How to Become a Librarian

Library Science and Information Management is a growing field that needs enthusiastic employees who are dedicated to preserving and protecting data in all its forms. You may not think of a High School Librarian's job as a highly specialized, challenging career, but you're wrong.

All schools employ librarians who select and order books appropriate for their school's student body and their current collection. As a High School librarian, you may find yourself requisitioning audio-visual equipment, new computers, or other materials pertinent to your school's educational program. Your day to day duties may change with the size of the library you work in. In very large libraries, you may work with a sizable staff that includes clerks or technical assistants. In more modest libraries, a head librarian man work alone. In High School, students begin to learn research techniques and as their librarian you are an indispensable resource.

You may hold orientation sessions for individual classes that explain the myriad of technical and traditional library resources available to students, or help individual students by suggesting specific sources. Most libraries have a selection of Audio-Visual and multimedia materials. Some are educational in nature, others, recreational. Perhaps a faculty member wishes to show a biopic on Vincent Van Gogh - it's your job to ensure that film is available for check out, and in working order.

Often in schools, librarians will set up attractive displays focused on a theme pertinent to their students' education. You may find yourself working on a selection of literature appropriate for Black History Month, or arranging a display of poetry to honor Emily Dickinson.

Of course, all this takes training, and attending a university accredited by the American Library Association is your first step. Earn a Master's Degree in Library Science or Information Management, and pick a specialty. You may decide that elementary schools attract you more than a traditional library or other academic environment, and many ALA certified colleges and universities have special programs to prepare interested students for Elementary Librarianship.

If you have a Bachelor's with a strong concentration in a specific field, like Art History, or Media Studies, there are also programs which offer Master's degrees that train you for work as a Media Librarian, or as a head of a museum's special collections. You can take additional courses in conservation to help preserve rare books, or sometimes earn a dual Master's degree in Art to aid your career.

Top 6 Characteristics For Becoming a Librarian

If you are interested in choosing the career path of a Librarian, you should have certain characteristics and values.

1) The desire to help, teach, and serve others.
2) Believe strongly in the First Amendment, protecting the freedom of speech and press.
3) Respect others right to privacy and the freedom to read any subject they choose.
4) Have an interest in information research.
5) Have an interest in a wide variety of resources, materials, and subjects.
6) Have advanced computer skills and adapt quickly to new technology

Librarian positions generally have three components: user services, technical services, and administrative services. Librarians may specialize in one of these areas or in small libraries, they may be responsible for all three areas.

In user services, librarians assist visitors in locating the material they are looking for, rather it be research material, learning material, or books and media that are fictional in nature. They may also teach visitors how to find and acquire information on the internet or instruct in the use of the card catalogue.

Technical service librarians, specialize in acquisitions and cataloguing. They acquire, prepare, and classify materials so that patrons can find it easily. Some write abstracts and summaries. Often, these librarians do not deal directly with the public, but work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of the library.

Administrative service librarians manage the operations of the library. They may negotiate contracts, supervise library workers, work with budgets, and oversee all activities in the operation of the library.

There are several types of libraries in which a Librarian may work. There are public libraries, school libraries, media center libraries, and university or academic libraries. Information centers, corporations, law firms, advertising agencies, medical centers, museums, research laboratories, and government libraries all hire Librarians.