynamicviewofindividuals.WithinCTC,theindividualrecognizesthatcareerdecisionmakingisaffectedbymanydifferentandever-changinginfluences,makinglong-termpredictionsimpossibletomake.

ChaosTheoryhassix distinct key elements:

1. Complexity.Arangeofinfluencesholdsswayoverourlives,andunderstandingthemmayhelptoexplainchoicesandchanges.2. Emergence.Emergencetracestheinfluenceofpasteventsontoourcurrentcareers.3. Nonlinearity.Nonlinearityspeakstotherealitythatoftenseeminglytrivialeventscanhavesignificantimpactsonone’scareerpath.4. Unpredictability.Relatedtononlinearity,unpredictabilitycanbethoughtofas“chanceevents.”5. Phase shifts.Phaseshiftsoccurwhentheentirecharacterofthesystemchangesdramatically.6. Attractors.Attractorsaretheconstraintsofthesystem,i.e.,ourvaluesandlimits.

BrightJ,PryorRGL.TheChaosTheoryofCareers:AUser’sGuide.CareerDevelopmentQuarterly.2005;53(4):291-305.

METHODS:

A purposive sample of five information professionalswithMaster’sleveltraininginLIS(ML/IS),workinginHSRinBritishColumbia,wereselectedtocollaborateonthisposter.ThreeofthefiveparticipantsworkattheUniversityofBritishColumbiainsomecapacity,butthedepartmentsandpositionsvarywidelyinresponsibilityandscope.OneparticipantworksfortheGovernmentofBritishColumbia,andthefinalparticipantownsaconsultancythatcompletesreviewsandenvironmentalscansforhealth-relatedacademicandgovernmentclients.

Toexploredifferencesincareerpaths, five questions grounded in Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) were developed.Additionally,eachparticipantcreatedacareerdevelopmenttimelinethatincludedanyelementsoftheirlivesthattheyconsideredtohavehadanimpactontheircareer.

Weengagedingroupthematicanalysisanddiscussioninordertodiscoverthemeswithinourstoriesthatmightshedlightonhowlibrariansendupinnon-traditionalhealthresearchcareers.ByframingourstorieswithinCTC,thereportsexplore the applicability of ML/IS training for research positions,andshedlightoncareerdevelopmentinhealthservicesresearchafterML/ISprograms.

Sample Interview Questions•Describehowyoucametohaveyourcurrentposition:Howandwhydidyouobtainorcreatetheposition?How(ifatall)hasitevolvedoverthetime?

•HowdidyourMLISprogramprepareyouornotprepareyouforyourcurrentjob?

New Roles, Same Skills: Exploring Paths to Health Sciences Research Careers After Library School CHLA 2011

BACKGROUND: Ashealthsciencesresearch(HSR)activitiesexpandinCanada,sodocareeropportunitiesfor health librarians and information professionals. Given that library and informationstudies(LIS)curriculadonottypicallyaddressnon-traditionalcareerpathsin-depth,howdohealthlibrariansendupinnon-traditionalHSRjobs?Thisposterexploresacombinationof environmental factors, chanceevents, and individual interests thatdraw informationprofessionalsawayfromthetraditionallibrarysettingandintoHSR.

DANIEL HOOKERResearcher,eHealthStrategyOffice,FacultyofMedicine,UniversityofBritishColumbia.

ELISHEBA MUTURI ProgramAnalyst,MinistryofHealthServices,ProvinceofBritishColumbia.

DEVON GREYSONInformationSpecialist,CentreforHealthServices&PolicyResearch,UniversityofBritishColumbia.

DOUGLAS SALZWEDELTrialsSearchCoordinator,CochraneHypertensionGroup,UniversityofBritishColumbia.MARY-DOUG WRIGHT Principal,ApexInformation.

PosterbyNelson ShenGraphicsDesignerInspirationfrom2008NYCSubwayDiagrambyVignelli Associates

Canadian Health Libraries Association Conference, May 26-30, 2011Calgary,Alberta

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