Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science (WILIS)

Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science (WILIS) is a collaborative research project designed to study the educational, workplace, career and retention issues faced by library and information science (LIS) graduates. WILIS is a partnership of f the UNC School of Information and Library Science and the UNC Institute on Aging.

The changes in the demographic composition of the workforce being created by the aging of the baby boomers are expected to create shortages of librarians and information industry workers in North Carolina. In order to gain a better understanding of what happens to graduates of the six LIS programs in the state, SILS and IOA have partnered in a three year research project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. WILIS is studying the complex personal, organizational and social factors that affect recruitment, job satisfaction and retention of library and information workers. Over 8000 graduates who completed their educational programs between 1964 and 2005 are included in the study. The results will assist educational programs, employers, policy makers and other stakeholder to engage in more effective workforce planning.

For more information

Visit the WILIS web site

Project Staff

Joanne Gard Marshall, Principal Investigator

Victor W. Marshall, Co-Principal Investigator

Jennifer Craft Morgan, Co-Principal Investigator

Cheryl A. Thompson, Project Manager

Danielle Borasky, Library and Information Services Lead

Bob Konrad, Senior Scientist