Library Jobs Overview
Librarians are devoted stewards of local communities throughout the country. Besides empowering Americans with free access to books, knowledge, and information, libraries are transforming themselves into useful repositories that provide a multiplicity of services, activities, and communal engagements. This includes complimentary Internet service for those who can’t afford it and fun learning sessions for children, providing much-needed relief for parents nationwide.
If you have an endlessly curious mind and a strong desire to serve your community—and also love being surrounded by books—you should look into library jobs, which include positions for librarians, library media specialists, and library archivists. And the job outlook for this field is propitious, with an increasing demand for librarians to help with management, records, research, maintenance, and guiding members and visitors to find what they need. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for librarians is expected to burgeon at a steady, faster-than-average 5% rate.
Do you know what kind of library jobs you’re aiming for? If not, you can narrow down your search with these specific roles:
Librarian Education and Skills
Library jobs will require that you have a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. Any major will do at the undergraduate level, but if you want to take it further, you should get a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree from a university accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). Then, consider your options for earning a post-grad teacher-librarian certificate if you want to work in a school library.
Other necessary skills for librarians include good judgment, patience, and the ability to accommodate inquiries from a diversity of patrons. Libraries can host some quirky characters too—that guy who walked in with a Crocodile Dundee hat and a snake around his neck may just have a Ph.D. in linguistics and need your help with finding a particular Noam Chomsky volume.
Update Your Librarian Resume
Pairing an analytical mind with a passion for books, a penchant for cataloguing, inexorable zeal for promoting literacy programs, and rejoicing in locating the right information or references will help you thrive in any librarian role, so make sure to highlight all of that on your resume. You can also check out Monster’s list of resume samples to get you inspired, along with a selection of articles with sundry pointers on resume writing—from summary examples to how to insert volunteer work (which libraries will certainly appreciate).
Meanwhile, show off your writing skills by including a cover letter in your library job application. Make sure to review our sample cover letter for librarians before you start. Then, infuse it with your personality and go over additional cover letter guidelines from our writing experts.
Interviewing for a Library Job
You may first be invited to do a phone screening before going to the library itself for an on-site job interview. To prepare, put yourself in the shoes of a seasoned librarian and don’t forget—a big part of the role is focused on community service. Hence, some questions your interviewer could ask are:
- How can libraries best support and invigorate their community?
- As a librarian, how would you create a positive influence in your community?
- How would you help a student conduct research? How about an elderly person?
Monster features several guides on how to approach job interview questions, so feel free to browse around to ensure you’re ready to respond intelligently to subjects ranging from your aptness with new digital systems for libraries to how you’d oversee the development of certain collections that may be lacking.
How Much Do Library Jobs Pay?
You can make a solid salary as a librarian while harnessing your fondness for literature and your dedication to educate the community, spread knowledge, and keep people informed. Currently, the median pay for librariansin the U.S. is $49,643. Search around using the Salary Tools from Monster to see specific pay details for librarian roles in various locations. Plus, we have loads of compelling tips for discussing salaries and benefits, including smart questions to ask during salary negotiation.
Find Your Ideal Library Job With Monster
Are you feeling galvanized? Get engulfed in the realm of books by applying to the many library jobs available on Monster. Then build a profile so that you can get custom job alerts and connect with the library of your dreams.