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309
Librarians

(D.O.T.  100 except .367-018; 109.267-014)

Nature of the Work

Librarians make information available to people.  They manage staff,
oversee the collection and cataloging of library materials, and
develop and direct information programs for the public.  They help
users find information from printed and other materials.

   Library work is divided into three basic functions: User services,
technical services, and administrative services.  Librarians in user
services for example, reference and children's librarians work
directly with users to help them find the information they need.
This may involve analyzing users' needs to determine what
information is appropriate, and searching for, acquiring, and
providing the information to users.  Librarians in technical
services, such as acquisitions librarians and catalogers, acquire
and prepare materials for use and may not deal directly with the
public.  Librarians in administrative services oversee the
management of the library, supervising library employees, preparing
budgets, and directing activities to see that all parts of the
library function properly.  Depending on the employer, librarians
may perform a combination of user, technical, and administrative
services.

   In small libraries or information centers, librarians generally
handle all aspects of the work.  They read book reviews, publishers'
announcements, and catalogs to keep up with current literature and
other available resources, and select and purchase materials from
publishers, wholesalers, and distributors.  Librarians prepare new
materials for use by classifying them by subject matter, and
describe books and other library materials in a way that users can
easily find them.  They supervise assistants who prepare cards,
computer records, or other access tools that indicate the title,
author, subject, publisher, date of publication, and location in the
library.  In large libraries, librarians often specialize in a
single area, such as acquisitions, cataloging, bibliography,
reference, special collections, circulation, or administration.

   Librarians also compile lists of books, periodicals, articles, and
audiovisual materials on particular subjects, and recommend
materials to be acquired.  They may collect and organize books,
pamphlets, manuscripts, and other materials in a specific field,
such as rare books, genealogy, or music.  In addition, they
coordinate programs such as storytelling for children and book talks
for adults; publicize services; provide reference help; supervise
staff; prepare the budget; and oversee other administrative matters.

   Librarians may be classified according to the type of library in
which they work: Public libraries, school library/media centers,
academic libraries, and special libraries.  They may work with
specific groups, such as children, young adults, adults, or
disadvantaged individuals.  In school library/media centers,
librarians help teachers develop curricula, acquire materials for
classroom instruction, and sometimes team teach.

   Librarians may also work in information centers or libraries
maintained by government agencies, corporations, law firms,
advertising agencies, museums, professional associations, medical
centers, religious organizations, and research laboratories.  They
build and arrange the organization's information resources, usually
limited to subjects of special interest to the organization.  These
special librarians can provide vital information services by
preparing abstracts and indexes of current periodicals, organizing
bibliographies, or analyzing background information on areas of
particular interest.  For instance, a special librarian working for
a corporation may provide the sales department with information on
competitors or new developments affecting their field.

   Many libraries are tied into remote data bases through their
computer terminals, and many also maintain their own computerized
data bases.  The widespread use of automation in libraries makes
data base searching skills important to librarians.  Librarians
develop and index data bases and help users develop searching skills
to obtain the information they need.  Libraries may employ automated
systems librarians who plan and operate computer systems, and
information scientists who design information storage and retrieval
systems and develop procedures for collecting, organizing,
interpreting, and classifying information.  (See statement on
computer scientists and systems analysts elsewhere in the Handbook.)
The increasing use of automated information systems enables some
librarians to spend more time analyzing future information needs as
well as on administrative and budgeting responsibilities, and to
delegate more technical and user services to technicians.  (See
statement on library technicians elsewhere in the Handbook.)

   Librarians are using automated information systems to collect,
organize, and classify information.

Working Conditions

Working conditions in user services are different from those in
technical services.  Assisting users in obtaining the information
for their jobs or for recreational and other needs can be
challenging and satisfying.  When working with users under
deadlines, the work may be busy, demanding, and stressful.  In
technical services, selecting and ordering new materials can be
stimulating and rewarding.  However, librarians may sit at desks or
at computer terminals all day.  Extended work at video display
terminals may cause eyestrain and headaches.  They may also have
their performance monitored for errors or for quantity of tasks
completed each hour or day.

   Nearly 1 out of 4 librarians works part time.  Public and college
librarians often work weekends and evenings.  School librarians
generally have the same workday schedule as classroom teachers and
similar vacation schedules.  Special librarians usually work normal
business hours.  Librarians in fast-paced industries, such as
advertising or legal services, may work over 40 hours a week under
stressful conditions.

Employment

Librarians held about 141,000 jobs in 1992.  Most were in school and
academic libraries; others were in public libraries and special
libraries.  A small number of librarians worked for hospitals and
religious organizations.  Others worked for governments at all
levels.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

A master's degree in library science (M.L.S.) is necessary for
librarian positions in most public, academic, and special libraries,
and in some school libraries.  In the Federal Government, an M.L.S.
or the equivalent in education and experience is needed.  Many
colleges and universities offer M.L.S.  programs, but many employers
prefer graduates of the approximately 60 schools accredited by the
American Library Association.  Most M.L.S.  programs require a
bachelor's degree; any liberal arts major is appropriate.

   Some programs take 1 year to complete; others take 2.  A typical
graduate program includes courses in the foundations of library and
information science, including the history of books and printing,
intellectual freedom and censorship, and the role of libraries and
information in society.  Other basic courses cover material
selection and processing; the organization of information; reference
tools and strategies; and user services.  Course options include
resources for children or young adults; classification, cataloging,
indexing, and abstracting; library administration; and library
automation.

   The M.L.S.  provides general, all-round preparation for library
work, but some people specialize in a particular area such as
archives, media, or library automation.  A Ph.D.  degree in library
and information science is advantageous for a college teaching or
top administrative position, particularly in a college or university
library or in a large library system.

   In special libraries, a knowledge of the subject specialization, or
a master's, doctoral, or professional degree in the subject is
highly desirable.  Subject specializations include medicine, law,
business, engineering, and the natural and social sciences.  For
example, a librarian working for a law firm may also be a licensed
attorney, holding both library science and law degrees.  In some
jobs, knowledge of a foreign language is needed.

   State certification requirements for public school librarians vary
widely.  Most States require that school librarians often called
library media specialists be certified as teachers and have courses
in library science.  In some cases, an M.L.S., perhaps with a
library media specialization, or a master's in education with a
specialty in school library media or educational media is needed.
Some States require certification of public librarians employed in
municipal, county, or regional library systems.

   Experienced librarians may advance to administrative positions, such
as department head, library director, or chief information officer.

Job Outlook

Employment of librarians is expected to grow more slowly than the
average for all occupations through the year 2005.  The limited
growth in employment of librarians during the 1980's is expected to
continue.  However, the number of job openings resulting from the
need to replace librarians who leave the occupation is expected to
increase by 2005, as many workers reach retirement age.  Willingness
to relocate will greatly enhance job prospects.

   Budgetary constraints will likely contribute to the slow growth in
employment of librarians in school, public, and college and
university libraries.  The increasing use of computerized
information storage and retrieval systems may also dampen the demand
for librarians.  For example, computerized systems make cataloging
easier, and this task can now be handled by other library staff.  In
addition, many libraries are equipped for users to access library
computers directly from their homes or offices.  These systems allow
users to bypass librarians and conduct research on their own.
However, librarians will be needed to help users develop data base
searching techniques and to define users' needs.  Childrens'
librarians will be the least affected by information technology
since children need special assistance.

   Opportunities will be best for librarians outside traditional
settings.  Nontraditional library settings include information
brokers, private corporations, and consulting firms.  Many companies
are turning to librarians because of their excellent research and
organizational skills, and knowledge of library automation systems.
Librarians can review the vast amount of information that is
available and analyze, evaluate, and organize it according to a
company's specific needs.  Librarians working in these settings are
often classified as systems analysts, data base specialists,
managers, and researchers.

Earnings

Salaries of librarians vary by the individual's qualifications and
the type, size, and location of the library.

   Based on a survey published in the Library Journal, starting
salaries of graduates of library school master's degree programs
accredited by the American Library Association averaged $25,900 in
1992, and ranged from $23,800 in public libraries to $27,400 in
school libraries.  In college and university libraries, they
averaged $25,400, and in special libraries, they averaged $27,700.

   According to the Educational Research Service, experienced school
librarians averaged about $37,900 during the 1992-93 school year.

   According to the Special Libraries Association, 1992 salaries for
special librarians with 1 to 2 years of library experience averaged
$29,200, and those with 3 to 5 years of experience average $31,800.
Salaries for special library managers averaged $45,200.

   The average annual salary for all librarians in the Federal
Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions
was $44,500 in 1993.

Related Occupations

Librarians play an important role in the transfer of knowledge and
ideas by providing people with access to the information they need
and want.  Jobs requiring similar analytical, organizational, and
communicative skills include archivists, information scientists,
museum curators, publishers' representatives, research analysts,
information brokers, and records managers.  The management aspect of
a librarian's work is similar to the work of managers in a variety
of business and government settings.  School librarians have many
duties similar to those of school teachers.

Sources of Additional Information

   Information on librarianship, including a listing of accredited
education programs and information on scholarships or loans,is
available from:

   American Library Association (ALA), Office for Library Personnel
Resources, 50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611.

   For information on a career as a special librarian, write to:

   Special Libraries Association, 1700 18th St.  NW., Washington, DC
20009.

   Material about a career in information science is available from:

   American Society for Information Science, 8720 Georgia Ave., Suite
501, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

   Information on graduate schools of library and information science
can be obtained from:

   Association for Library and Information Science Education, 4101 Lake
Boone Trail, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27607.

   Information on schools receiving Federal financial assistance for
library training is available from:

   Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Library Programs,
Library Development Staff, U.S.  Department of Education, 555 New
Jersey Ave.  NW., Room 402, Washington, DC 20208-5571.

   For information on a career as a law librarian, as well as a list of
ALA accredited library schools offering programs in law
librarianship and scholarship information, contact:

   American Association of Law Libraries, 53 West Jackson Blvd., Suite
940, Chicago, IL 60604.

   For information on employment opportunities as a health science
librarian, contact:

   Medical Library Association, 6 N.  Michigan Ave., Suite 300,
Chicago, IL 60602.

   Those interested in a position as a librarian in the Federal service
should write to:

   Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E St.  NW., Washington, DC
20415.

   Information concerning requirements and application procedures for
positions in the Library of Congress may be obtained directly from:

   Personnel Office, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave.  SE.,
Washington, DC 20540.

   State library agencies can furnish information on scholarships
available through their offices, requirements for certification, and
general information about career prospects in the State.  Several of
these agencies maintain job hotlines which report openings for
librarians.

   State departments of education can furnish information on
certification requirements and job opportunities for school
librarians.