The influence of technology on women librarians' and library assistants' work experience

This dissertation investigates the relevance of two concepts which have been proposed by sociologists of work and occupation to apply to workers' feelings when interacting with technology on the job: alienation and deskilling versus reskilling. A sample of 62 librarians and library assistants was interviewed to assess whether these concepts are applicable to one of today's most "technologized" jobs, that of librarianship.;The results at once confirm as well as reject the model proposed. While it is true that librarians neither feel deskilled or alienated, so do a large number of library assistants. A small group of assistants, however, can be clearly labeled as deskilled and alienated. However, this must be linked to autonomy and control, not simply the notion of technology.;Shortcoming of the present work are delineated, and future research goals outlined. An international focus on the study of technology and occupations is proposed, which should give a more comprehensive understanding on how occupations change with the introduction of sophisticated technology, and how workers experience these changes.;Included in this dissertation are an account of the historical development of the occupation since the founding of the American Library Association, an investigation of its persistent gender segregation, a description of the concepts investigated, as well as a "compensatory model of skill" which rejects a crude, unilinear theory of upgrading or downgrading of skills and ensuing alienation, as proposed by many scholars.