Where Are the Scientists?

Abstract

This critical literature review identifies the motivations of students entering the Library and Information Studies/Science (LIS) profession and associated Master’s (MLIS) programs, the current knowledge of students and librarians with science backgrounds in LIS fields, and the intersections of these two areas into recruitment research for LIS professionals with science backgrounds. A critical literature review was conducted, with clearly relevant literature included. In general, incoming MLIS students tend to be in the process of changing careers, and they are motivated to pursue LIS due to a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to their individual contexts. While educational diversity benefits the entire discipline and workforce, science librarianship specifically benefits from having MLIS graduates with science backgrounds. It is expected that the increased complexity and data services focus of science librarianship may also be well served by those with science backgrounds. Recruitment suggestions for increasing the representation of students with science backgrounds in MLIS programs tend to be mere concepts or substantial program investments, without many practical recommendations or real-life examples. Notably, there is a gap in investigations for the Canadian context, and so an exploratory investigation of the motivations and aspirations of students in Canadian MLIS programs, beyond the literature review presented here, should be conducted in the future with a specific focus on identifying and investigating the population of students coming into these programs with science education backgrounds.