Access/outreach
Administration/management
Archives/special collections
Assessment
Audiovisual materials
Biographic support
Circulation
Collection Development
Copyright and intellectual property
Digital/analog preservation and curation
Digital humanities
Digital initiatives
Electronic services
Geographic information specialist
Government documents
Information literacy
Instructional technology
Liaison to academic departments
Media services
Metadata
Music
Publishing
Reference
Research support
Scholarly communications
Serials management
Service to faculty and students
Systems administrator
Teaching
Technical services
User instruction
Web design/maintenance
Universities and colleges
Technical and liberal arts colleges
Professional schools
Community colleges
Specialized academic programs (e.g., seminaries, optometrist programs, law schools)
Academic librarians may work one-on-one with students and faculty, teach and present seminars, or work in technically- oriented positions such as systems design or database management.
Almost any bachelor’s degree in liberal arts is good preparation.
Classes in communications, business/management, computer science, and statistics can be helpful.
Related undergraduate subject degree is useful when working with particular specialties such as art or agriculture.
Develop excellent computer and communication skills.
Gain experience in business and management to work in administration.
Work part-time in a college or university library to gain relevant experience.
Earn a master’s degree in library or information sciences from a program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
Administration
Administrator (school system level)
Teaching
Technical Services
K-12 schools
Public and private
Public school districts
School librarians or media specialists may help teachers develop curricula, prepare lesson units, team teach, or provide staff development.
Many states require a master’s degree in library science and some require a specialty certification or an educational endorsement.
Some states also require teaching certification or student teaching in a library/media center.
Work or volunteer experience related to children and teaching is useful.
Become adept with various technologies and develop strong computer skills.
Learn to work both independently and with groups.
Access/outreach
Administration
Genealogical research
Information literacy
Special collections
Systems administration
Technical Services:
Acquisitions
Archives management
Cataloging
Collection development
Serials management
System automation
User instruction
User/reader services
Children
Information and referral services
Reference
Special collections
Young adults
Youth services
Web development/maintenance
Central libraries
Library branches
Library services to jails, retirement homes, nursing homes, hospitals, senior centers, etc.
Some librarians specialize in a particular subject area, such as government collections or technology, or a particular type of materials, such as maps or photography, or with a special population.
Creativity, a flair for drama, and an enjoyment of children are important for those working in youth services. Courses in child development and psychology are helpful in this field.
Develop a broad liberal arts background and earn a master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA accredited program.
Build strong computer skills and learn to enjoy working with new technology.
Cultivate a strong desire to improve communities and provide information access to all.
Antiquarian books
Business intelligence
Competitive intelligence
Copyright and intellectual property
Data manager
Data quality engineer
Digital curator
Digital preservation
Document design
E-mail management
Grey literature
Indexing/abstracting
Information architecture
Information management
Knowledge management
Records management/archives
Research
Strategic information
Visual resources
Large hospitals
Medical schools
Law firms
Law schools
Large corporations
Industrial and scientific collections
Research labs
Local, state, and federal government agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Public libraries
Colleges and universities
Art schools
Museums and art institutions
Prisons
Galleries
Historical societies
Publishing houses
Advertising and public relations agencies
News organizations and electronic media
Picture services
Motion picture studios
Television stations
Trade and professional associations
Special collections librarians generally have interests, skills, and knowledge related to the collection and may work with a particular population in special libraries, (e.g., lawyers or doctors).
Most positions require a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the collection topic, (e.g., business, science, art, etc. Some require a graduate degree in the field).
Many law librarians have a Juris Doctor (law degree).
Knowledge of foreign languages may be required in certain fields.
Develop skills in research and a solid background in information technologies.
Earn a master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA accredited program.
Database management
Indexing/abstracting
Information architecture
Online retrieval
Programming
Research
Information service agencies
Research centers
Large corporations
Self-employed
Consulting
Freelance editing
Research
Information services professionals provide research and services to corporations, writers or individuals needing information or references on a particular subject.
Expertise in an industry or subject area may be helpful.
Supplement undergraduate curriculum with courses in business to gain an understanding of marketing principles.
Develop excellent research, writing, and organizational skills.
Consulting
Database administration
Design/development
Digital preservation and curation
Information architecture
IT administrator
IT analyst
IT trainer
Management/operation
Network administration
Privacy regulation
Programming
Software design
Systems analysis
Technical support network
Web development/maintenance
Libraries
Public, academic and special
Data processing centers
Corporations
Software and computer companies
Financial firms
Manufacturing firms
Research centers
Government
Universities
Consulting firms
Professionals involved in information systems help organizations with the storage, retrieval, and management of records or information and support information technology in an organization.
An undergraduate degree in management information systems (MIS) or computer science is the preferred background before earning a master’s in information science.
Build a strong computer background in programming skills using several languages, various operating systems, database management, software, and networks.
Increase employment opportunities through product-related certification or by earning Certified Computing Professional (CCP) status conferred by the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals. CCP’s must pass an examination and meet various requirements.
Gain related experience through internships, co-ops or part-time employment.
Develop excellent analytical, decision-making, and written and oral communication skills.
Learn to work well with both technical and nontechnical staff.
Design, formatting and editing
Digital Library Development
Manuscript Preparation
Database producers
Distributors of electronic publications, (e.g., business firms, universities, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, etc).
Electronic publishers
Self-employed
Electronic publishers or publishing professionals create and distribute publications in electronic form.
Develop writing skills through classes in English, journalism, or technical writing.
Learn advanced website design and programming.
Become fluent in electronic publishing technologies, such as HTML and Adobe Acrobat.
Acquire advanced knowledge of formatting/troubleshooting with electronic templates.
Assessment
Human computer interaction
Human factors
Information architecture
Research
Taxonomist
Technical writing
Usability engineer
Usability testing
User experience design
User interfaces
Web design/development
Software and computer companies
Media corporations
Government agencies
Universities
Libraries
Web design firms
Marketing and advertising agencies
User experience professionals typically work to improve design and development of information systems and to measure and evaluate the usability of products and applications.
Any bachelor’s degree is good preparation, although those focusing on human behavior, psychology, and/or computeing, are especially helpful.
Build a strong background in web design, programming, and in research methods and data analysis.
Develop excellent computer and communication skills.
Develop excellent research, writing, and organizational skills.
Learn to work well with both technical and non-technical staff.
Qualifications important to the field include the ability to work well with people, good written and oral communication skills, intelligence and curiosity, research and computer skills. An eye for detail, and a general love of learning are also essential.
Understanding trends in media, computers/technology, Internet, and publishing is important to success in the profession.
Virtually any undergraduate degree can offer good preparation for ALA accredited graduate programs.
Maintain a high grade point average in undergraduate work and secure gaining strong recommendations from faculty.
Work in campus or community libraries part-time or during the summers to gain exposure to the library environment.
Supplement undergraduate curriculum with courses in communications, media, business, or technology. Some areas of information or library sciences may require bachelor’s or master’s degrees related to the job environment.
Choose master’s degree programs in library or information science that are accredited by the American Library Association to maximize employment opportunities.
Information science professionals work in diverse settings including school, public, and academic libraries, as well as corporations, consulting firms and information brokers, and in environments involving Internet-based information.
A doctorate may be required for research and university teaching in library and information science programs or to reach the highest levels of library administration.
Join professional associations such as the American Library Association.