Librarian
Librarian
Career Overview
Librarians help people discover information, conduct research, and connect with books, digital resources, and other learning materials. Modern librarians are also information specialists, helping people evaluate sources, navigate digital information, and use technology effectively.
Education
Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science, library and information studies, or a related program. Some specialized library roles may also require education or professional training in a particular subject area. Requirements vary by location and type of library.
Work Environment
Librarians work in public libraries, schools, colleges and universities, government organizations, businesses and specialized information centres. Their work can include research support, community programs, digital resources, technology, collection management, and helping people find reliable information
Future Outlook
Libraries are evolving into modern learning and information hubs. Librarians are increasingly working with digital collections, online research, data, technology and information literacy, while continuing to provide trusted resources and community services. Employment opportunities will vary by location.
Recommended High School Courses
- Computer Science
- Communication
- Social studies
- History
- English
- Literature
- Media Studies
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Teach others to use technology or equipment.
- Process library materials.
- Select educational materials or equipment.
- Maintain operational records.
- Search information sources to find specific data.
- Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
- Help patrons use library or archival resources.
- Direct department activities.
- Develop library or archival databases.
- Confer with others to conduct or arrange operational activities.
- Classify materials according to standard systems.
- Plan community programs or activities for the general public.
- Develop policies or procedures for archives, museums or libraries.
- Organize informational materials.
- Direct activities of subordinates.
- Inspect materials or equipment to determine need for repair or replacement.
- Train staff members.
- Negotiate purchases or contracts.
- Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
- Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
- Compile specialized bibliographies or lists of materials.
- Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
- Promote educational institutions or programs.
- Develop instructional materials.
- Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.
- Construct exhibits or parts of exhibits.
- Write grant proposals.
- Advise educators on curricula, instructional methods, or policies.
Schools
Drexel University
East Carolina University
Emporia State University
Indiana University-bloomi...
Kent State University
Rutgers University- New B...
Simmons University
St. Catherine University
Suny At Albany
Suny At Buffalo
Syracuse University
University Of Alabama- Tu...
University Of Arizona
University Of California-...
University Of Illinois At...
University Of Maryland- C...
University Of North Carol...
University Of Wisconsin-...
Durham College- Oshawa...
University Of Alberta
Western University
York University- Glendon...
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$39,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$64,000.00 /yr
High End:
$101,000.00 /yr
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.