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Cultivating a Career in the Library
by Robyn Tellefsen
If you love to read and you're a whiz on the computer, a career in the library might be in the cards.
Library career skills
To succeed in the field of library science, it's important to be able to work well with people, communicate effectively in writing and in speech, and understand trends in media, publishing, and technology. Future librarians and library technicians must possess research and computer skills, intelligence, curiosity, an eye for detail, and a general love of learning.
Undergraduate library degrees
Virtually any undergraduate degree can offer the proper preparation for graduate library science degree programs. Just be sure to supplement your undergraduate curriculum with courses in business, communication, computers, media, and technology. Some areas of library science may require related a bachelor's or master's degree.
Advanced library degrees
To maximize your employment opportunities, choose one of the 56 master's degree programs in library or information science that's accredited by the American Library Association. A doctoral degree in library science (Ph.D. or DLS) may be required to reach the highest levels of library administration or for research and university teaching in information science programs.
Library career paths
Library technicians usually work under the supervision of librarians, helping them acquire, prepare, and organize materials and helping users find those materials. As libraries increasingly use the Internet and other technologies to share information, the duties of library technicians are expanding and evolving.
Librarians use the latest information technology to perform research, classify materials, and help users find information. Most librarians focus on one of three aspects of library work: administrative services, technical services, or user services.
Library employment opportunities
Most library science professionals work in school and academic libraries, but employment opportunities are growing most for information scientists in untraditional settings such as consulting firms, corporations, and information brokers, and in settings involving information on the Internet.
Library salary information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of library technicians in May 2006 were $26,560; the highest 10 percent earned more than $42,850. The average annual salary for all library technicians in the federal government was $43,238 in 2007.
Median annual earnings of librarians in May 2006 were $49,060; the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,670. The average annual salary for all librarians in the federal government was $80,873 in 2007.
Enroll in a library degree program, and learn more about library science today.
Library career skills
To succeed in the field of library science, it's important to be able to work well with people, communicate effectively in writing and in speech, and understand trends in media, publishing, and technology. Future librarians and library technicians must possess research and computer skills, intelligence, curiosity, an eye for detail, and a general love of learning.
Undergraduate library degrees
Virtually any undergraduate degree can offer the proper preparation for graduate library science degree programs. Just be sure to supplement your undergraduate curriculum with courses in business, communication, computers, media, and technology. Some areas of library science may require related a bachelor's or master's degree.
Advanced library degrees
To maximize your employment opportunities, choose one of the 56 master's degree programs in library or information science that's accredited by the American Library Association. A doctoral degree in library science (Ph.D. or DLS) may be required to reach the highest levels of library administration or for research and university teaching in information science programs.
Library career paths
Library technicians usually work under the supervision of librarians, helping them acquire, prepare, and organize materials and helping users find those materials. As libraries increasingly use the Internet and other technologies to share information, the duties of library technicians are expanding and evolving.
Librarians use the latest information technology to perform research, classify materials, and help users find information. Most librarians focus on one of three aspects of library work: administrative services, technical services, or user services.
Library employment opportunities
Most library science professionals work in school and academic libraries, but employment opportunities are growing most for information scientists in untraditional settings such as consulting firms, corporations, and information brokers, and in settings involving information on the Internet.
Library salary information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of library technicians in May 2006 were $26,560; the highest 10 percent earned more than $42,850. The average annual salary for all library technicians in the federal government was $43,238 in 2007.
Median annual earnings of librarians in May 2006 were $49,060; the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,670. The average annual salary for all librarians in the federal government was $80,873 in 2007.
Enroll in a library degree program, and learn more about library science today.
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