Library Careers

A professional master's degree in library and information science is your ticket to a hot new career in so many different types of organizations. What type do you want to work in?

If you've been to your public library lately, you've seen what an array of information services and programming is offered to your community.

Your K-12 school probably had a librarian or two, ready to help students with research assignments and prepare them for life beyond school.

College librarians are another type of library specialization where you can often combine your undergraduate major with a library career.

Want to work in the business world? A medical center? A law firm? Government agencies, including the New York State Library? Or other special libraries? Many of them have libraries and information centers too.

A Library and Information Science degree can also prepare you for a career outside of libraries. How about working in an internet company like eBay? Or managing information services for a company or becoming the Chief Information Officer? Maybe you're a tech wizard and want to develop and manage database services. Feeling entrepreneurial? Start a freelance research business or provide training and consulting services to library systems, businesses and government agencies.

Opportunities abound! What are you waiting for?

General Information about Library Careers

• Librarian: Executive Summary - US News and World Report
• Top Ten Reasons to Become a Librarian
• Librarians: Information Experts in the Information Age (PDF)
  Great overview of what librarians do, where they work and what they earn. Lots of "Why I Became a Librarian" stories
• Places an MLS Can Take You (PDF)
  "Credentialed Librarians Have A Ticket To Ride Almost Anywhere In Today’s Information-Driven Job Market"
• How to Become a Librarian
  "This exciting and varied profession embraces public service, literature, the cutting edge of technology, and more." By Rachel Singer Gordon
• You Don't Look Like a Librarian!
  A collection of talks and resources relating to the image and perception of librarians in the Internet age.
• Skills for a 21st Century Librarian
  Thoughts on what it will take to succeed in a library career.
• Get the Facts
  Just how many jobs are there? And how well do they pay? And more.
• Books on Library Career Topics
• The Lighter Side
  Breaking the librarian stereotypes.
• Library Career videos from YouTube and ....
• Flickr Pictures from New York State Libraries
  See our libraries in action.

Explore These Types of Library Careers

• College & University Libraries
• Public Libraries
• School Library Media Specialist
• New York State Library
• Special Libraries
  • Business Libraries
  • Law Libraries
  • Medical Libraries
• Careers Outside of Libraries
• Music Librarianship - Is It For You?
• So You Want To Be an Archivist
• Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians
• Children and Youth Services Librarian
• So You Want To Be an Indexer

Discussion Forum

• LISjobs Message Boards
  Discussion forums devoted to library careers, job hunting and professsional development. Make connections, share experiences and get advice from librarians, LIS students, library workers, and information professionals.

Blogs About Working in a Library

• School Library System Director: A Year in the Life
• Feel Good Librarian - Why we do this
  Reflections on working in a library.
• Library Angst
  New librarians who are not from a library background
• Library Garden
  A variety of views of the field.

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