Librarian

<h2 id="section---IsBeingALibrarianForMe">Is Being a Librarian for Me?</h2> <h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>Sometimes known as information professionals, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Librarian_Career_Summary_Employment_Outlook_and_Education_Requirements.html">librarians</a> assist people who are searching for specific data for professional or personal use. A <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_are_the_Job_Duties_of_a_Librarian.html">librarian's job duties</a> consist of knowing public and academic sources, keeping up-to-date on technology and helping clients navigate their searches. Some librarians manage collections, such as medical librarians, while others specialize in particular areas like children's services, material acquisition or library administration. As a librarian, you can work in a variety of environments, including <a href="https://learn.org/articles/School_Librarian_Salary_and_Career_FAQs.html">school libraries</a>, public libraries, colleges and universities, law firms, government agencies, corporations, museums and non-profit organizations. </p> <h3 id="section---EmploymentInformation">Employment Information</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment demand for librarians was predicted to increase by seven percent between 2012 and 2022 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS also reported that librarians earned a median annual wage of $55,690 in May 2013. Some of the industries that had the highest levels of librarian employment were colleges, universities and professional schools, elementary and secondary schools, local government and junior colleges. </p> <h2 id="section---HowCanIBecomeALibrarian">How Can I Become a Librarian?</h2> <h3 id="section---Education">Education</h3> <p>You'll most likely need to earn a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Library_Science_Masters_Degrees_Your_Salary_and_Career_Questions_Answered.html">master's degree in library science</a> (MLS), per the BLS. The American Library Association (ALA) acknowledges an ALA-accredited program as being the librarian's professional degree (<i>www.ala.org</i>). Undergraduate library degrees, such as a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Bachelors_Degrees_in_Library_Science_FAQs_About_Online_and_Campus_Programs.html">bachelor's degree in library science</a>, are rare; therefore, any undergraduate major is acceptable for entrance in a library science master's degree program. </p> <p>The <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Library_Science_Course_and_Degree_Programs_Your_Questions_Answered.html">library science curricula</a> can prepare you for traditional and emerging career opportunities as a librarian by offering courses in management, indexing and abstracting, retrieval of information, archiving and digital research. If you want to teach at the college level or work as an executive administrator within a public library system or postsecondary institution's library, you'll need to obtain a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science. </p> <h3 id="section---Licensure">Licensure</h3> <p>Depending on which state you live in, the licensure requirements for librarians in the public school system and local libraries may vary. Some states require librarians in the public school system to have an MLS or a master's degree in education degree with a library media concentration. As a school librarian, you may need to have teacher certification and pass an assessment test, but such requirements vary from state-to-state.</p>