Better Salaries/Compensation

MLGSCAOctober 2, 2003

Compensation Presentation Provide overview of issues Facts and figures ALA Campaign for America’s

Librarians MLA activities and resources Making your case Your ideas – resources, tools,

activities

Key Issues Librarians willing to accept less pay due

to their passion for the field  Female dominated profession  Critical factor - shortage

Nurses, teachers  Equity among positions

IT staff -- Hay study Data on national level more readily

available and up-to-date

Facts and Figures -- Age Aging profession 25% of 125,000 librarians will

reach retirement age by 2009 Median age 47 60% of AAHSLD directors will retire

in next 10 years

Facts and Figures --Salaries Bureau of Labor Statistics – 2000 –

all libraries Median $41,700 Mean $42,730

College and universities $43,050 median

Facts and Figures -- MLA Hay/MLA Study 2001

Median $47,300 Mean $49,995 [average] 1998 mean $45,016

CAPHIS informal 2001 Little more than $40,000

Facts and Figures -- Others SLA – 2001 $54,400

AAHSLD Department head -- $48,245 median 5-10 years experience -- $46,413 tremendous range in both categories

Other Professions US Labor Dept. – comparable

education, analytic and technical skills Computer systems analysts $59,330

median Database administrator $51,990

median Computer or information scientists,

research $70,590 median Computer and information systems

managers $78,830 median

Other Female Dominated Professions Registered dieticians $45,000

[median]

Teachers $41,280

Nurses $44,480

Campaign for America’s Librarians/Libraries Better Salaries and Pay Equity Task

Force Created a handbook and training

session America’s campaign June 2002 Economic downturn – focus on

survival Debate within ALA National attention

Nonprofit Associations Tax status limits activities Setting salaries prohibited Dictating salary within an institution

not possible Provide tools, resources, salary

data, etc. ALA created unit with special tax

status

MLA Activities Advocacy toolbox and other

resources MLA salary surveys Advocacy materials Value of Information study Value of AHIP MLANET resources

Making Your Case Do your research Salary data Benchmark against comparable

hospitals / institutions Talk to HR people Find out institutional guidelines

for addressing equity Data may differ by location

Compensation Package Benefits Flexible schedule Vacation Support – travel, tuition, training Commuting Quality of life

Fair Salary Level Average statistics Education Seniority or years of experience Level of responsibility

Put in management terms Relation to those in institution

Making Your Presentation Think like an administrator Benefits to institution

More stable work force Less costly then to recruit Continuity of services

Recruitment problems Small pool of librarians Salary perceived too low

Think Costs Savings Reduce likelihood malpractice Evidence-based practice and error

reduction Success in grant submissions Involvement in service

development More efficient/effective use of

clinician’s time

Demonstrate Your Value What we do every day Articles on value of

libraries/librarians Promote externally starting now Adopt management and evaluation

approaches Take on leadership roles Make sure staff promotes library

Making the Pitch Put it in writing Avoid jargon, but use management

terms Set up a meeting Follow up on questions from

meeting Do not assume NO is final – view as

a dialogue over time

Negotiating Know what you want Know what you will accept Be clear Prepare for tough questions Redirect negative comments Dialogue may continue, even if NO

now

Your Successes, Concerns, Obstacles How have you been successful? What has or has not worked for

you? What support do you need? What are the major issues that you

face in your institution concerning salary, budget?

What can MLA do to support you?

Time for Discussion…

Your turn