Library Directors: No Hiring Freezes Planned

LibGig interviewed ten library directors and HR managers at public libraries to see what was in store for 2009. The results were resounding: 100 percent of the (requested) anonymous interviewees say no hiring freezes were planned.

Three questions were asked:

-Is your library going to have a hiring freeze this year?

-Will you be using temps?

-Are outsourcing services more of an option or consideration now with the current economy?

8 of 10 said they were not ready to use temps yet, but 2 said this could be an option at some point during the year. Only 5 answered the outsourcing question, saying they will not resort to that measure at this point. 3 declined to comment, while 2 said they didn't have enought information to accurately answer the question.

"We are absolutely not going to have a freeze of any kind this year," said one librarian in an email message.

According to Dr. John Sullivan of San Francisco State University, hiring freezes are detrimental to a company because it "sends a message to potential applicants and employees that the firm is not in a growth mode.

"Long or frequent pauses in recruiting may also send a stronger message that the company is in trouble."

The librarians and managers all requested anonymity.