Library workforce planning in Australia: A focus on learning, strengthening and moving the profession forward

Along with many other countries, the library and information services (LIS) sector in Australia has become increasingly aware that people are indeed the key drivers in the profession and that a strong future will depend on ensuring that recruitment, retention and professional development issues are clearly understood and managed. The paper discusses some of the research initiatives currently being undertaken in Australia which aim to develop a better understanding of the LIS workforce. The research activities are twofold: firstly to investigate into the current LIS workforce at the individual level, and secondly to review and analyse workforce issues and practices at the institutional level. The research is informed by preliminary studies into workforce planning in Australia, which indicate that the LIS sector is likely to face a number of challenges over the coming decade. These preliminary studies underscore the close relationship between LIS education, recruitment and retention practices, and career long learning through staff training and development. The paper itself presents some of the initial findings from the studies and raises a number of questions that need to be addressed by the profession if it is to effectively meet the challenges presented by the dynamic information and knowledge environment in which it operates. The research project is a collaborative venture supported by Queensland University of Technology, CAVAL Collaborative Solutions and the Australian Library and Information Association