How to Plan on Becoming a Librarian
When you are planning on becoming a librarian, you must first decide what type of librarian you would like to be. There are a few types of librarian positions in different sectors.
For instance, there are academic librarians who primarily work in schools, college, and universities. There are public librarians who work in public libraries in cities and counties. There are also private sectors librarians who may work in large corporations or private hospitals.
Also planning on becoming a librarian requires that you have the proper credentials and each sector may require different types of coursework to be completed.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Before becoming a librarian you must first earn your undergraduate degree. You can major in any subject, but if you are looking toward academic librarianship, you may consider specializing in a specific subject for a more focused career as a librarian.
Many of the largest universities operate specialized libraries such as math, public health, and other subjects - so having an undergraduate degree that is more specific than general may help you to gain a position in a more specialized library if that is your interest.
-
2
While attending school for your undergraduate degree, you should consider working at a library on campus. Most libraries at universities hire students as library assistants.
The advantage of working at a library during school is that you will be able to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of a library and it will also look great on your resume. In addition, you will be able to get a feel for working in an academic setting if you are planning on becoming a librarian in the academic sector.
-
-
3
If you have some free time over summer or on the weekends, then consider volunteering at your local public library. Public libraries are always looking for volunteers and they typically only ask for a few hours a week. Try to get a volunteer job that will give you the most experience with working in a public library.
By working in an academic library and volunteering in a public library, you will be able to experience and compare academic and public libraries for yourself and determine which type of librarianship would be best for you.
-
4
Upon completion of your undergraduate degree, you should apply for a Master of Library Science (MLS) or Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program.
Look specifically for programs that are approved by the American Library Association (ALA) because a lot of librarian positions will only accept an MLS or MLIS from an ALA-accredited school. There are some universities that offer MLS or MLIS courses on-line which may be a viable option if you are looking to work full-time through your graduate studies.
-
5
While attending graduate school, focus your coursework on classes that will support the type of librarian position that you would like. Many universities will offer different tracks of study depending on whether your aim is to work in the academic, public, or private sphere of librarianship.
-
6
About a year to 6-months before you graduate you can start applying for librarian positions. Some positions will interview you and give you an offer of employment contingent on your completion of your graduate studies. As the hiring for public and academic librarianship positions usually takes a while, it is best to apply well before you graduate.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep your eyes and ear peeled for any internships that may be offered that could boost your resume when you are ready to start looking for a permanent job.
Resources
- Photo Credit Flickr: austinevan
