The Blind Man Describes the Elephant: The Scope and Development of the 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resource Study

The 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resource Study was prompted by anecdotal report that projected a future shortage of Canadian library workers. It represents a groundbreaking collection of data that examines institutional and individual perspectives on the eight key variables defined as fundamental to understanding human resources in Canadian libraries: recruitment, retirement, retention, remuneration, repatriation, rejuvenation, reaccreditation, and restructuring. The research methodology included a survey of over 450 library employers and 2,200 librarians and nearly 2,000 paraprofessionals, in-depth telephone interviews, and focus groups conducted with library administrators. The data analysis from the three-year project resulted in the release of The Future of Human Resources in Canadian Libraries (2005). It also prompted the Canadian Library Association to form a President's Council to define projects based upon the research and culminated in a National Human Resources Summit in October 2008. The Summit brought together over one hundred invited participants to strategize and collaborate on action planning directed to the dynamic and shifting human resource environment and capacity in Canadian libraries.