If you asked most people what librarianship is they would probably say that it is something to do with administering the system and taking out books. Whilst this is largely true of librarianship in the past, there is certainly more to it today. Librarianship is a subject with a long history but in the present day it is associated with the transition to digital documents and also the provision of information access. The increased demand for information on the web, in e-journals and on databases means that the need for an information gatekeeper is greater than ever. Studying a graduate course in librarianship or information puts you at an advantage in finding and securing employment in this ever-increasing field.

 

What Do Librarians Do?

The role of a librarian of information officer entails some, if not all, of the following:

• Keeping track of good quality sources
• Searching sources effectively
• Summarising and reporting on a topic
• Creating and maintaining a web page or database
• Adding indexing terms to documents
• Managing and preserving documents whether analogue or digital.
  

You would expect to start as a librarian or information officer in any library: public or academic or in a workplace such as a law firm or a charity or in Parliament or the R+D department of a manufacturing company, the policy making division of a bank or in an enquiry service such as a Citizen’s Advice Bureau. You could also work as a researcher based, not in a library, but with a computer terminal and access to facts rather than documents in a range of professions. Once you have got your foot in the door you have the option to be mobile, change subjects areas or else seek promotion and greater expertise in one subject area.

What is the Pay?

Pay depends very much on the subject area you are working in. Law and business tend to pay very well, but the work carries considerable responsibility for accuracy and you may be providing factual answers. In academia you are dealing more with the resources and the users find their own answers, so both the pay and the work contents will vary considerably. In medicine, your answers can impact directly on health, and sometimes on life and death.

What Do I Need?

Courses in Librarianship or information services are mainly at graduate level as it is useful to have a subject background that gives the professional a better understanding of the viewpoint and needs of their clients. To gain admission onto a graduate librarianship course, a first degree in any subject is usually accepted. This is because any subject is acceptable as information gate-keeping and can be useful in any walk of life. Some students come to librarianship straight from their first degree. In this case most courses require at least a year’s work experience though this may not be the same for all colleges and universities so check the admission criteria. Other students wish to study a graduate librarianship or information services course for a career change or to enhance their current job role. Taught courses tend to be at Masters level and MPhil's and PhD's are awarded for appropriate research.

Which Course?

When choosing your graduate librarianship course, be sure about whether you want the emphasis to be on seeking out information or collection management. Different graduate programs will have varying focuses so select the one which is best inline with how you see your career progressing. A good librarianship or information services graduate course will have a strong information technology and electronic learning environment.

Upon completion of your graduate librarianship or information services, you will find that there is a wide range of information and library related jobs available. Movement in subject areas is flexible and free as it is your information skills that are invaluable. Only in a few specialised fields is some detailed subject knowledge required, such as the pharmaceutical industry or law. Good luck with your application to a graduate librarianship course, it will be the start of a long and prosperous career.

 

With thanks to:
Dr Tamara Eisenschitz
City University, London