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Librarian and Archivist Careers

Considering a career in librarianship?  This page contains a wide range of information and resources to help plan a career as a librarian or archivist.
"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one." - Neil Gaiman

Library Careers

"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one."
- Neil Gaiman



What's it like to be a librarian?  Read these Rollins Librarian Profiles and learn more.

How to Become a Librarian or Archivist

First Step: A Rollins Degree.  Now What?

A librarian's career path can take several routes, so potentially any undergraduate degree could be useful in pursuing a career in librarianship.  Most librarian positions require a graduate degree.  The Center for Career Planning has more information on planning for graduate school on their website.

Library school degrees can have several names, including a Masters of Library Science or a Master of Library and Information Studies, among others.  The American Library Association maintains a list of accredited library school programs on their website, which you can search here.  Degree programs vary and include both full and part-time programs, as well as traditional and online courses.

Planning a Career

While planning for a future as a librarian, you'll need to ask yourself a few questions.

  • What type of librarian do you want to be?  Librarianship is a broad field, and there are several types of positions available.  See the Jobs for Librarians tab for some examples.
  • Where do you want to work? There are many types of libraries, each providing a different work environment.

Jobs for Librarians and Archivists

A career in librarianship can take many paths. Here are a few examples:

Academic Librarian

Archivist

Law Librarian

Medical Librarian

School Media Specialist

Non-Traditional Jobs for Librarians and Archivists

Librarians and archivists have skills that make them desired employees outside the traditional library setting.  Vendors, publishers, corporations, and consulting firms are just some of these non-traditional employers.

Learn More: Jobs in Libraries

Learn more about potential careers in libraries at the American Library Association's Careers in Librarianship site.

 

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