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Public school Librarians (now more accurately called Media Specialists) are a critical need area in much of the country.
In college (huge state flagship one), I lived in the science library.
I always saw the same librarians running about. They seemed to have a pretty decent job I thought. Helping students, checking out books, doing odd stuff every now and then, 9-5, etc. They didn't even have to shelve books or do housekeeping as if they worked in a municipal library. The student workers and maintenance workers did that.
The only negative I can think of is that it might get boring and uninspiring, but if you've worked enough years as I have, mostly any job becomes that anyway.
In college (huge state flagship one), I lived in the science library.
I always saw the same librarians running about. They seemed to have a pretty decent job I thought. Helping students, checking out books, doing odd stuff every now and then, 9-5, etc. They didn't even have to shelve books or do housekeeping as if they worked in a municipal library. The student workers and maintenance workers did that.
The only negative I can think of is that it might get boring and uninspiring, but if you've worked enough years as I have, mostly any job becomes that anyway.
yeah, i've come to realize that you're not going to like EVERYTHING about ANY job. it is still best to find the career or job that MOST suits you though, and according to various tests being a librarian is it. It's also listed as one of the top jobs for my personality type. Also if you have a decent job that you mostly like you can still have hobbies on the side.
Just so you know, the market for librarians is incredibly tough right, and its probably worse than most other professions right now. I have worked in a library for seven years now, so I have an idea of what is going on. Public libraries have been gutted by budget cuts for the past five years, and there are few job openings to go around for the many people unemployed with a MLS. For example, the system I work for had a opening a few months back for a part time librarian, and they received almost 100 applicants. Your most realistic chance right now of getting a job in a library is working in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Be ready to relocate to be a librarian, for any large city is having massive competition for library job openings right now.
I am not trying to discourage you, but I just wanted to let you know what your getting yourself into before you spend the time and money in getting a MLS. I strongly urge you to volunteer at a library before you make the commitment to make sure this is the field you want to get into. Good luck!
yeah, i've come to realize that you're not going to like EVERYTHING about ANY job. it is still best to find the career or job that MOST suits you though, and according to various tests being a librarian is it. It's also listed as one of the top jobs for my personality type. Also if you have a decent job that you mostly like you can still have hobbies on the side.
I would be a librarian over a teacher, personally. To me, both would definitely be just a day gig, and a librarian seems like the most tolerable of the two by a long shot. I mean honestly, I can't see that job being stressful at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flamedown
For example, the system I work for had a opening a few months back for a part time librarian, and they received almost 100 applicants. Your most realistic chance right now of getting a job in a library is working in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Be ready to relocate to be a librarian, for any large city is having massive competition for library job openings right now.
It's like that for every field right now though. The only exceptions are healthcare and retail.
Just so you know, the market for librarians is incredibly tough right, and its probably worse than most other professions right now. I have worked in a library for seven years now, so I have an idea of what is going on. Public libraries have been gutted by budget cuts for the past five years, and there are few job openings to go around for the many people unemployed with a MLS. For example, the system I work for had a opening a few months back for a part time librarian, and they received almost 100 applicants. Your most realistic chance right now of getting a job in a library is working in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Be ready to relocate to be a librarian, for any large city is having massive competition for library job openings right now.
I am not trying to discourage you, but I just wanted to let you know what your getting yourself into before you spend the time and money in getting a MLS. I strongly urge you to volunteer at a library before you make the commitment to make sure this is the field you want to get into. Good luck!
I'm surprised only this post mentioned how scarce library jobs are, because it bears repeating. I seriously considered this path about 5 years ago, and I was even accepted into an MLIS program. However, I saw how much local governments were cutting jobs and came to the conclusion that I'd have to be crazy to invest tens of thousands of dollars (not to mention the time, blood, sweat, and tears) into a degree program that was going to leave me with very small chances of getting a good job. Even now, retiring librarians simply aren't being replaced, so as far as I can tell, things in this field haven't gotten a whole lot better since.
Like the poster I quoted, I'm not discouraging you. Just know what you're up against and make an informed decision. Research different areas of the field, and determine whether one of the more in-demand niches is something that could be a good fit for you. Good luck.
My brother got his masters in library science at Syracuse. Shortly after he landed a small uni gig in Jersey. IIRC it started in the 50s and that was 4 years ago. He did a bit of teaching before he went to grad school, which made him decide to become a librarian.
I know two librarians and neither one has commented on any librarian shortage. What I gather is that it is a tough field to get into, that librarians who can retire aren't, and retiring librarians may not be replaced with full time librarians.
I'm surprised only this post mentioned how scarce library jobs are, because it bears repeating. I seriously considered this path about 5 years ago, and I was even accepted into an MLIS program. However, I saw how much local governments were cutting jobs and came to the conclusion that I'd have to be crazy to invest tens of thousands of dollars (not to mention the time, blood, sweat, and tears) into a degree program that was going to leave me with very small chances of getting a good job. Even now, retiring librarians simply aren't being replaced, so as far as I can tell, things in this field haven't gotten a whole lot better since.
Like the poster I quoted, I'm not discouraging you. Just know what you're up against and make an informed decision. Research different areas of the field, and determine whether one of the more in-demand niches is something that could be a good fit for you. Good luck.
If I had won lottery and gotten some money, I would definitely apply to the graduate librarian program...
But, I am unwilling to take out student loans to become a librarian...Being a librarian would be a dream job for me but there are not many jobs available...
the government reports job growth for librarians as being faster than average in the upcoming decade. digitial librarians are the wave of the future. That speciality can work for anybody like businesses etc. So perhaps that would be a good area to consider? i don't know.
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I'd like to be a librarian but...
