How to Work at the Library

Check the bulletin board or website. Most libraries have bulletin boards where they post announcements about special events, and occasionally, vacancies. Check here from time to time to apply for the right job, or find the requirements that are right for you. Librarians can also advertise open jobs on their website, or on local government websites.

• Most libraries are nonprofit institutions overseen by a governing body. Therefore, compared to other employers, they rarely hire people of their own accord. You may not be hired on the basis of personal connections, and meeting requirements is often required.

Please visit the library before submitting your application. When you see a job that matches your level of experience, visit the library in person. Please rate the service you receive and experience when visiting that library. Ask about the librarian. Take a look at the library’s program schedule, available technology, and other resources. All of that will give you material to talk about in the interview, both to say you’ve completed your homework, and to offer suggestions on what you can contribute.

• For example, if you visited the library program, come up with ideas to improve it. If a children’s gardening program is popular, suggest starting a seed library.
• Gather as much information as you can about the library where you are applying for the job:
  • Activities of libraries (Public libraries, specialized – multidisciplinary scientific libraries)
  • classification system used
  • used database
  • Has the library digitized the book versions?

Please submit your resume. Many public library jobs, especially in large cities, will use computers to scan CVs instead of humans. Those summaries must include certain keywords that describe the job, or the candidate will not be considered for an interview.

• In your job application and during the interview process, emphasize the qualities that make you a good librarian (organizational skills, attention to detail, social skills, etc.) ), as well as your interest in the library and the areas it covers.

Research local policy. Find out as much as you can about policies that may affect libraries before coming in for an interview. Is funding at risk, or are there hours or services cut? Consider a role as a library advocate or advocate. Check out the group of “friends of the library” who may be active in this.

Network connections. If possible, get to know not only librarians or staff members, but also board members who are hiring. If, after applying for a job, the library invites you to meet with management, its friends, or other civic groups, consider that an extension of the interview. Be professional and dedicated.

Look for jobs that require a college degree. Some librarian positions in public libraries only require a bachelor’s or associate’s degree. Those positions are usually reserved for librarians in teen or children’s libraries.

Study for a master’s degree in Library Science. Almost all middle and most advanced library jobs require a Master’s in Library Science (MLIS) degree. Such professional librarians have more advanced duties, such as overseeing assistants or updating library collections.

Specialization. Librarians often play a variety of roles, including reference librarians, corporate librarians, catalogers, library managers, and collections managers (deciding which books to add and which categories to disqualify). removed), children’s libraries, teen libraries, school librarians (K-12), academic librarians, systems librarians (IT work-related), or manage the borrowing and returning desks. Research roles that seem interesting to you, and focus your studies toward them.

• Many library science programs also have archival majors. Archivists manage historical documents, store them, and provide access to the archives for research.

Training for academic librarians. Many academic librarians also have an additional master’s degree in a particular subject. If you are passionate about a certain academic subject, such as art, law, music, business or psychology, this path can combine your passion with an interest in libraries.