Librarian Career Possible in Non-Traditional Settings
by Karen Lawson
karen.lawson@careerschooldirectory.com
Career School Directory Columnist
You might think of a librarian as someone who reads to children and replaces books on shelves, but a librarian may also manage collections including a wide array of digital and electronic media along with books, print media, information databases, and archives of historically significant books and documents. Your interest in reading, English, history, the humanities, and many other fields can lead to a rewarding library career.
Today's Librarian: Technology Expands Career Opportunities
Not only does a librarian care for media, but he or she must be able to assist library patrons with their inquiries. This requires up to date knowledge of current scholarly and research practices, along with popular knowledge of public services. How do you acquire this kind of knowledge? A librarian may start his or her career as the result of a specific scholarly interest or through a general interest in reading. Increasingly, technology is providing new opportunities for those seeking a library career. Most librarians have a master of library science, or MLS degree.
Your Librarian Degree: What Will You Study?
Thanks to expanding information technology, you can work as a librarian, or information professional, in many non traditional career venues. You can work for information brokers, internet information providers, or for large corporations. Of course, the study of library science is changing to accommodate new methods of cataloging and distributing information. Your undergraduate degree in information technology, education, history, or science can provide a strong foundation for a library career. A librarian degree can include coursework in selection and processing of materials, internet research methods, history of printing and bookmaking, intellectual freedom and censorship, and specialized courses in reference, archival, and circulation administration. Modern library careers include varied opportunities for those with specialized backgrounds in academic and professional fields.
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About the Author
Karen Lawson is a freelance writer whose interests include trends in higher education and the arts. She holds an MA degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Posted on March 7, 2007 at 3:26 PM
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