Librarians and library workers help people find information and use it effectively for personal and professional purposes. They must have knowledge of a wide variety of scholarly and public information sources and must be on the cutting edge of technology trends in order to provide service. People with varying levels of education and a wide variety of interests work in libraries.
LibraryCareers.org is a service of the American Library Association designed to promote interest, awareness, and information about careers in libraries. Its purpose is to serve as a starting point to anyone who may be considering working in a library http://librarycareers.drupalgardens.com/
Employment Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of librarians is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. A large number of librarians are likely to retire in the coming decade, but job growth will be limited by government budget constraints and the increasing use of electronic resources which may result in the hiring of fewer librarians and the replacement of librarians with less costly library technicians and assistants.
Education: A master’s degree in library science (MLS), preferably from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited school, is necessary for librarian positions in most public, academic, and special libraries, although smaller libraries will sometimes hire people with other degrees or equivalent experience because they have a more difficult time filling positions. School librarians may not need an MLS but must meet state teaching license requirements.
Lots of opportunities to specialize:
- Public libraries
- School libraries
- Academic and research libraries
- Special Libraries: Archives, Art, Law, Medicine, Music, Government
- Job Specializations: Cataloging, Children, Information Technology, Support Staff, Reference, Teaching, Administration
Where to go for additional information:
- American Library Association web site. This site is full of information about careers, education opportunities and jobs. Single largest professional organization representing the profession. www.ala.org
- Special Libraries Organization: Focused on business, science and corporate librarianship: www.sla.org
- Music Libraries Association: http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/
- Art Libraries: www.arlisna.org
- Directory of ALA-Accredited Masters Programs: ala.org/accreditedprograms/directory