How to become a Librarian

Librarians design, develop and manage physical and online collections in order to deliver innovative services to users. Library collections can include books and e-books, magazines, images, music and video, maps, newspapers, computer games and other digital resources.In large libraries, librarians may specialise in areas such as acquisition, research, cataloguing, online services or children's services. They may also work in specialist libraries, including corporate, legal, medical or school libraries, or independently as researchers or knowledge managers.

Personal requirements for a Librarian

Good organisational skills
Good communication skills
Ability to work with people of all ages from diverse social and cultural backgrounds
Good problem-solving skills
Able to work independently or as part of a team
Strong customer service focus

Education & Training for a Librarian

To become a librarian you usually have to complete a degree at university with a major in information media, information services or information studies. Alternatively, you can undertake a degree in any discipline, followed by a postgraduate qualification in information studies or information management.To get into the degree courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. Entry to postgraduate courses usually requires completion of an appropriate bachelor degree. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.

Duties & Tasks of a Librarian

Librarians:

Develop, manage and digitise collections
Undertake strategic management of information and resources
Select, classify and index library and information resources
Assist users to identify or interpret information
Coordinate and conduct training programs or promotional events to assist and engage library users
Manage and promote library services through websites and social media
Train and supervise other staff
Create and maintain databases and systems for recording loans
Develop and nurture partnerships, such as with faculty, community organisations, learning providers, authors and publishers
Plan and select library infrastructure.

Tasks

Monitoring collection development and culling programs
Managing inter-library loan systems and information networks
Examining publications and materials, interviewing publishers' representatives, and consulting with others to select library materials
Managing library systems for recording and organising library holdings, acquisitions and purchases, reader registrations and loan transactions, and supervising indexing, filing and retrieval activities
Developing and implementing library and information policies and services
Undertaking information research activities on behalf of clients
Selecting, ordering, classifying and cataloguing library and information resources
May plan and direct library promotion and outreach activities
Reviewing, evaluating and modifying services in response to user needs
Supervising and training other library staff
Providing assistance to clients in accessing library resources

Employment Opportunities for a Librarian

Librarians work in public libraries, archives, schools, technical colleges and tertiary institutions. They also work for government departments, museums, research and consulting organisations, teaching hospitals and industrial and business firms, all of which have libraries specialising in particular fields.

Specializations

par - In large libraries, librarians may specialise in areas such as acquisition, research, cataloguing, online services or children's services. They may also work in specialist libraries, including corporate, legal, medical or school libraries, or independently as researchers or knowledge managers. See the separate entries for Teacher - Primary and Teacher - Secondary for information about becoming a teacher librarian.

Information Manager

An information manager is responsible for bridging the gap between sources of information and those who need to access it. Information managers may also become involved in research, technical writing, public relations, desktop publishing, database management and design, and market research.

Librarian

Cataloguer

Average age
50
Future Growth
Decline
Gender Share
86% female
Average full-time
39 hours
Weekly Pay
$1,780
Skill level rating
Very high skill
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
60%
Employment Size
12,300
Employment by state
ACT: 4.4%
NSW: 31.6%
NT: 1.3%
QLD: 15.5%
SA: 7.5%
TAS: 1.5%
VIC: 28.3%
WA: 9.8%
Age brackets
15-19: 0.5%
20-24: 1.9%
25-34: 10.3%
35-44: 19.9%
45-54: 29.9%
55-59: 17.7%
60-64: 13.2%
65 and Over: 6.6%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 10.3%
Bachelor degree: 32.1%
Certificate III/IV: 3.1%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 46.6%
Year 10 and below: 1.9%
Year 11: 1%
Year 12: 5.1%