Job Description for College Librarian
College librarians organize and provide access to information and help students and faculty perform research. In larger college libraries, the librarians split up the responsibilities, typically into three different areas: user services, technical services, and administrative services. In very small libraries, there may be only one or two librarians who do everything.
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User Services
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College librarians who work in user services, which is also sometimes called public services, are the people who directly assist the students and faculty with locating and utilizing information. They work at the circulation desk checking books and other materials in and out. They work at the reference desk, answering reference questions. They also teach information literacy courses and special training sessions to students to help them do more accurate and efficient research.
Technical Services
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College librarians who work in technical services are responsible for acquiring, cataloging, classifying and processing library materials. They are typically working behind the scenes and don't generally spend a lot of time directly helping students or faculty. However, their role is equally as important. Technical services staff order and pay for the library materials and then input their data into the library's online catalog so that students and faculty can locate the materials. They also make sure materials are shelved in their proper places.
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Administrative Services
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College librarians in administrative services oversee the business side of the library. They prepare and manage budgets and negotiate contracts with vendors who sell online databases, books, and other materials. They do strategic planning, focusing on the future of their library. And they often supervise other librarians and library staff. Administrative librarians are usually heavily involved in public relations and working directly with faculty to determine what information needs are not being fulfilled.
Work Environment
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College librarians spend a lot of time working at a computer. They may have work schedules that include some evenings and weekends, particularly if they work in the user services area. Their work environment may be relatively quiet, although many modern college libraries have busy and sometimes noisy public areas separated from designated quiet areas, so this can vary. College librarians must be capable of working with students of all ages and faculty with varied backgrounds. They may have to attend meetings outside the library, either on campus at faculty and staff meetings, or at conferences around the world.
Education
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The master of library science (MLS) degree is required in almost all college librarian positions. Some college libraries prefer that their librarians have a second master's degree in an academic subject area in addition to the MLS. To be the director of a college library, a doctorate is sometimes required. The doctorate can be in library science but it can also be in another field such as higher education or an academic subject area such as English, psychology or business.
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References
- Photo Credit library books image by Daughterson from Fotolia.com
