2025/10/31 by Darren Flynn · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Library Science and Administration #Library Science and Information Literacy #Social and Cultural Dynamics
paper · doi:10.52843/cassyni.gh4yk4
openalex publication_date 2025/10/31 · openalex created_date 2025/11/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Social class remains a significant barrier to social mobility in the UK, despite the strides in widening participation in higher education (HE). Research from the Social Mobility Commission (2023) showed enduring challenges in social mobility, with children of working-class parents significantly less likely to gain employment in professional occupations or gain HE qualifications compared to peers from middle or upper class backgrounds. Participation in postgraduate education (typically a prerequisite for employment as an academic librarian) were markedly lower amongst young people from working-class backgrounds, especially at more selective institutions (149-151). In reference to libraries, the latest information workforce survey from CILIP/ARA (2023) identified socio-economic background as a key barrier to professional entry. This seminar will share and discuss interim findings from a mixed-methods PhD study exploring social class and higher education librarians' professional identity, workplace experiences and practices. First, Darren will outline the theoretical framework of the study and describe how Bourdieusian class analysis was integrated into a librarian workplace study. Next, the mixed-methods structure and approach will be described, with particular reference to the use of latent class analysis in the quantitative stage, and 'River of Life' method used to generate narrative data in the qualitative stage. Findings from the quantitative stage will be shared alongside interim findings from the qualitative stage. Throughout opportunities will be provided for attendees to discuss and ask questions about the study, its methods and findings.