How to Become a Librarian
Career Combines Books, Technology, & Helping People Find Information
Jul 28, 2009
Career changers and recent college graduates alike can become librarians if they have a combined interest in books, people, and technology. This article will discuss the nature of the profession and how to go about pursuing it.
Librarian's Work is Varied
Librarians acquire and arrange an organization’s information resources, which usually are limited to subjects of special interest to the organization, says the 2008-2009 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They make use of the latest information technology to do research, classify materials, and help patrons find information.
Librarians are needed in all kinds of organizations, not only in public libraries, says California-based career coach Dr. Marty Nemko, in his December 2008 article, “Best Careers 2009: Librarian” published in USNews.com. "They work for colleges, law firms, hospitals, prisons, corporations, legislatures, the military, and nonprofit agencies. Unlike public and university jobs, which require night and weekend hours, these jobs are mostly 9 to 5."
"People with varying levels of education and a wide variety of interests work in libraries," says a 2009 article, "Explore a Career in Libraries" published by the American Library Association in Chicago. Librarians may even step outside their immediate roles and do children's programming, such as storytelling sessions.
Desk and Computer Job
Librarians spend most of their time at their desks or in front of computer terminals. In some cases, they lift and carry books, and sometimes need to climb ladders to reach high stacks, although most modern libraries have easily accessible stacks. Librarians at small libraries sometimes shelve books themselves if they do not have support staff.
"More than 20 percent of librarians work part time," says the OOH. Public and college librarians are often required to work weekends, evenings, and some holidays, while school librarians usually have the same workday and vacation schedules as classroom teachers. Special librarians usually work regular business hours, but in fast-paced industries, such as advertising or legal services, they sometimes work longer hours.
The Ideal Librarian
Librarians should be professional and patient, since they deal with the public. They need to be familiar with a wide variety of scholarly and public information sources and keep up with cutting edge of technology trends in order to serve their patrons, says the 2009 article published by the ALA. Librarians should therefore have a love for learning, deal well with the public, and possess good knowledge of their specialty areas.
Education and Training
Most public, academic, and special libraries require a master's degree in library science (MLS). Individuals need a bachelor’s degree – any undergraduate major – in order to gain admission to the master's program. Prospective students should check with the ALA to see if the schools of their choice are accredited by this organization.
The School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University Bloomington takes on an inter-disciplinary approach. "Whether your interest is in rare books, information policy, digital libraries or information visualization, this is the place for you. More to the point, we'll show you how these seemingly disparate areas of interest can support each other," says Blaise Cronin, Dean & Rudy Professor of Information Science, in his 2009 welcome speech, "Making Information Make a Difference" on the school website.
A good library science school should take on a leadership role in the constantly changing information and library science landscape, which is true of the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at Chapel Hill, giving it a number one national ranking in July 2009 by the U.S. News and World Report. The School merges traditional library science with cutting edge technology, and is also known for close interaction with students, says Barbara B. Moran, Interim Dean and Professor, in her 2004 welcome speech, "About UNC SILS" on the school website.
Librarian's Salary
Librarian salaries vary according to qualifications and the type, size, and location of the library, says the OOH, adding that librarians with mostly administrative functions have greater earnings. Median annual librarian earnings in May 2006 were $49,060: the middle 50 percent earned between $39,250 and $60,800, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,930, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,670, according to OOH statistics.
Career Development In Library Science
Librarians should be lifelong learners, as they often undergo continuing education and training to keep up with cutting edge technology and constantly changing information systems. Experienced librarians can advance to management positions, such as department head, library director, or chief information officer.
Librarian Job Prospects
The OOH predicts that although employment growth is projected as slower than average, job opportunities are expected to be favorable because a large number of librarians are expected to retire in the coming decade. Employment is anticipated to grow by 4 percent between 2006 and 2016, slower than average for all occupations, as government budget constraints and the increasing use of electronic resources will limit the hiring of librarians.
However, there will still be a need for librarians to manage staff and help users. Most positions will be outside traditional settings, such as private corporations, nonprofit organizations, and consulting firms, and librarians offering their services as information brokers, and public school librarians, usually drawn from the ranks of teachers, will have particularly favorable prospects.
Finding a Library Job
Through persistent sleuthing, the good candidates should prevail, says Dr. Nemko of USNews.com. Hikari, a reader of Dr. Nemko’s article, says that librarians with specialized skills have the best chances of finding a niche position. LisJobs.com is a good job search resource while NMRLS.org lists positions all over the United States, and in Canada. Individuals should also make good use of their alumni networks. People who enjoy reading, helping others, and learning new technology, should consider becoming librarians in various settings and specialty areas.
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