- A master's in library science is the educational degree held by reference librarians, catalogers, acquisitions librarians, library directors and others who are considered professionals in the field. Library aides and other paraprofessional jobs within the field do not require a master's degree.
- Public services, also called user services, is the branch of library science that is most often seen in action when you enter a public or college library. Circulation and reference librarians assist patrons who want to find information and check out books.
- The "hidden" side to library science is technical services. Books and other forms of media are cataloged according to the Dewey or Library of Congress call numbers, processed into the library's online card catalog system and readied for the shelves. Preservation of library materials is also a part of library science classified under technical services.
- Library directors or administrators study the field of library science extensively in order to keep library operations running smoothly. Library management courses are often a required class in library science programs.
- Like many other fields, library science has options for specialization. Librarians may choose to further their educations and specialize in the areas of law, medicine, special collections (rare books) or a number of other subjects. For these jobs, a library degree and additional degrees or certifications may be required.
