Becoming a librarian can be a rewarding career that can be pursued in all kinds of places: at a school, a public library, law firm, or hospital. One of the most common questions aspiring librarians ask is, do you really need a degree to be a librarian?
Here, we go sketchy over the education requirements, skill requirements, job prospect, salary expectation as well as more to provide you a clear vision on how to get in the world of librarianship.
Librarian Education Requirements
Most commonly a professional librarian earns a Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS) or Library and Information Science (MLIS) on the way to become a professional librarian.
An advanced library science or information studies degree prepares people to become librarians, organise library resources, and provide information services while keeping up to date with latest library technology and systems.
What Does an MLS/MLIS Program Involve?
In general, a MLS or MLIS program takes about two years to complete and covers the gamut of things that a librarian as a whole would need to know. These topics include:
- Cataloging and Classification: How to organize and maintain library collections.
- Information Retrieval: Learning efficient ways to find and manage physical and digital resources.
- Archiving and Preservation: The saving of material for the use of future generations.
- Library Management: Skills learned in running the operations of the library, budgeting and staff management.
- Research Methods: Learning how to accomplish academic and practical research.
These programs are also available at many universities which offer them online, making it easier for students to balance work with study. A program must be accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) or the equivalent does means that the program conforms to the profession’s standards.
Can You Be a Librarian Without a Degree?
Though it’s possible to be a librarian (or work in a library) without an MLS or MLIS, a job requiring the MLS/MLIS usually includes working as a librarian. There are exceptions, and such exceptions are, for the most part, rare, especially in smaller, field specific libraries or within specialized fields.
Skills Needed to Be a Librarian
Librarians are required to be more than academic: they must have a variety of skills to succeed in this profession. It involves technical and interpersonal abilities that allow them to serve your community well.
1. Research Skills
Library patrons need strong research skills to help them find the needed information, and librarians need the same skills. In academic research or everyday query for information librarians are expected to excel in searching through huge databases and library systems.
2. Organizational Skills
As a librarian, you’ll help organize books, journals and online resources. Highly organized helps you keep order in the library so that the patrons can find the materials they require.
3. Technology Skills
At the present time, librarians are expected to be familiar with technology. Librarians must understand and recognize for services to be provided in the library, which includes cataloging systems and managing online databases.
4. Communication Skills
This is because librarians usually deal with different categories of individuals; ranging from students, researchers to community members among others. Exposure to the role includes the ability to communicate information clearly and effectively, both verbal and in writing.
5. Problem-Solving Skills
Whether it’s fixing an issue with a book’s catalog or working with a patron to obtain difficult to find materials librarians usually face their own set of challenges. There is a need to be able to creatively solve problems in this field.
6. Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is very important when dealing with large collections of information. From librarians’ frustration and confusion in library cataloging errors or misfiled materials to users’ negative experiences as search results for books they hoped to find.
Librarian Salary and Job Outlook
Salary Expectations for Librarians
Librarians generally have a wide variety of salaries depending on location, education and type of library. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2023 the annual median pay for librarians is about $60,820. But this can vary from approximately $40,000 to more than $80,000 depending on your experience and job variety.
Some factors influencing librarian salaries include:
- Type of library: Public libraries pay lower than academic and research libraries.
- Experience: Salary based on more experience in the job, especially for managers.
- Location: In urban areas with a higher cost of living salaries tend to be higher.
Job Outlook for Librarians
Librarians can expect the rate of employment growth will be about as fast as the average for all occupations at 5% from 2021 to 2031. This growth is expected to be driven by the demand for digital resources and information management in numerous sectors which is on a rise.
Public libraries will need to continue to rely on librarians for support of community programs and access to information as well.
But the automation of some types of work will limit it somewhat, as will the existence of digital libraries. But even with these challenges, there is still work to do: many disciplines desperately need skilled librarians, most notably in schools, medical facilities, and in law firms.
Library Assistant Jobs
If you think you might want to go into librarianship, but you’re not quite ready to commit to a Master’s, library assistant jobs can serve as good experience. These roles typically require only a high school diploma or associate degree, and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with shelving books
- Serving as a help to patrons to find things.
- Cataloging checkouts and returns
- such as cataloging and filing.
Library assistants may also work while obtaining an MLS/MLIS degree. Relevant experience can be an excellent opportunity to get some hands on experience, and increase your chances of making the step up to a professional librarian role further down the line.
Volunteer Opportunities in Libraries
It is a wonderful way to gain experience and build your professional network by volunteering at a library. Several libraries have outreaches for those wishing to serve in their community by volunteering to organize items, running community events or even just providing customer service.
The especially good thing for people thinking about librarianship as a profession is to get some volunteer work. It offers a glimpse into how the workings of a library are, many of which might already have a volunteer program, giving volunteers the chance to actually develop skills such as customer service, organization, and information management.
Benefits of Volunteering in Libraries:
- Skill development: Learn skills important to organization, research and technology.
- Networking: Great to build connections with librarians and others who work in this field.
- Experience: Experience will give you a leg up ahead of the competition for librarian jobs.
- Resume building: Volunteering counts for experience on your resume, particularly if you’re already in the middle of Library Science degree courses.
Chart: Librarian Education and Career Pathway
| Career Path | Education Required | Additional Experience | Salary Range | Job Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Library Assistant | High School Diploma/Associate | On-the-job training | $25,000 – $40,000 | 5% growth from 2021-2031 |
| Librarian (Entry Level) | Master’s in Library Science (MLS) | Internships or volunteer work | $45,000 – $60,000 | 5% growth from 2021-2031 |
| Librarian (Experienced) | Master’s in Library Science (MLS) | Several years of work experience | $60,000 – $80,000 | 5% growth from 2021-2031 |
| Librarian (Specialized Fields) | Master’s in Library Science (MLS) | Specialization or additional certifications | $70,000 – $90,000+ | 5% growth from 2021-2031 |
FAQs
1. Why Do You Need a Degree to Be a Librarian?
Having a graduate degree in Library Science or Information Science gives you the relevant knowledge and skills required to handle and affirm library resources, together with providing research asssistance for a business and staying in touch with the newest technology.
Training is required to specialize in the physical and digital management of information inherent in the profession. Although you may be able to start out in entry level roles without a degree, typically you’ll need a Master’s degree for higher level librarian roles.
2. How to Become a Librarian Without a Degree?
To become a fully certified librarian often takes a Master’s degree, but many paths to working in libraries don’t. You can, for example, begin as a library assistant or technician. Voluntary work in a library is another good way of getting experience and perhaps a bridge into a librarian’s role later on.
Some of the specialized libraries or larger organizations, however, might insist only on formal qualifications, but certain smaller libraries and even institutions might not have rigid educational requirements and they might place importance on experience rather than formal qualifications.
Conclusion
To become a librarian, you must typically earn a degree in Library Science (MLS/MLIS), but there are alternative ways to get the needed experience. You can become a professional librarian to pursue library assistant positions, volunteering and gathering skills in technology, communication, and research.
With a strong educational background and a desire to enhance your skills, you should find work in libraries doing good work for the preservation and dissemination of knowledge in your community.