Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 138,400 people employed as librarians and media collections specialists in the United States. The median annual salary is $61,190. Entry level employees earn approximately $37,300 per year and senior employees earn approximately $97,870 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Check books in and out of the library.
• Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
• Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
• Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
• Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
• Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
• Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
• Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
• Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
• Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
• Respond to customer complaints, taking action as necessary.
• Explain use of library facilities, resources, equipment, and services and provide information about library policies.
• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot information access aids, such as databases, annotated bibliographies, web pages, electronic pathfinders, software programs, and online tutorials.
• Engage in professional development activities, such as taking continuing education classes and attending or participating in conferences, workshops, professional meetings, and associations.
• Compile lists of books, periodicals, articles, and audio-visual materials on particular subjects.
• Confer with teachers to select course materials and to determine which training aids are best suited to particular grade levels.
• Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
• Arrange for interlibrary loans of materials not available in a particular library.
• Plan and deliver client-centered programs and services, such as special services for corporate clients, storytelling for children, newsletters, or programs for special groups.
• Locate unusual or unique information in response to specific requests.
• Troubleshoot problems with audio-visual equipment.
• Develop library policies and procedures.
• Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
• Evaluate materials to determine outdated or unused items to be discarded.
• Represent library or institution on internal and external committees.
• Set up, adjust, and operate audio-visual equipment, such as cameras, film and slide projectors, and recording equipment, for meetings, events, classes, seminars, and video conferences.
• Assemble and arrange display materials.
• Maintain inventory of audio-visual equipment.

Career List