This paper represents the state of the art of research in library science on professional competencies for academic, public and special libraries since 1985. The seminal research study done on librarian competencies was conducted in 1983-86 by King Research. The goal of the study was to identify the type of skills and knowledge that information workers will need in order to be effective in the future. The King study was widely anticipated and became almost as widely dismissed--especially by library educators. In the few years following 1985 researchers sought to replicate the King study's methodology. The overall conclusions of the Murphy and Bailey study were to make LIS courses longer, re-think core curriculum, emphasize communication in a term-long class, and recommend internships and the declaration of specializations. Various stakeholders in the library profession continue to research the issue of competencies, but each from their own standpoint. Later research studies have varied widely as to scope, hypothesis and conclusions. These are reviewed in clusters based on the author's employers, practitioners, students, professional organizations, educators' role in the profession. Appendices present selected study results. (AEF)