Do Library and Information Science (LIS) Competencies Transfer

Do Library and Information Science (LIS) Competencies Transfer to

Social Research and Policy-Writing Competencies?

Snow Marlonsson
San Jose State University

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

To answer this question, this paper applies Melissa Fraser-Arnotts (2013) research on
transferable competencies of the Library and Information Science (LIS) community to research
on jobs related to: Grey literature, think tanks, public policy research institutions, consulting
service firms and other research organizations that compile information with the primary purpose
of influencing social change. This essay discusses whether the transferable LIS competencies
identified by Fraser-Arnott make the MLIS graduate an appropriate candidate for social policy
researcher jobs. Where the MLIS skill set is found lacking, this paper provides a brief annotated
bibliography of further reading and suggests extra skills and training to address deficiencies.
The lexicon that denotes librarians who perform research for social policy organizations
is not clear. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) does not list social science
researcher or knowledge manager as an occupation in its Wages Report or Job Outlook
Handbook. However, reading the job descriptions of several occupations revealed related fields
that do have ample data about required competencies: Operations research analyst, survey
researcher, sociologist, public relations manager and market research analyst. Indeed.com, an
internet job board, easily found the following jobs in response to the term think tank: Research
associate, research analyst, open data analyst, research policy associate and others. The job
descriptions of these posts contained many of the transferable competencies Fraser-Arnett (2013)
identified, but they also revealed significant deficiencies in the idea of using an MLIS to prepare
for work as a social researcher.
According to Library and Information Science (LIS) Transferable Competencies (FraserArnott), 19% of job postings for LIS professionals were for non-library employment settings
with alternative job titles such as metadata specialist and data analyst (2013). Fraser-Arnott goes
on to report which competencies transfer to non-library jobs and renders the MLIS desirable

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

beyond the library. Among Government of Canada job postings, 11.7% called for
communication; which is the second most desired competency listed in the research (FraserArnott). Communication was followed closely by the three-part category: Information
Technology/ Information Management and Records Management at 11.3%. The remaining
transferable competencies range from 9.3% to 2.6% respectively: Teamwork and interpersonal
skills 9.3%, Personal Qualities 8.6%, Research Analysis and Problem Solving 7.3%,
Management and Supervision 5.5%, Financial and Resource Management 5.2%, Policies and
Procedures 4.3%, Project or Program Implementation/ Coordination/ Administration 4.3%,
Providing Advice and Recommendations 4.2%, Human Resource Management 3.0%, and
Business Planning and Reporting 2.6% (Fraser-Arnott).
A casual review of the competencies listed in the aforementioned job descriptions on
Indeed.com revealed that some LIS competencies do transfer to social research and policy
writing. Although the sample set was only ten postings, they did reveal significant commonalities
with Fraser-Arnotts (2013) Government of Canada results. For example, The United Nations
University, the research arm of the United Nations (UN), recently advertised for a Research
Associate. The required competencies follow:

Knowledge and experience

Research and writing

Communication (as evidenced by published works)

Time management

Second language fluency

Out of the five competencies required for this position, three are transferable LIS competencies:
Research and writing, communication and management- administration.

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

Similarly, World Resource Institute (WRI) advertised for a Research Intern: The intern will join
WRIs Science and Research team, which works to promote quality, accuracy, institutional
coherence, and a lack of bias in our research. We measure our success in both the quality of our
research and in its ability to drive change in the world in ways that support our six goals (Food,
Forests, Water, Climate, Energy, and Cities).(World Resource Institute) The required
competencies follow:

Research excellence

Personal quality (willingness to take on challenge)

Information technology

Communication

Design/ spatial intelligence

Again, a majority of the required competencies are LIS transferable competencies: Research,
Personal Qualities, Information Technology and Communication. The Thomas B. Fordham
Institute advertised for a Research and Policy Associate. The required competencies include:

Management and supervision

Financial resource management

Research

Communication

Fund-raising

Business planning and reporting

Synthesizing data

Teaching

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

Problem solving and analysis

All of the competencies required by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute for this listing are nurtured
by the LIS experience. The Government of Canada required 16% of potential job candidates to
have topic-specific knowledge and experience (Fraser-Arnott). The Indeed.com postings
highlighted here, and the other seven that provided background reading for this paper, all require
specific knowledge for the job. Each think tank required knowledge of the relevant topic.
Google, for example, was looking for someone with knowledge about conflict resolution,
international relations, public policy and Silicon Valley to fill a social researcher position
(Google). The Thomas B. Fordham Institute required knowledge of Pedagogy. The UN required
knowledge of International Relations. Each job posting listed topic-specific knowledge as the
most important competency followed by several LIS transferable competencies.
The Bureau of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook (2014) followed a similar
pattern. After industry-specific knowledge, it listed several LIS transferable competencies for
Sociologists: Research, Analysis, Communication and Project Management/ Administration.
Similar to social researchers, 8% of sociologists are employed by consulting firms. Overall, the
occupation is projected to grow by 15%, which is faster than average growth through 2022
(Bureau of Labor). Likewise, survey researchers perform research, analyze data and
communicate results. They work for research firms, polling organizations, nonprofits and in a
peri-marketing capacity for corporations (Bureau of Labor). The occupation is projected to grow
by 18% over the next eight years. Market research analysts also perform research, analyze data
and communicate results. This occupation is projected to grow by 32% (Bureau of Labor) in the
near future, which leads to the conclusion that specific knowledge, supported by LIS
competencies is a highly marketable position from which to begin a job search. Research,

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

analysis and communication are repeated themes in high growth fields that rely on discovering,
synthesizing, analyzing and communicating information.
The most important competency, based on the Fraser-Arnott research and anecdotally, by
the Indeed.com job postings for social researchers and the Bureau of Labors job descriptions is
knowledge. One of the recurring knowledge requirements revealed by the preparation for this
writing was fugitive literature, or grey literature, which refers to the work product of researchers.
Grey literature consists of newsletters, research reports, internal papers and policy briefs that are
internally circulated, often, without indexing or cataloging (Hartman). Knowledge of the access
and use of this niche of literature is important to success in the social research and policy writing
field. Aspiring researchers should become familiar with portals that increase access to grey
literature such as the GreyLit Network, PolicyFile, Columbia International Affairs Online, PsycEXTRA -from the American Psychological Association, and PAIS International (Hartman).
Accreditation standards for schools offering Social Science degrees are adding requirements to
build student competencies in compiling, analyzing and influencing social policy (Hartman).
While Hartman mentions the value of reading books and journals specific to public policy
formation, she advocates for familiarizing oneself with grey literature above all.
Tracking the Influence of Grey Literature in Public Policy Contexts: The Benefits and
Necessity of Interdisciplinary Research (MacDonald, De Santo, Quigley, Soomai & Wells) adds a
different dimension to the argument for supplementing the LIS skill set with grey literature
competency. The article asks how information functions between the point of research and
policy. Multi-dimensional research and interdisciplinary views provided by LIS Managers,
Scientists and Policy writers combine to achieve a more effective transformation from research
to policy (MacDonald et.al.). The State of the Planet Declaration, approved at the 2012 Planet

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

Under Pressure Conference, calls for a new approach to research. It must be international,
solutions- oriented and integrate global members across local knowledge systems (MacDonald
et.al.). The declaration goes on to assert that Earths interconnected and interdependent systems
must be researched in kind; with a holistic approach to research and understanding (MacDonald
et.al.). The role of grey literature is akin to raw data. Unless a person interprets the data, it cannot
result in a policy. The role of the LIS worker is to negotiate this web of data, people, systems and
disciplines. LIS workers can determine the lifecycles of scientific/ grey literature, use knowledge
tools, and foster an understanding of how people become aware of, use, and become influenced
by information (MacDonald et.al.). Further, the authors posit a guess as to why LIS workers
have thus far been excluded from sorting and interpreting grey literature for policy makers:
While an information studies perspective may be explicitly missing
from some interdisciplinary undertakings, its absence may be more
a matter of language or oversight than actual failure to recognize
the contribution of this discipline. For example, the recent book.
Knowledge and Environmental Policy: Re-imagining the
Boundaries of Science and Politics, draws on research based in
political science, and environmental and natural resource policy,
and employs the term "knowledge" rather than "information" to
convey research perspectives that govern information studies
points of view. An explanation of why some disciplines such as
information science are overlooked or entirely missing from
interdisciplinary research initiatives may be attributed to
stereotypical misunderstanding of the potential contributions of
such disciplines to such collaborations. (MacDonald et.al.)
The juxtaposition of Fraser-Arnotts (2013) transferable competencies with this call to
action for LIS workers in the interdisciplinary research-to-policy field is noteworthy because the
two sources are citing different aspects of the same LIS skill set. Fraser-Arnott does not
categorize the synthesis of multidisciplinary knowledge, becoming aware of information or
influence. She does, however, report on the related competencies; Problem solving and analysis,
teamwork and interpersonal skills, as well as cataloging and metadata.

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

Intelligence analysis is another field that combines research, analysis and reporting with
policy preparation. Intelligence analysts collect, store and catalog information. They analyze
information for decision-making and base recommendations on their research (Wu). This pattern
of information driven jobs using some LIS competencies but falling short of the knowledge (in
this case, analysis for decision-making) is consistent with the findings in the rest of this paper.
Suggestions for Supplemental Development
Readings
Grey Literature and the Internet by Karen Hartman, while used sparsely here, is a much
richer resource for aspiring social researchers than the scope of this paper would admit. She
clarifies the importance of grey literature to social researchers and provides a wealth of
information about accessing the information.
Global Public Policy, Transnational Policy Communities, and Their Networks by D.
Stone addresses the systems of public policy in a trans-national setting. It answers who carries
out global policy when convoluted tiers of authority are involved.
Software/ Downloads/ Industry-specific Portals
Become familiar with using open and subscription grey literature portals. Subscribe to
Policyfile, Columbia International Affairs Online and PsychExtra. Download the Onion web
browser to gain access to the underground web. Become familiar with open sources of grey
literature such as PAIS International and GreyLit Network.
Professional Alliances
Build your own consortium to buy subscription access to the commercial products above.
Begin with a letter including the costs and benefits of pooling resources for grey literature.

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

Join Social Action Organizations. Read their newsletters, connect with colleagues and
volunteer in whatever roles you are currently qualified.
Classes
Public Policy/ Public Administration
International Studies/ Global Studies
Sociology
Behavioral Science
Organizational Science
Internships
Support the readings, associations, classes and skills with experience. Identify the social
organizations you are most interested in and collect as much information about their needs as you
can. Design a proposal of internship that fills a specific, measureable niche in the organization
and volunteer to contribute your expertise for a specified project or time.
Idealist.org is a place to start.
Conclusion
A MLIS alone does not prepare a person to enter the social research and policy writing
field. However, a MLIS graduate who intends to earn a second Masters to become competitive in
the university library occupations, might choose to earn a public policy, international relations or
sociology Masters degree to serve the dual purpose of becoming competitive in academic
libraries and to increase their opportunities to perform passionate research for institutions of
social change.

Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

References
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Stone, D. (2008). Global Public Policy, Transnational Policy Communities, and Their
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Exploratory Essay/ LIBR 204/ Due September 19, 2014

Thomas B. Fordham Institute (2014) Retrieved from
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