welcome to career day

answering your questions about being a librarian

I am not exaggerating when I say I get asked about my profession a lot on the internet. Over the years, I’ve found that people are enchanted by the idea of a librarian—we are portrayed as glasses-and-sweater-clad avid readers who abhor noise and love helping you find a book (but only if you ask in a whisper).

I decided I should put my answers somewhere that could be used as a resource for those interested in pursuing this path and to offer some clarification regarding the stereotypes of librarians. On Instagram, I asked what people wanted to know about libraries, librarianship, and MLIS programs, and I’m going to answer the most common questions based on my own experiences, so please don’t take this as the rule. Thank you SO much if you submitted questions!!

Parks & Rec Season 5 Episode 9, “Ron and Diane”

A little about my career: I started working in libraries when I was 18, I’ve worked for four different public systems and one academic system, and I’ve had my MLIS for three years. I have worked in libraries for a total of eight years. I’m currently a teen librarian in a small outer ring suburb in a large library system in Ohio.

TL;DR, here are the top three pieces of advice I have for someone interested in a career in libraries:

1. Work in a library in any capacity before you decide to get your MLIS. It’s not worth the money to find out it’s not what you wanted it to be.

2. You have to love people to enjoy working in a public library. Much of what I do on a daily basis has nothing to do with books. If you love books, bookselling is for you. If you love people, librarianship may be for you.

3. Do your own research about your local libraries, library funding, library programs, library careers, etc. Public libraries vary so much between towns, states, and countries because they are funded differently. My experience may resonate with other people in my position, but it is not the rule, by any means.

   

   a text exchange i had with my husband at some point in the last five years / found this when i searched “library” in my photos lol

Education

What should you major in to be a librarian?

I majored in sociology and minored in writing. Most of my grad school peers had degrees in English, some in history. I would say this is true for many of my colleagues, as well. I found my sociology major very helpful in this field as so much of it centers social services. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter which Bachelor’s degree you have unless you plan to be in a special or academic library.

How do you choose a Master’s program? Do you recommend yours?

Honestly, choose the best bargain. Most of the MLIS programs are virtual now. I hear there are a few that still offer in-person courses, but I haven’t met many people in my age group who have had that experience. You can search the ALA-accredited MLIS program database here.

I went to Kent State University because I grew up there, it was virtual, and I had a unique financial opportunity. Do I recommend it? Sure, it’s fine. There are cheaper options out there. The ROI on librarianship does not really exist. Louisiana State University, San Jose State University, and University of Kentucky are a few budget-friendly online programs I have encountered through my colleagues or internet mutuals. I say focus on finding a school within your budget that has electives that interest you.

a still from me walking across the stage at my MLIS commencement

Do you have to have a Master’s in Library and Information Science to be a librarian? Is it worth it?

Yes and no. Technically, you aren’t considered a librarian without the Master’s degree. However, the MLIS pretty much only exists to gate-keep a certain pay grade at this point. Most public libraries have reference/library/information/branch assistants that are essentially Bachelor’s-holding librarians. They’re doing many of the same tasks as Master’s-holding librarians. I refer to all reference workers as librarians, but I know that some librarians refuse to do this. There are older librarians who believe people have to earn that title through their education. I did not learn much in library school that I didn’t first learn through working in a library. It’s worth it only because the gates open for higher pay, though not by much.

Careers in Libraries

How do you find jobs in libraries?

Start with your local or university library system (if you’re a student) and work your way out (geographically) if you can’t find something super local. Most libraries have a section with employment opportunities on their website. If you’re in Ohio, you can find library jobs on the OLC website here (though it’s not always up to date). My first job was at my hometown library when I was 18. I was a circulation assistant, and then I found out about another library gig at the architecture library on campus, so I worked both of those for a bit. Once you get into a library, it’s easier to get other opportunities because the library world is so small.

What kinds of jobs can you do in a library? Is there part-time work available?

The jobs and duties vary, especially depending if you’re in a union or not. At my last large system where I worked in circulation, I was not in a union and found myself doing a lot of duties above my pay grade, like reference work and some children’s programming.

my first library job, 2013 (obviously)

Library staffing depends a lot on funding at the local and state level. There is a lot of part-time work available. I recommend trying to get a job as a Page or circulation assistant if you’re thinking about working in a library but you don’t have your Bachelor’s degree yet. If you do have your Bachelor’s, try to find a reference assistant position, although those can be competitive as many MLIS-holding people occupy them. Some libraries have social workers, so if you have your MSW, maybe try a library. A lot of my colleagues are former social workers or public educators, and they’re amazing at their job.

Is it hard to get a job? How do you progress in the field?

Yes. It is very competitive because there are so many of us, and this is a very easy Master’s program, in my opinion. If you’re in library school and you haven’t worked in a library yet, start now. Do an internship for course credit. Get in a library before you fully commit.

If you want to progress, figure out what makes you stand out, know your skills and be able to speak confidently on them. Whenever I have interviewed, I have made sure to do a ton of research on the demographics, school districts, rec centers, etc. near the library where I’m interviewing. I talk to staff who work there already (if I’m looking to move within a system). I write out potential interview questions and my answers to them, and then I verbally practice them.

Also, if you’re in a system, you’re always interviewing. Talk to everyone. People are always watching and listening, and it can pay off!

The day-to-day

What does a typical day look like? How do you balance the admin work with programming and working with people?

It’s a lot of tech help. Many library users come for the public computers, and they don’t often feel confident in their ability to navigate the internet, print, access their email, etc. on their own. We also help people fax a lot. If I’m not busy on the floor, I’m usually researching for future programs or prepping for current programs in the back. Sometimes I watch training seminars for professional development. There can be a lot of downtime depending on the time of year, so I try to stay busy and self-motivated.

The library where I work doesn’t typically get busy until around 3 p.m. most days. If it’s the beginning or end of the month, we are steady in the mornings (lots of faxing/tech help with social services to meet their deadlines). That said, we are lucky in that we do generally get enough time to plan programming. We have scheduled off-desk time and can usually get things done on the floor as well, if it’s slower. I feel like being in a union really helps establish the balance of responsibilities. I don’t know if that’s a helpful answer, but that’s what I find true for my situation.

How do you combat compassion fatigue?

Honestly, I often need my full 35 minute commute to decompress (and maybe five minutes of silence lying facedown upon arriving at home). I also remember that someone’s urgency is not my emergency, and I remind myself I do have the patience and tools to help them leave with more than they had when they arrived. Also, laugh with your colleagues. I have made excellent real-life friends at every library where I’ve worked, and that is an invaluable type of support <3

I made this for my friends over the summer (our busiest time)

The Other Stuff

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about being a librarian?

My favorite thing is how dynamic and creative this job can be. I work for a system that heavily supports innovative programming, we have a lot of mobile innovation resources available (mobile studio, coding software, drones, VR, iPads, etc.) and many of our libraries have innovation centers. We get to flesh out almost any idea we have, and that is a luxury I don’t take for granted. I think when we program around skills or topics we love and value, we are better able to connect with our community, too.

My least favorite aspect is the disparity between the adaptability required of us as an institution and the infrastructure to support such rapid change. The public library has to stay current with technology, social service trends, information dissemination trends, etc. and libraries don’t always have the funding or leadership to support continuing education for staff. Some people also experience dissonance in what admin believes is best at a distance and what is actually best at the public-facing, branch level.

an antique card catalog at a local spot

Did you always want to be a librarian? What made you decide to pursue it?

No, for most of my childhood, I wanted to be a photojournalist for an important magazine (picture Rory Gilmore in the Gilmore Girls series finale, riding away on that bus to do important journalistic work).

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be in a position where I could help people. Pursuing a career as a librarian only occurred to me after I had my first library jobs in college. When I took time off between undergrad and grad school, I used that time to figure out if I wanted to be a librarian, a social worker, or a child life specialist (or if I wanted to get my MFA in poetry lol). I ultimately chose librarianship because, not only was it was familiar to me and I knew it put me in a good position to help people, I also believed it afforded me creative agency. I still love it after eight years.

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Feel free to DM or email me if I didn’t get to your question/if you want further explanation about anything!

Thanks for reading and thanks for asking! xx