Librarians at private companies

The aim of this thesis is to accomplish an understanding on how librarians experience their professional role at private companies. The study is based on qualitative interviews with persons who have a degree in Library and Information science, but does not work as an ordinary librarian. To answer why the respondents work at private companies, this thesis dwells on how the education in library and information science prepares their students to face an alternative career; why the respondents wants to work at private firms instead of a library; if the salary is a key factor in order to choose a career; if the respondents think the companies appreciate their qualifications, and finally, if the respondents think they intrude on other professions' territory? Working at a private company, with a degree in library- and information science, is not, according to the respondents, easy. Although appreciated by their knowledge in the field of information, the interviewees think that the title librarian is hard to cope with. Nevertheless, the salary is bigger and the tasks are more demanding than at a library. This paper discusses, and shows, how librarians can take another path in their search for a career. Librarians do not have to work at libraries. Their field stretches further because of new technology and digital information. Private companies are an option. The librarian also gets a new title, such as information specialist or information architect.Uppsatsnivå: