Whatever you like to do…
A librarian probably is already doing it.

The future is information.
Take charge of the future.

Are you looking for a career with diverse opportunities and room for personal and professional growth? Consider the multifaceted work of a library career. The information field is growing, and the work of librarians, the original information experts, is expanding to keep pace. Yes, the future is information. Take charge of the future by joining the information professionals.

Do you enjoy solving problems and exploring the unknown? Every day librarians sift through clues, uncover facts and help people weave knowledge from threads of information. In short, they solve mysteries. That's what research is all about: knowing where to find information and putting it into the hands of people who need it.

Is teaching your forte? School library media specialists do some of the most important teaching in schools today. They teach children how to learn, how to find and use information offered to them from many different print and audiovisual sources. And the best part is that often their teaching is done on a one-on-one basis, a very personalized and rewarding experience for both the librarian and the student.

Is the business world where you want to be? Libraries today are big business. They need good administrators to manage them. A dynamic decision-maker is in charge of hiring, personnel managing, purchasing, planning, public relations and budgeting as well as collection building. You'll never run out of business challenges in a library. You often can move into a management position fairly quickly in libraries.

Do you want to make a significant contribution to your community? Librarians serve the needs of all the people in the community. They provide not only information but also many public service and educational programs through lectures, meetings, and outreach projects.

Does high technology fascinate you? You could be in the forefront of designing and using information retrieval systems making knowledge more accessible and useful to everyone.

Have you ever considered running your own business? Free-lance librarians work as information brokers doing research for special projects. They are their own bosses and enjoy the freedom to choose to work on the projects that interest them most.

What are the other possibilities? In this rapidly changing field, the possibilities are almost limitless, especially to those with imagination and a spirit of adventure.

In a world where many jobs are being eliminated, the outlook for library careers is very good. Currently there is a shortage of librarians that is expected to continue well into the next decade - particularly in the areas of children's and young adult services, school librarianship and cataloging. Minority librarians are sought by employers. Librarians with special skills in science, computer technology, math, foreign languages, engineering, and business also are in demand.

Educational Requirements

The basic education for professional positions is a master's degree in library science that builds on a broad foundation of undergraduate liberal study. Many employers require a degree from a graduate program accredited by the American Library Association.

In graduate library degree programs, students can pursue specialization in a wide range of areas, from children's services to cataloging to managing computerized library systems. Most programs can be completed in a calendar year of full-time schoolwork, although some schools have a two-year program with a chance to gain work experience in the summer.

Many libraries also have support and paraprofessional positions that do not require a library science degree but offer excellent experience for someone interested in pursuing work in libraries.

Reentry or Second Career Opportunities

A library career is an excellent choice not only for recent college graduates but also for those reentering the work force and those making career changes. Almost any background can be used to advantage in a library career. Science, languages, computer science, teaching, art, history, geography, business and other subject specialties all give an edge to a student interested in combining previous experience with professional library skills.

What Attracts People to Library Careers?

When asked what attracted them to the field, librarians and library students gave answers that were as diverse as the people themselves. Here a few examples:

"Librarianship offers many job options, work settings, types of work, and geographic mobility."

" As a school library media specialist, I can be a more effective teacher than I can in the classroom."

"I want to see that all people in a free society can have access to any information they need."

" I enjoy cataloging because I love to organize things in a way that I can find them later."

"I chose academic librarianship because of the opportunity to work with specialized materials, students and scholars!"

"It's very rewarding to introduce children to new books and authors."

"I wanted a career where I could be intellectually challenged and more in charge."

""I like working with and helping people. I enjoy tracking down information with patrons and seeing their excitement."

"I feel what I do is worthwhile and valuable. Librarianship enables me to make a contribution to society."