How to Become a Librarian

Guide Note Librarians are information detectives, technology masters, privacy defenders and literacy advocates. How to Become a Librarian shows you how to join this diverse and evolving profession.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Assess the Field
• Step 2: Choose a Focus
• Step 3: Get the Degree
• Step 4: Join a Professional Organization
• Step 5: Find a Job

Librarian Tips

1. Most professional librarian jobs require a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree.
2. Librarians may work in academic, public, school, or special settings.
3. Scholarships and other financial assistance may be available for library students.
4. Join a professional organization for networking and continuing education.

Mahalo Career How Tos

• How to Write a Resume
• How to Tie a Tie
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• How to Survive a Recession
• How to Improve Your Writing
• How to Leave a Job on Good Terms
• How to Dress for a Job Interview

• by Megan Honig

Introduction

• Let's get real.
• Librarians aren't frumpy, authoritarian bunheads;¹ in fact, a few librarians are quite hip.² Not everyone who works in a library is a librarian,³ and professional librarians work in a variety of workplaces, including schools, universities, nonprofit organizations and law firms. As a librarian, you won't get to sit around and read all day,⁴ and you may just have one of the most stressful jobs around.⁵ But if you like research, archiving, technology, public service or working with young people, librarianship may be the right profession for you.

Step 1: Assess the Field

• Before you decide to become a librarian, make sure you are aware of the available opportunities and requirements for professional positions.

1. Employment Outlook
   

   Statistics indicate that library positions should be opening up within the next decade. (Creative Commons photo by audrey-sel)
   1. The number of librarian jobs in the U.S. is expected to increase by 4 percent between 2006 and 2016.⁶
   2. Large numbers of working librarians are expected to retire in the next decade.⁶
   3. University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science estimates nearly 20,000 job openings for school librarians in the next 10 years⁷
2. Salaries
   1. Librarians' salaries vary by state and by type of job.
   2. Median librarian salary in May 2006 was $49,060.⁶
   3. Mean librarian salary in 2007 was $57,809.⁸
3. Credentials
   1. Most professional librarian jobs in the U.S.require a Masters Degree,⁶ usually called the MLS or Master of Library Science.⁹
   2. Some library positions, like the School Media Specialist, may require additional certification.¹⁰

Step 2: Choose a Focus

• Consider what type of library position best suits your interests.

1. Academic Librarian
   1. Serves students, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities.¹¹
   2. Responsible for research, technology, and information literacy instruction.¹²
   3. May be eligible for tenure or faculty status.¹³
2. Public Librarian
   1. Serves local communities.
   2. Responsible for service to all age groups.¹¹
   3. An experienced public librarian may work as a library administrator.¹⁴
3. School Librarian
   1. Also called a School Media Specialist¹⁵
   2. Responsible for collections, technology, information literacy instruction and partnering with teachers.¹⁵
   3. Gets summers and school vacations off!¹⁶
4. Special Librarian
   1. Serves corporations, museums, associations, and more.¹⁷
   2. Responsible for technology, information gathering and direct service to employer.¹⁸

Step 3: Get the Degree

• Graduate programs offer a variety of approaches to library and information science. Traditional library schools focus on public, school and academic library careers, but in the past ten years, some progressive institutions have become information schools or iSchools, which take a broader and more abstract approach to studying how information is organized and retrieved.¹⁹

• Choose Programs of Interest
• The American Library Association maintains a list of accredited library and information science programs.¹² Decide which programs are right for you based on several factors.

1. Program focus and course offerings.¹⁹ Interested in archiving? Youth services? Library administration? Make sure the programs you choose offer multiple courses suited to your interests.
2. Ranking. Generalized sources such as U.S. News and World Report²⁰ rate library science programs, but take these with a grain of salt.¹⁹ General rankings do not take your particular program needs into account.
3. Location. Choose a program in a location where you are comfortable attending school, or look for one of the many Library and Information Studies programs that offer distance learning opportunities.¹⁹
4. Cost. In-state, public universities offer the least expensive tuition. Private or out-of-state public universities will leave you with higher tuition bills.

• Submit Applications
  

  The GRE General Test is a common requirement for applying to graduate programs. Creative Commons photo by David Boyle)
• Now that you've identified desired programs, put together your application. Required qualifications vary by institution.

1. You will need a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA¹²
2. Any undergraduate major is considered adequate preparation.⁶
3. Some but not all schools require standardized tests such as the GRE.¹²
4. Most schools also request a letter of recommendation from a professor or employer.¹²

• Fund Your Education
• Tuition costs for MLS programs varies significantly, especially between public and private universities. A student loan may help defray the cost, but other funding sources may also be available.

1. Check the ALA website for a list of schools and institutions that offer financial assistance.²¹
2. Some libraries or library systems, like the New York Public Library, may help pay for MLS degrees for their employees.²²
3. If you are American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, you may apply for ALA's Spectrum Scholarship.²³ This scholarship provides financial assistance for students whose ethnic background is currently under-represented in U.S. librarianship.²³

• Attend Library School
• Library students study everything from storytelling to metadata. Here are some things you can expect from your library education.

1. A typical library degree takes 12-18 months to complete for full-time students²⁴ and 2-3 years for part-timers.²⁵
2. Most programs offer core classes and electives, and some also offer areas of specialization such as archives or children's and youth services²⁶
3. Many schools require internships or practica, particularly for school media specialists.²⁷
4. Your program may include an optional or required thesis or exit project to culminate your studies.¹²

Step 4: Join a Professional Organization

• To participate in continuing education, share ideas with other library professionals and gain valuable networking opportunities, consider joining a professional organization.²⁸

• Choose an Organization

1. The American Library Association
   1. The world's largest library association.²⁹
   2. Hosts numerous events including an Annual Conference each summer.³⁰
2. An ALA Division
   1. Focuses on a specific type of library work such as young adult services, academic librarianship or administration.³¹
   2. Members must also belong to ALA.³¹
   3. May host smaller conferences.³²
3. A State Library Association
   1. Focuses on library services in a specific state
   2. Does not require membership in ALA.³³

• Take Advantage of Student Discounts

1. Students often receive a discounted membership rate in library associations.³⁴.
2. Students may be eligible to join state and national organizations jointly for further savings.³⁴
3. Each year, some library students attend ALA's Annual Conference free of charge in exchange for volunteer work³⁵

Step 5: Find a Job

• Congratulations! You've got your credentials. Now it's time to look for a professional librarian job.

• Prepare Your Resume
• The MLS is the minimum qualification for a professional librarian position,³⁶ but employers want to know what unique qualifications you bring to the job. There is no need and not enough room to list every previous job on your resume,³⁷ so be sure to include your most relevant experience and accomplishments.

1. Previous library work. Many employers prefer candidates with library experience.³⁶ An internship or paraprofessional position at a library can help you in the long run, even if the short term pay is less than ideal.³⁸
2. Other work experience. If you have not worked in a library, think about skills you have developed in other contexts that may help you as a librarian. Previous experience with customer service, management, or serving young people will prepare you for many types of library work.³⁸ If you are going into a subject-specific library, such as an art library, previous work in the field demonstrates subject knowledge, which will come in handy in a professional librarian position.³⁷

• Find an Opening
  

  Major institutions like the New York Public Library often post librarian job listings on their websites. (Creative Commons photo by Tobias)
• To find a job, you'll need to know about an open librarian position. Use professional contacts and librarian-specific employment websites to find out where you can apply.

1. Bring multiple copies of your resume to library conferences. ALA's Placement Service allows employers to interview prospective employees on-site at Midwinter and Annual Conferences.³⁹
2. Check libraries' websites. Individual libraries and library systems, such as the New York Public Library, may post job openings on the web.⁴⁰
3. Library schools often post job listings on physical bulletin boards or electronic mailing lists. Some schools, like Simmons College, maintain publicly accessible online job listings.⁴¹
4. Librarian employment websites list a variety of available librarian positions. Visit these sites to view openings across the U.S. and Canada.
   1. ALA JobLIST⁴²
   2. Library Job Postings⁴³
   3. LISjobs.com⁴⁴

• Prepare for an Interview
• In most cases, an interview for a librarian position resembles a standard job interview, but there are some library-specific tips to keep in mind.

1. If the library where you are applying is open to the public, visit the space beforehand to get a feel for the community, atmosphere and collections.³⁸
2. Candidates for academic librarian positions are often invited to spend the day at the academic library.⁴⁵ These meetings are day-long interviews and include a short presentation by the candidate, lunch and meeting librarians from multiple departments.⁴⁵
3. Take a look at 101+ Commonly Asked Interview Questions.⁴⁶ This list of interview questions for prospective librarians was compiled in 1999, but most of the items on the list are relevant today.

Conclusion

• Hang in there! Becoming a librarian takes time and effort, but you'll end up in a diverse, rewarding profession.

References for How To Become a Librarian

1. ↑ CNN.com: CNN.com - Librarians oppose shushing action figure (Sep. 8, 2003)
2. ↑ New York Times: A Hipper Crowd of Shushers (July 8, 2007)
3. ↑ ALA: Types of Jobs
4. ↑ Library Journal: How to Become a Librarian
5. ↑ BBC News: Librarians 'suffer most stress' (January 12, 2006)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} Occupational Outlook Handbook: Librarians
7. ↑ University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science: Have You Considered a Career as a School Librarian? > Career outlook
8. ↑ ALA: Library Staff Salaries 2007
9. ↑ ALA: LIS Directory
10. ↑ ALA: Library Education & Licensing
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} ALA: Types of Libraries
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5} ALA: A Great Career @ Your Library
13. ↑ Academic-Librarian-Status: A guide to the professional status of academic librarians in the United States (and other places)
14. ↑ ALA: Public Librarians Talk About the Profession
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science: Have you Considered a Career as a School Librarian? > About the Job
16. ↑ University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science: Have you Considered a Career as a School Librarian? > Overview
17. ↑ Special Libraries Association: General Industry FAQs
18. ↑ Special Libraries Assocation: About Information Professionals
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3} ALA: How to choose a library science school
20. ↑ U.S. News and World Report: Library & Information Studies - Best Graduate Schools
21. ↑ ALA: Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies
22. ↑ New York Public Library: FAQs at the New York Public Library
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} ALA: Spectrum
24. ↑ Indiana University SLIS: Programs & Degrees Questions
25. ↑ University of North Carolina Greensboro Department of Library and Information Studies: Frequenly Asked Questions
26. ↑ Queens College GSLIS: Academic Programs
27. ↑ Queens College GSLIS: Master of Library Science, School Media Specialist
28. ↑ ALA: Member Stories
29. ↑ ALA: FAQ
30. ↑ ALA: Events and Conferences
31. ↑ ^{31.0 31.1} ALA: Divisions
32. ↑ ALA: ALA and Chapter Conferences Calendar
33. ↑ ALA: State and Regional Chapters
34. ↑ ^{34.0 34.1} ALA: Student Members
35. ↑ ALA: Student Chapter Resources
36. ↑ ^{36.0 36.1} Library Journal: The Entry-Level Gap (May 1, 2005)
37. ↑ ^{37.0 37.1} LISCareer.com: Making Non-Library Experience Work for You
38. ↑ ^{38.0 38.1 38.2} Library Journal: Finding a Library Job (6/1/2005)
39. ↑ ALA: Current Conference Placement Services]
40. ↑ New York Public Library: Employment Opportunities
41. ↑ Simmons College: GSLIS New England Jobline
42. ↑ ALA: JobLIST
43. ↑ LibraryJobPostings.org: Library Job Postings on the Internet
44. ↑ LISjobs.com: Library Job Postings on the Internet
45. ↑ ^{45.0 45.1} LISCareer.com: Interviewing at Academic Libraries
46. ↑ Ann E. Robinson: 101+ Commonly Asked Interview Questions