How to Be an Academic Librarian

Becoming a librarian is more work than a lot of people think. Many people do not realize that not only does it require a Master’s degree, in some environments, such as the academia, it can and does often require a more advanced education. Education is never over after a student receives their Master’s of Library (and Information) Science. In librarianship, professional development is ongoing and indeed a lifetime journey. If you are interested in becoming and academic librarian, following the steps below will put you on the right track.

Instructions

1. Enroll in a four-year university program. Academic librarians come from a wide range of disciplines, so it is not necessary to major in an undergraduate Library and Information Science program.

2. Choose to major in a field that you enjoy, and get good grades in this field. To be a librarian of any capacity, you must have a Master's degree in Library (and Information) Science. Master's programs in all fields are competitive and usually require a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for admission, in addition to other requirements set forth by the Master’s degree program to which you are applying.

3. Start researching graduate schools your sophomore or junior year in college. Look for schools with accredited Master's programs in Library (and Information) Science. Request application materials from those schools that you are interested in.

4. Make note of deadlines. If you are applying for Financial Aid, realize that many schools request all application materials be received in their Admissions Office before the Christmas season of the academic year before you wish to begin classes. Therefore, if you wish to begin classes in the Fall after you graduate from your BA / BS program, your application, GRE scores, Financial Aid information, Statement of Purpose, transcripts and all other supplemental application material must be sent and received in December of your senior year of college.

5. Take the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). Most, graduate programs in the United States require that all prospective graduate students take the GRE. Different programs and different schools have different score expectations. Begin preparation for the GRE your junior year in college at the latest if you wish to take the exam the summer before your senior year.

6. Enroll in an accredited school of Library (and Information) science. You will notice that there are many areas of specialization. The Academic Library, the Public Library, School Library and Media Centers, and Special Libraries--to name the most popular. Each of these specializations has different elective requirements. While some schools do not require you to choose a specialization, many schools encourage it.

7. Maintain a high GPA. While most Master's programs do not grant credit for grades below a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, maintaining a very high GPA when you wish to become an Academic Librarian is of particular importance. Most academic librarians have additional Master's degrees in field that are of special interest to them. Many have PhDs. To get into these additional programs, a high GPA is a necessity.

8. Obtain an internship in a local academic library. If you cannot obtain a paid internship, consider an unpaid practicum. Many schools require some sort of work in a library before they will grant you a diploma. Obtaining work experience in the field is the best instruction you will receive.

9. Enroll in additional Master's programs (generally additional Master’s degrees will be related to your undergraduate degree) or consider obtaining a PhD in Communications, Library and Information Science or Information Technology, as your graduation from Library School approaches. Many academic librarians have more than one Master’s degree, particularly subject specialists who may hold a PhD as well in their area of interest.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand that education never ends for an academic (or any type of) librarian. Keeping up with technological advances and groundbreaking research in your area of specialization is not only desirable, but also imperative if you are to prosper in this field.