If you’re considering a career in library services, start by volunteering in the field you’re interested in, academic, archives, public or museums. Interact with the library team and most importantly the users of the library. You will encounter all types of people with a a variety of needs, that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. You will need to be flexible, service oriented, and be willing to change as the library industry changes. Libraries will be changing constantly in the near future with funding and college enrollment challenges, in addition to AI and those uncharted impacts.

In my experience library professionals interpret the user needs to build collections. It is then inherent that they manage collections by digitizing, cataloguing, curating, etc. Librarian’s also connect the users with the collections through awareness programs, outreach, and all kinds of literacies programs. Librarians support research through an array of services which they also impart skills on. For example, research methodologies, database and or online searching, academic reading, and writing, where to publish, presentation, visualizing, printing (3D), etc. furthermore, librarians manage data, research outputs, profile researchers, and perform all kinds of analytics that support different decisions and projects including grant writing.

Library professionals are people oriented. from assisting users with information search to guiding them through the search, we take care of your informational need as well as emotional need. we are available to serve all be it a child who needs a safe space, a teenage doing independent reading and also those in need of a buddy reading space, an adult pursuing professional development , a youth who is doing self discovery and a senior citizen who just want a space that is welcoming

Library professionals perform a wide range of tasks including cataloging and organizing materials, assisting patrons with research and finding resources, managing digital databases, developing and implementing programs and events, providing instruction on information literacy, and maintaining the overall organization and functionality of the library space. They may also be involved in collection development, budget management, and community outreach.

One of the skills you need is the ability to decode the questions people ask you. People ask you for what they think they need/want. But you have to be able to ask the right questions to figure out what they really want and guide them to it

Yes, yes, yes, you need to have computer skills, but most importantly, you need HUMAN skills. Can you talk with people? Are you genuinely curious about people? Do you like helping people? If you said no to any of these questions, then you can't work in libraries. Working in libraries means working with the people in the community- whether that's a parent, a three-year old, an elderly patron, a patron with disabilities, or patrons in general with completely different backgrounds than yourself. There is no room for prejudice in libraries.

Acredito que uma habilidade importante seja saber lidar com pessoas. "Human Skils". Gostar de ouvir, gostar de ajudar, ter paciencia, saber lidar com problemas, saber advertir com educação e respeito, e muito mais.

To become a librarian, you need a combination of soft skills and hard skills. For hard skills, you'll need to learn how to use databases, websites (this is way more than just Google searching), programming languages (most commonly Python or SQL) & classification schemes/metadata. Top soft skills include customer service, problem solving, organization & communication. A Master's degree in Library Science is required for most jobs, so you'll need to attend a graduate program. These usually last 2 years, but each program varies.

skills needed for library services vary depending on the specific role. some common skills include: research skills which involve the ability to conduct research and assist patrons with research enquiries, information literacy skills, customer service, technology skills, research skills, flexibility, problem solving skills and organization skills. continuously developing these skills can help library workers excel in their roles and contribute to the success of the library.

If you wish to be a public librarian in a small town in a state with minimal requirements (i.e. New Mexico) a bachelor's degree in library science or a bachelor's degree in another field + passing a certification exam will get you a job. To be a librarian at a public library in a larger city, or an academic librarian you will need a master's degree in library science or information science from an ALA (American Library Association) accredited school. This degree can be an MLS, MIS, or MLIS. To work as a librarian in an academic medical school, you will also need AHIP, Academy of Health Information Professionals, certification from the Medical Library Association.

You must have a library skills such as customer service, digital literacy, teamwork and a library professional certificate such as Master in library and information science or a bachelor degree

Many adverts for librarian positions advertise that a postgrad degree in a certified programme is ‘desirable’, but that equivalent experience is also acceptable. However, in my institution, even the paraprofessional roles have 400+ applicants for a single position. To be competitive, applicants need to combine their academic qualification with provable professional experience. Some form of chartership or accreditation is a great way to do this. It proves you have performed a wide breadth of responsibilities in a professional capacity. It also shows that you can reflect on your activities and identify areas for future development. It often overlaps with the content required for cover letters too, preparing candidates for upcoming interviews.

A masters degree in library and information science with a focus on digital librarianship for information technology is typically required, apart from this continuous professional development in emerging technology is also important.

MLIS for a public librarian, but if you want to go higher up, more supervisory experience will be needed. I worked as a supervisor in a bookstore for two years before getting the position as a lead librarian, so anything you can add to your resume is helpful.

Libraries have so much to offer when it comes to career choices. People from various backgrounds come together to focus on one thing... serving the community. The most important thing to consider when entering this field is the type of library (school, academic, public or independent) you want to work in and if the place offers opportunities for growth. Growth for you professionally and growth for the organization. A library or any organization that does not allow space and grace for growth can offer challenges in the future.

Depending on where you're looking to work, the main benefit is the joy you get from helping and educating. Working in a library is rarely about enjoying books or working in a quiet environment; more, it's all about service. Whether you're helping a child put together a craft, helping a patron apply for social benefits on a computer, or helping a patron find a book, the main focus of libraries is helping people in a variety of ways. If you feel good helping others, then a public library may be a good fit for you.

Of course, there are the usual benefits of a job. I won't bore you with those, but libraries are very specific community hives: intoxicating, nerdy (in the nicest possible way) information-scapes. Fundamentally, the mission-accomplished perk is helping to connect people with information. It can't be overstated how enriching it is to become adept at unravelling the web of library knowledge, to perform what must seem like magic tricks to the uninitiated, by making available exactly the thing our patrons need but don't know to ask for. It's such a good feeling to contribute to their learning adventures, research journeys, life pathways, and in doing so, continuing to grow ourselves through the uncovered knowledge ingested along the way.

You get to make things available for people to use and understand. We are preserving history to learn from it, not just study it. In my past jobs I would argue that there is a lack of work life balance and opportunity for career advancement in the same workplace, and salaries are low. You need to be willing to leave and move to be able to advance.

Benefits of working in library services include a fulfilling work environment, opportunities for continuous learning, serving the community, access to a variety of resources, and the potential for career advancement.

Challenges in library services include adapting to technological changes, budget constraints, meeting diverse user needs, maintaining relevance in the digital age, and addressing staffing shortages.

Because librarians (or informationists) come from all other kinds of careers, there are no “right” careers. You will be serving the information needs of individuals and communities, so an affinity to serve or help is an effective instinct. Libraries with more than one staff member require teamwork and cooperation to deal with change and shifting demands. I am a 40+ year information professional and not intending to leave. If you want to advance into leadership and management, you will have to be able to relocate to where the opportunities are.

Um dos grandes desafios é a falta de conhecimento sobre a profissão do biblitoecário. Muitas vezes somos desvalorizados e até ridicularizados pelos próprios frequentadores. Muitas vezes é preciso explicar que não ficamos à toa o dia todo.

One challenge to working in libraries that ultimately lead me to taking a leave from libraries during 2020 is having to justify your job and the library's existence to stakeholders who do not utilize the services you offer and just view you as an unnecessary expense. It can be disheartening when you have your amazing patrons telling you how much they use and treasure the library but your stakeholders are saying that you are a drain on finances. You will see how much of an impact you are making on your community but not everyone will see you as the helper that you are. You need a strong conviction and to collect evidence of your success through having library champions and collection metrics on your services.

Aside from constant budget cuts, the vast amount of public library patrons are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and marginalised communities. These patrons often get shunted off to libraries by overwhelmed councils, to assist with things that library workers aren’t really qualified to help with. You need to have so much empathy and endless amounts of patience. Note: Neurodivergent people with sensory issues who have to mask (a coping mechanism to manage challenges that arise from neurodivergent traits to fit in and/or make others feel more comfortable) should take time to consider if public libraries are the right fit, as it can be an incredibly draining environment to work in, and can very quickly lead to long term burnout.

Ultimately, public librarians empower the public through the democratization of resources thereby creating cultural and intellectual commerce between communities. The job, in all of its aspects, serves people. Your fulfillment in whatever role you take relies upon your willingness to invest your career in the enhancement of others.

Understand that the core mission of people who work in libraries is to facilitate access to information and learning opportunities for their communities. This includes but is not limited to, selecting materials for purchase that fit the budget and impact as many people in your community as possible, knowing your community, seeing and anticipating the needs of people who may be different from you, familiarizing yourself with a broad range of materials to recommend during reference interviews, creating quality records to maximize search-ability in catalogs, providing access to and education for new technology, creating bridges to community social services. It’s a service occupation in the best way. At the end of the day we are there to help.

If you're looking for a job where you help others find, discover, create, and do things, then a job in library services could be for you. Working in a public library is often not what people picture; it's not quiet, it's not calm. It can be chaotic, often a mix between a daycare and a social services office. I've started a day by consoling an LGBT couple that was kicked out of their home by their parents and refused help at the local shelter, then ended it by helping clean up almost a pound of glitter that an over-zealous kiddo got into at craft time. It's a lot more varied and exciting than many people think, but almost always revolves around helping others.

If you know you want to make an impact in a community and are okay with not getting a big paycheck, library services might be your field. Most library jobs will involve working with people, and sometimes those people can bring a lot of trauma into their interactions with you, so be prepared for the joys and pains that working with people can entail. If you're interested in public libraries, reach out and request to shadow or interview a library worker. Consider volunteering. Get a feel for what the library you're interested in is like.

If you have a passion for books and information, enjoy helping others, possesses strong organisational and research skills and are adaptable to technology changes. Gaining experience through internships or volunteering in modern library settings can also provide valuable insight.

Be prepared to wear many hats and help many people as they come through the doors. It’s definitely a people first workplace. Librarians are just as underpaid as teachers and have a high turnover rate because of all legislation or otherwise.

I've found that the general idea when someone is applying for a job in Public Libraries is to say "I just love reading, I think books are important and I love a nice, quiet job where I can enjoy books and meet others that like them, too." This is an instant interview-killer. Libraries are loud, fast-paced environments behind the scenes, often filled with chaotic planning sessions and struggles for grants and program-planning. Even at the front desk, it's often more about helping people print or find social services. There are very few jobs that are just sitting around checking out books, and saying that's the main reason you want to apply will definitely hurt your employment prospects.

Salaries of librarians have never kept up with inflation. Like other jobs were a majority of the professionals in the field are female, librarians tend to be underpaid for their education. Starting salaries for librarians have been stagnant and have not been adjusted for the inflation, which took place after the pandemic.

You will never stop learning and having to challenge your own perceptions. If you do not have an open mind and attitude about people and topics, then this profession is not for you.

Mischa below is correct. Much like bookselling (which I have also done), saying you love books and reading and think librarianship is a quiet, literary job will kill your chances of getting hired. Libraries is fast paced, social, involving lots of thinking on your feet and very little sitting around reading. In fact, in my Library job, I rarely go anywhere near the physical collection -- I work in a copyright compliance/Content Delivery role in an academic institution. Speaking of, Librarianship is a way bigger field than you may realise. Some library staff do work like purchasing, acquisitions, collection development, copyright compliance, and accessibility far from the public eye. We're still library staff. :)