Beyond checking materials in and out, librarians evaluate and select new print, audio-visual, and electronic resources using reviews and faculty input, then catalog and organize them so patrons can find what they need. Much of the role is direct service: answering reference questions, teaching classes on information literacy or technology use, and helping patrons search digital databases. Settings vary widely, from schools and universities to museums and corporations, and the role typically requires a master's degree in library science alongside the patience to work with frustrated patrons on a regular basis.
Pros
Sizable field with around 13,500 projected openings nationally
Varied role blending collection management, teaching, and reference research
Works across many settings, schools, museums, corporations, and public libraries
Cons
Slower than average projected job growth (1.7%)
Entry-level pay starts modestly ($43,660) relative to the master's degree (MLS/MLIS) required
Regularly deals with frustrated or upset patrons despite the highly structured work
A typical day
The building opens at 9 and the morning holds the profession's quiet range: a genealogy researcher needs census microfilm, a middle schooler needs sources for a paper (and gets taught to evaluate them, not just find them), and a patron in crisis needs social service referrals delivered with dignity — the modern library serves everyone who walks in. Late morning is collection work: reviewing new titles against budget, weeding a shelf of outdated tech books, and licensing negotiations for a database renewal that costs more every year. The afternoon brings programming — a coding club for teens set up in the makerspace, a story time schedule finalized — and a reference deep-dive for a local business owner researching regulations. A challenge to a book in the collection lands on the desk near closing, met with the profession's careful process and principles. The library is one of the last free, unmonetized public rooms in American life; running one is stewardship.
Tasks at the job
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.
Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
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.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure, and you're expected to exercise significant independent judgment day to day. The work is highly structured, following set procedures. You'll regularly deal with frustrated or upset people as part of the job.
Education necessary or common
Master's degree in library science (MLS or MLIS)
Common college majors
EnglishHistoryEducationAny major plus the MLIS — the master's degree is the credential, and undergraduate diversity is welcomed
Licenses & certifications
MLIS/MLS (ALA-accredited) — the required professional degree
State school librarian certification for the school path
Archival or digital curation certificates for specialization