Public Librarianship—It’s More Than You Think.
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A public librarian does more than check out books. Technology expert, information detective, manager, literacy expert, trainer, community programming coordinator, reader advisor, children’s storyteller, material reviewer and buyer—a public librarian’s job offers a diverse and exciting range of responsibilities, projects, and opportunities.
Meet real public librarians
Read about some real life public librarians, how they choose their profession, and why they love it.
What are the educational requirements?
Most public library positions require a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree, preferably from a school accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). Undergraduate degrees in almost any subject area are appropriate. For a list of ALA-accredited library schools, please see www.ala.org/alaorg/oa/lisdir.html.
What scholarship opportunities are available?
The American Library Association (ALA) provides a variety of scholarship opportunities. Read about them at www.ala.org/work/awards/scholars.html.
Among the scholarships ALA offers for continuing library education are the Spectrum Scholarships for African American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American/Alaskan Native students in graduate programs in library and information studies and the Century Scholarships for graduate students with disabilities. Read more about it at www.ala.org/spectrum/index.html.
Other library associations and libraries may also offer education reimbursement or scholarships. Check the Web pages of your local library or the pages of the organizations listed in the reference section below.
Available through the American Library Association Human Resource Development and Recruitment Office is the publication: “Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies.” Call 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4281, for more information.
Where can I find salary information?
Public library salaries vary depending upon your experience, the size of the library, and what region of the country the library is located in. Most professional positions within public libraries require a master’s degree in library and information studies. The “2001 ALA Survey of Librarian Salaries” reveals the following:
- For beginning full-time librarians with a Master’s degree in library and information studies accredited by the ALA but with no professional experience, the salary range during the year 2000 was: $30,126–$37,580.
- The mean salary for library managers and those who supervise support staff was $42,629 in 2000.
- Deputy/associate and assistant library directors earned a mean salary of $59,346 in 2000.
- Public library directors’ salaries were at a mean of $72,384 during 2000.
- The percentage of increase in the mean of salaries in 2000 is 3.75% from the previous year.
What does the future hold for public librarians?
“Occupational Outlook Quarterly Online, Winter 2000” (at http://stats.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2000/winter/contents.htm)
notes that the number of librarian jobs is projected to grow about 5 percent
between 1998 and 2008. By 2008, librarians are expected to hold more than
159,000 jobs—7,000 more than they did in 1998. Retiring Baby Boomer
librarians and those leaving the profession for other reasons will create
about 39,000 job openings from 1998–2008. Additionally, librarians’
technological skills have improved their employment prospects.
Where can I find other resources about the profession?
For more information about careers in public librarianship, visit these sites:
An excellent site with tons of good information developed by Master of
Library
Science Program in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University,
Syracuse, New York:
http://istweb.syr.edu/21stcenlib/who/public.html.
More good information about what it’s like in the library world compiled
by the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative:
www.becomealibrarian.com.
From Occupational Outlook Quarterly Online 44, no. 4 (winter 2000), “Librarians:
Information Experts in the Information Age”:
http://stats.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2000/winter/contents.htm.
Where can I find the public library closest to me?
If you aren’t a user of your local public library, start now! Using your zip code, www.connectnet.org will connect you to places where you can use a computer, get on the Internet, and often get help learning about technology—usually for free! This is most often your local public library.
Or check the phone book. A call to any library in your area will connect you with reference librarians who can tell you where the closest library is and how to get there.
Visiting the library and observing the work of the staff there will give you an idea of what is involved, though you won’t see all the behind-the-scenes work. Talk to the staff and ask questions. Consider volunteering at the library or, if paying jobs are available, apply for those you are qualified for. Volunteers may be asked to shelve books, help with computers, answer questions. Paid workers may check out books, create displays, assist librarians and oversee staff or volunteers. Some public libraries provide opportunities for their staffs to work toward their MLS degrees while working at the library.
Fast facts
- There are 8,981 public libraries (administrative entities) and a total of 15,994 buildings (including branches) in the United States. (Source: American Library Association Public Information Office, 1998.)
- Americans visited their public library an average of seven times in 1998 and 64% of Americans visited a public library at least once in the last year-up from 51% in 1978. One in 10 visit the library more than 25 times a year. (Source: American Library Association Public Information Office, 1998.)
- More information about libraries, see https://cs.ala.org/@yourlibrary/factsandfigures.cfm.
- Other articles about libraries:
12 Way Libraries are Good for the Country, www.ala.org/alonline/news/12ways.html. - 10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library
www.ala.org/alonline/news/10reasons.html.
Web links to library associations and organizations
American Association of Law Libraries
American Library Association
Association of Research Libraries
Council on Library and Information Resources
Freedom to Read Foundation
Intellectual Freedom Committee
Library Advocacy and Support Page
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Medical Library Association
National Commission on Libraries and Information
Science
Public Library Association
Reference
Service Forum, Reference Recycling Project
Society of American Archivists
Special Libraries Association
Urban Libraries Council