All careers

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

What you’d do

  • Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
  • Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
  • Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
  • Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
  • Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
  • Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
  • Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
  • Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.

Skills that matter

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
  • Service Orientation

How to get there

Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

Also called

  • Librarian
  • Library Media Specialist
  • Reference Librarian
  • University Librarian
  • Catalog Librarian
  • Cataloger

Related careers

See all careers

  • Library Technicians

    Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Library Assistants, Clerical

    Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Archivists

    Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents.

    Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

  • Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary

    Teach courses in library science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and…

    Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

  • Instructional Coordinators

    Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide…

    Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

  • Social Science Research Assistants

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research.

    Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree