How to Become a Librarian

Did you know that there is a shortage of librarians? If not, consider this: librarians are well paid professionals. In a metro area they earn upwards of fifty thousand dollars per year. Specialized librarians earn double or triple that. If you have a bachelor's degree and are unhappy in your current career, you should seriously consider becoming a librarian. All you need is a B.A. and a decent grade point average. It doesn't matter what field your degree is in. This is what makes librarianship so appealing.

What is a Librarian?

There are many myths about what being a librarian entails. The truth is that there are many male librarians. There are young librarians and old librarians. There are librarians who hate computers and librarians who are techno wizards. Librarians don't just sit behind desks and check out books or catalog them. I have worked in a prison, a pharmaceutical, a college, and a law office. In each of these jobs I had vastly different areas of responsibility. When you become a librarian, there is a huge field of opportunities available. Librarians work in schools and public libraries, but they also work in law, medicine, business, museums, government offices, the military, and endless other areas. The variety alone makes becoming a librarian a great job choice.

How to Become a Librarian

To become a librarian, you need to earn a Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or a Master's in Library Science (MLS). Both of these programs tend to be the same. My opinion is that the Information part was added to address the increasing use of technology in the field, and to reflect that the program includes training in that. All that matters about the school that you choose is that it needs to be accredited by the American Library Association. Every job that I have applied for as a librarian has specified this. For a list of accredited schools, visit the American library Association website.

Earning a Graduate Degree

The course of study for library science programs is fairly standard. If you want to specialize in a certain area, take a look at different schools to see what is offered. Unfortunately, most states only have a handful of accredited programs. Specialization within a certain field is not that helpful in finding a job. Work experience will get you the skills that you need to advance. There are many distance education programs available now as well. These may not allow you to take the exact courses you want, but will help you to get the degree.

Why You Should Become a Librarian

So, if I have not convinced you why you should become a librarian, let me tell you a little bit more about why I was drawn to this field. You can work with adults or children. You can work with the public or with professionals. As a librarian, you can work in many different environments. Librarians work in local state, and federal government. They work for law enforcement, pharmaceuticals, defense contractors, corporations, and hospitals. You can settle for a small salary, or work towards a management position and make a good living.

How to Get Your First Library Job

Although it may take two to three years to earn the master's degree that is required to become a librarian, you can typically begin working in the library field right away. Look for paraprofessional library jobs, such as Library Technical Assistant, or Library Aide. These jobs don't pay much, but they are a great stepping stone to help you meet people in the library community. If you can't change jobs, consider volunteering in the type of library that you are interested in working in. I was hired as a professional librarian after one year of experience, and only one year into my master's program. The shortage of librarians worked in my favor.

If you need a career change, you should consider becoming a librarian. There is expected to be a huge shortage of librarians in the coming decades, and for now, it is an excellent and little considered field.