How to Become a Public Librarian in California
Public librarians serve the information and literacy needs of their community by helping sort, acquire, order and organize books, music, film and other resources. Librarians aid with research requests, preservation and archiving. If you enjoy organizing and sorting literature and information, and like helping others, you might enjoy a career in a public library. Public librarians averaged a salary of $48,000 per year in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Instructions
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Apply to one or both of the accredited library science programs in California, San Jose State University or University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). These are the only education options for Californians--San Jose State's program can be taken as a distance learning degree.
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Enroll in and complete your library science program to receive a master's in library and information science. Take courses geared toward public library services, such as San Jose State's, "Issues in Public Libraries," or UCLA's "Public Libraries."
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Obtain a library position while working toward your degree either at your school's library or at a public library in your community. Entry-level library pages sort and shelve books--library assistants work the circulation desk and assist library patrons. If you can't find a paid position, do field work or an internship through your school.
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Receive your master's in library and information science (MLIS) upon completion of your degree. With an MLIS from an accredited university you can begin looking for librarian jobs.
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Search for open California public library jobs using the directories listed at LIS Jobs (see Resources) or by approaching public libraries in your town or county. Apply for any jobs that interest you.
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Interview for open positions and accept a job offer for a librarian position.
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References
Resources
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