Foreign Languages in Academic Librarianship: A Survey of Skills Use and Perceptions

No comprehensive study of academic librarians’ attitudes and perceptions toward foreign language skills in libraries has occurred. Similarly, the question of how librarians use foreign languages has only been cursorily examined. The authors conducted an online survey in the spring of 2007 asking academic librarians in the US and Canada about their knowledge of non-English languages, use of languages professionally, and the perceived value of language skills. Results indicate substantial use of and value placed on language skills. Of the 1,858 respondents, more than 25 percent reported using foreign languages daily and over 75 percent desire better language skills to complete library tasks.