Did you know that not everyone who works in a library is a librarian?
Librarians are required to obtain a Master's of Library and Information Science before they can be employed. This degree can cover a variety of courses (such as information organization, information classification, and information systems) and specialties ( archives, computer science, children's literature and more). Their responsibilities can range from creating summer reading programs to cataloging library items to marketing the library.
Below are some of the different types of librarians.
Public Librarians. There are 116, 867 public libraries in the United States. Most of these libraries require a card for you to check out books and other items. Cards can usually be obtained by bringing in proof that you reside in the geographic area the library serves. Public librarians manage libraries, order books, determine when damaged or irrelevant items are removed from the collection, plan and hold reading programs and public events, oversee budgets, track statistics, answer questions, help people with research, and more.
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School Librarians. School librarians include librarians at K-12 public and private schools. Many school librarians are required to have teacher certification, and to teach in a classroom for three years. This requirement can vary by state. This is in addition to having a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. Some of a school librarian's duties include assisting students with research, managing the library budget, planning programs, evaluating and acquiring new resources, and teaching classes.
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Academic Librarians. These can include law school librarians, a third of whom have a law degree. It also includes librarians at community colleges and four-year universities. Many academic librarians have a second Master's degree. Many colleges and universities require their librarians to pursue a tenure track. Requirements for this track can include teaching a for-credit information literacy course, doing research, and publishing in journals. Academic librarians can also help students, staff, and faculty with research, and are often members of university committees.
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Special librarians. These are librarians who don't fit into other categories. These can include media librarians, corporate librarians, government librarians, solo librarians who work in small libraries, and more.
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Curious about the world of libraries? Check out the
American Library Association website, or look up more information about library-related professions at the
Occupational Outlook Handbook website.
1. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
