by Christian Cacibauda
Find Online Colleges Columnist

We all know someone with a collection, whether its baseball cards, vinyl records, or vintage clothing. If books are your collection obsession, you may be able to turn your obsession into a librarian career.

The Warning Signs

If you find that,

• You buy books faster than you can read them,
• You frequently astound others with your knowledge of authors and titles,
• You often wonder how it feels to hold a centuries-old manuscript, or
• You enjoy reorganizing your own books,

you may be a born bookworm. Thankfully, unlike other chronic conditions, your bookworm’s mania can be put to good use. Now is the time to consider a librarian career.

Why a Librarian Career?

Although experts predict the number of librarian jobs to increase more slowly than the average for other jobs between now and 2014, many librarians are expected to retire over the next decade—leaving open librarian jobs for up-and-coming bookworms. More than ever, the profession needs ambitious, tech-savvy applicants. Besides cataloguing thousands of books, periodicals, articles, pamphlets, and manuscripts, today’s librarians are also using new media—CD-ROM, Internet servers, and remote-accessible virtual libraries—to store information.

What’s it take?

Most librarian careers require a librarian degree from a college or university. The most common degree for librarian jobs is a master’s in library science (MLS). Other employers require applicants with comparable education and experience. Not ready for a Master’s degree? You can start out as a library technician, which doesn’t require a college education—though an associate’s or bachelor’s degree may give you an edge over competing applicants.

Where Do I Go for Training?

Many colleges and universities offer both associate and bachelor’s degrees in library science. Courses cover specialized training in acquisitions, cataloguing, bibliography, reference, administration, and more. If you’ve already landed a library job, you can earn an online degree while continuing to work. Even as a technician, you can earn up to $15 per hour. It’s a bookworm’s dream come true, so go for it! Start earning your librarian degree today.

About the Author

Christian Cacibauda is a writer and editor based in Northern Nevada.

Source(s)

American Library Association
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics