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Emerging landscapes of “alternative-academic” careers in library and information science: Evolutionary patterns and prospects in the Chinese context

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  • Ye Tian

    (National Taiwan University)

  • Kuang-Hua Chen

    (National Taiwan University)

Abstract

This study investigated the emerging landscape of alternative-academic careers in the field of library and information science in China using text mining techniques on a dataset of 7832 job postings from 334 institutions between 2016 and 2023. The findings revealed that alternative-academic positions are widely distributed across academic, cultural, governmental, and commercial institutions, with a growing presence in interdisciplinary and applied research domains. The results highlight the emergence of four distinct functional types: resource construction, academic services, intelligence research, and social functions. Alternative-academic roles have evolved towards greater professionalization, specialization, and collaboration, reflecting the shifting demands of the digital information landscape.

Suggested Citation

  • Ye Tian & Kuang-Hua Chen, 2024. "Emerging landscapes of “alternative-academic” careers in library and information science: Evolutionary patterns and prospects in the Chinese context," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03821-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03821-9
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    3. repec:pal:palcom:v:2016:y:2016:i:palcomms201657:p:16057- is not listed on IDEAS
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