Librarians may:

Select and order the library's collection of print , audiovisual and electronic resources

Classify, catalog, and maintain library materials so they can be found easily

Answer reference questions

Conduct data base searches on computer terminals by accessing the Internet or other online electronic services

Prepare lists of books, articles, and audio-visual materials

Assist patrons in obtaining library materials and services

Assemble and arrange materials for display

Teach library skills to groups and individuals

Prepare budgets and other reports

Check out and receive materials (in small libraries)

Keep records of circulation, materials, and personnel

Select training, and supervise library personnel

Meet with parents, teachers, and community organizations

Locate unusual or unique information in response to patron's requests

Librarians usually work independently or under the supervision of a department head or library director. Librarians may direct library technicians or assistants.

Librarians usually work in pleasant surroundings that are well lighted and ventilated. In school media centers Librarians might supervise a variety of activities occurring in several areas of the center.

The workweek is typically from 35 to 40 hours. For public or academic Librarians, the work schedule may include Saturday, Sunday, or evening work. School Librarians and Media Specialists work under 10-, 11-, or 12-month contracts.

Librarians may choose to join professional associations such as The American Library Association (ALA) or The Special Libraries Association (SLA). School Librarians or Media Specialists may belong to education organizations. Librarians interested in computer applications, such as data base searching or computer-produced catalogs, may join The American Society for Information Science. In other situations, Librarians may join the organization representing the activity or business in which their firm is engaged. Members pay periodic dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities concerned with the communication of ideas

• Activities involving business contact with people

• Activities which help others

• Activities of a routine, definite, organized nature

You Should Be Able To:

• Understand the meanings and relationships of words

• Communicate well orally and in writing

• Perform a variety of duties which may change often

• Make decisions using personal judgment

• Make decisions using standards which can be measured or verified

• See detail and recognize errors in written material and charts

• Work effectively with people

• Plan and direct an entire activity or the activities of others

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

You use a policy that if a periodical has not been used by more than 35% of the library's population, you will not subscribe to it. If a certain magazine has been read by 74 people during the year and your total number of patrons for the year is 263, will you renew the subscription or not?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Should be able to read and comprehend many areas of academia. Read the example below and determine what area of a reference file it should be placed.

Certain bacterial biologically produce single-domain magnetite grains that they string together to form internal compasses. They then use these compasses to detect the dip of the earth's magnetic field.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a budget for scientific books needed in the library.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Excellent analytical skills, organizational skills, and be detail oriented in managing the operations of a library.

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1300 ENGLISH , 1600 FOREIGN LANGUAGE , 2100 LITERATURE , 2600 PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

092 LIBRARY SCIENCE

Programs in Library Science provide opportunities to gain knowledge and skills required for professional employment in libraries. Librarians make information available to users in such forms as books, magazines, and film collections. Michigan school Librarians are required to have a bachelor's degree and a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses will vary from school to school but may include:

There are many ways to explore this field, such as volunteer work in school libraries, part-time or summer work in public libraries, or a cooperative work-study program or internship at some universities. A postsecondary program in library science may also provide additional opportunities for experience.

            School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Librarian employer

internships

volunteer work with a Librarian employer

community service work with an agency

Librarians may find jobs through government civil service examinations, university placement offices, library associations, or by applying directly to institutions that employ Librarians. Professional journals and newspapers list open positions in their want ad sections. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

            You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

Earnings vary with the size of the community and library, geographical location, and the Librarian's education and experience.

Nationally, the average salary (2005-2006) paid to public school Librarians was $53,331 per year.

Technical Librarians employed by private industry had average annual salaries ranging from $27,600 to $71,800, depending on experience, in mid 2006.  The median annual salary of all Librarians was about $43,108 in 2005.

College professors who taught library science in public colleges and universities had an average salary of $80,234 in 2005-2006. Federal government Librarians with Master's degrees in library science had a beginning annual salary of $38,175 in 2006.  The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $33,852 in 2005.

Librarians employed by the State of Michigan earned between $37,459 and $60,573 per year (mid 2007). The annual salaries of Michigan's public school Librarians in the 2006-2007 school year were:

* Salaries vary depending on 42-, 46-, or 52-week schedules.  

Most library systems offer such fringe benefits as paid vacations and holidays, sick leave, and insurance plans. Some offer retirement plans paid for, at least in part, by employers.

Advancement can result from moving to a position which has more responsibility in a larger library. Promotion may be based on seniority, experience, or advanced education, supervisory ability, and availability of job openings. A career ladder might look like this: Librarian, head librarian, library director. Elementary and secondary school Librarians might advance to administrative positions. Promotion in governmental employment depends, in part, on passing higher level civil service examinations.

Nationally, about 159,300 Librarians were employed in 2004. Employment of Librarians is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. Librarians will face keen competition for positions. Those with specialized knowledge in scientific or technical fields, such as medicine, law, engineering, and the physical and biological sciences will have the best chances for placement. The industry distribution for Librarians looked like this:

Approximately 5,250 Librarians are employed in Michigan. About 77% of the Librarians in Michigan worked in urban areas. Most were employed by elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and public libraries. Others worked in the libraries of hospitals, manufacturing firms, nonprofit organizations, and state and local government agencies.

Employment of Librarians in Michigan is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2012. An average of 130 annual openings is expected with 10 due to annual growth and 120 due to replacement of those who retire or leave the profession for other reasons. In the near term many of the Librarians in public schools will be eligible for retirement. Additional openings will occur to replace Librarians who transfer to other jobs or occupations.

The employment outlook for Librarians is expected to remain very competitive. Faced with rising materials costs and tighter operating budgets, public libraries are expected to increase their use of para-professionals, support staff, and volunteers, which may further limit employment opportunities. However, Librarians trained to manage library computer systems that store data, handle ordering and cataloging, and record books borrowed and returned will be in greater demand than other Librarians will be.

MICHIGAN'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2012

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.