Librarians: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
- Education Required
- Librarians typically need a masters degree in library science (MLS). Students need a bachelors degree in any major to enter MLS programs.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 9% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Public school librarians typically need a teachers certification. Some states require librarians to pass a standardized test, such as the PRAXIS II Library Media Specialist test. A list of requirements by state and contact information for state regulating boards is available from Libraries Unlimited.
- Median pay: How much do Librarians make?
- $57,680 Annual Salary
- $27.73 per hour
Librarians help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of library they work in, such as public, academic, and medical libraries.
Duties
Librarians typically do the following:
- Help library patrons conduct research and find the information they need
- Teach classes about information resources
- Help patrons evaluate search results and reference materials
- Organize library materials so they are easy to find, and maintain collections
- Plan programs for different audiences, such as storytelling for young children
- Develop and use databases of library materials
- Research new books and materials by reading book reviews, publishers announcements, and catalogs
- Choose new books, audio books, videos, and other materials for the library
- Research and buy new computers and other equipment as needed for the library
- Train and direct library technicians, assistants, other support staff, and volunteers
- Prepare library budgets
In small libraries, librarians are often responsible for many or all aspects of library operations. They may manage a staff of library assistants and technicians. In larger libraries, they usually focus on one aspect of library work, including user services, technical services, or administrative services.
The following are examples of types of librarians:
Careers for Librarians
- Academic librarians
- Acquisitions librarians
- Administrative services librarians
- Catalog librarians
- Children's librarians
- Collection development librarians
- Electronic resources librarians
- Film librarians
- Government documents librarians
- High school librarians
- Information architect librarians
- Interlibrary loan services librarians
- Law librarians
- Medical librarians
- Music librarians
- Periodicals librarians
- Public librarians
- Record librarians
- Reference librarians
- Research librarians
- School librarians
- Serials librarians
- Special librarians
- Technical services librarians
- University librarians
- User services librarians
- Youth services librarians