Library Worklife

Volume 3, No. 10 • October 2006

Statistics

Non-MLS Salary Survey Now Available

The first edition of the ALA-APA Salary Survey: Non-MLS—Public and Academic is available. This is the first survey to collect information on a large number of the positions within libraries that do not require an MLS degree from an ALA-accredited institution. This study is a companion report to the annual ALA-APA Salary Survey: Librarian—Public and Academic (formerly ALA-APA Survey of Librarian Salaries) published by the ALA-APA and the American Library Association Office for Research and Statistics (ORS).

The study reports data on 62 different positions such as associate librarians, library technical assistants, copy catalogers and interlibrary loan assistants, information technology managers, human resources managers, administrative assistants, accountants, and development personnel. The annual salaries reported range from $10,712 to $141,924.

In keeping with the Survey of Librarian Salaries, public and academic library results are split into smaller categories for analysis. The public libraries are separated into five categories based upon the size of the population served, very small to very large. The academic libraries examined in the survey are divided into two-year colleges, four-year colleges and universities, which includes members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL).

The survey presents regional and state-level mean, quartile, and range data on all 62 positions across all nine categories of libraries. The census regions are: North Atlantic, Southeast, Great Lakes & Plains, and West & Southwest. Survey methodology, technical considerations and detailed discussion are also provided.

The ALA Non-MLS Salary Survey is $90 for institutional and individual ALA members and $100 for non-ALA members. It may be purchased from the ALA Online Store. The 2006 Survey of Librarian Salaries will be available in November for $63 to institutional and individual ALA members and $70 to non-ALA members.

The research team was led by ALA-APA Director Jenifer Grady and ORS Director Denise Davis. The survey was conducted and analyzed by the Management Association of Illinois, led by Kristy Williams, CCP, Manager of Compensation Services. The team thanks all of the 839 libraries that took part in this inaugural survey.

Get a Free Copy of the Non-MLS Salary Survey for Analyzing the Data

ALA-APA wants to give one or two people/institutions a free copy of the ALA-APA Salary Survey: Non-MLS—Public and Academic ($100 value). There are many questions that might be answered by the survey, such as:

How much do other people in my position make across the country? Where is the best place to live to do what I do?
How do salaries compare in academic and public libraries?
What Non-MLS positions are most lucrative in libraries?
How much education is required for my position in other places?

These are only some of the revelations that can be found in the Non-MLS Salary Survey. To be considered for the free copy, please send an email to jgrady@ala.org with your contact information, writing experience and the question(s) you would like to answer by reviewing the survey. At most, two people/institutions will be chosen. The recipients agree to write one 1200 word or less report on the answer to their question by February 2007, which will be published in an issue of Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today’s Leaders. Recipients may keep or donate the survey. The deadline for submitting your ideas is October 30, 2006.

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