What do librarians do

There are several requirements for obtaining a position as a librarian, including:. Studying for an MLS degree can include a variety of topics, such as research methods, cataloging and classification methods, book preservation, digital preservation and archive management.

Most librarians will choose an area of specialty, such as a reference librarian, digital archivist or manuscript preservation and restoration.

An MLS program typically takes one to two years to complete. Librarians receive most of their training through formal education, but they can also receive on-the-job training and usually gain experience as interns, volunteers or part-time workers in a library before becoming full librarians. Most librarian positions consider an MLS degree to be the only certification necessary. However, some states or institutions may have certification or licensure requirements, so you should research the typical requirements in your desired area of employment.

School librarians must complete the certification required by their state for education professionals. Librarians can also obtain the following certifications:. Offered by the American Library Association ALA , this certification consists of a voluntary post-MLS program for librarians with three or more years of supervisory experience.

Candidates have to take courses in seven of nine possible competency areas to receive this certification, which demonstrates that they have acquired a nationally and professionally recognized body of knowledge. To become Certified Library Support Staff, candidates must have a minimum of a high school degree or its equivalent and one year of experience in a library within the last five years.

They will take courses in six of ten possible competency areas to demonstrate their understanding of library operations. Librarians need a variety of skills to be successful in their role:. Librarians need excellent organization skills to manage the vast amounts of data and information they encounter and oversee.

They might organize numerous books in a library, keep detailed records of incoming and outgoing sources of information and oversee information database structures. Librarians will often have a high level of social interaction with visitors to the library. They should possess strong interpersonal skills to provide excellent customer service to their visitors.

Verbal and written communication skills will always assist a librarian in their duties, since they communicate with vendors, collectors, students, professors and other visitors.

They may have in-person discussions and also communication via email, letter or phone. Librarians need excellent analytical skills to process large amounts of information. They will also regularly make decisions regarding the classification, organization and storage of different materials. Information science professionals often have a serious interest in research.

This interest can assist librarians when helping visitors find various kinds of information. Librarians use computers on a daily basis for recording information and for creating or updating databases. They need to be comfortable with word processing programs, spreadsheets and specialized computer programs in their industry.

He added that law and medical librarians need to be proficient in database skills now as well, and they require knowledge of unique search methodologies. For example, law librarians use WestlawNext and ProQuest Congressional to call up sources and documents required by legal experts.

Similarly, an experienced medical librarian uses medical databases—including MEDLINE and FDA drug approval and adverse event databases—to help doctors dig up information on rare diseases, pharmaceuticals, surgical procedures, and hard-to-find research. Academic librarians tend to earn higher salaries, and librarians in urban areas generally make more than those working in rural areas, according to the ALA.

Data from the U. Employment is projected to grow 9 percent from to , about as fast as the BLS average for all occupations. Jobs for elementary and secondary school librarians saw the highest levels of employment with 44, jobs in their field in , compared with only 4, for junior college librarians.

The ALA lists other skills that are key to succeeding in the profession:. Having knowledge of additional languages and experience working with special needs populations is also a plus. While hard skills are important to be effective, character traits are equally important to become a well-rounded librarian. Have they done their homework? The flexibility component is a big one because technology is changing quickly, and librarians need to be willing to adapt and learn new skills, such as helping patrons with 3D printing.

Their abilities to adapt and manage change effectively are the very qualities that serve them well in their second profession. Help us get to know you better by filling out the brief form below. A member of our community will be in touch soon to connect and we will email you with information about the program. What Do Librarians Do? Database administrator: installs, manages, troubleshoots, and plans upgrades to the systems that organizations use for their day-to-day operations.

Data analyst: manages and interprets data so they can help organizations make better business decisions. This career typically requires a master's degree and certification. Learn about the requirements in the state in which you plan to work using the License Finder tool from CareerOneStop. Specific personal qualities, called soft skills , can contribute to your success as a librarian.

Communities are finding new and innovative uses for libraries, which results in more staff hiring. Librarians can spend a fair amount of time on the library floor and on their feet when assisting patrons, but the majority of the work time is spent in an office or at the circulation desk.

Some might travel to other sites occasionally. Librarian jobs are usually full-time. It's not uncommon to work weekends, evenings, and holidays. School librarians might have summers off if they work for a college or university that doesn't offer summer classes. Librarians in law libraries or who work for corporations might occasionally work overtime to handle pressing deadlines.

The ALA offers many resources for finding library job openings on its website. Create a resume and cover letter that play up your strengths and set you apart from other candidates. Human resources representatives and hiring managers often ask the same types of questions when conducting interviews.

To prepare for your interview, learn what those questions are and practice the best responses to them. Some similar jobs call for more extensive — or less extensive — education, and they pay accordingly. Figures given are median annual salaries:. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.