While certification is not required for all librarians, advanced education is often the barrier to entry for all. Here you can learn what is required for your chosen librarianship career path. Get started today.
While certification is not required for all librarians, advanced education is often the barrier to entry for all. Here you can learn what is required for your chosen librarianship career path. Get started today.
America needs talented, qualified information professionals now more than ever. Whether your interest lies in school libraries, public libraries, art, music, law, psychology, medicine, or some other information discipline entirely -- you will find a place in the field of librarianship.
Browse LIS degree concentration guides, research available schools and compare library and information science degree programs to find the best fit for your needs.
All schools listed throughout LibrarianCertification.com have either institutional or programmatic accreditation (or both). The American Library Association (ALA) accreditation is an example of programmatic accreditation and is the gold standard for MLIS accreditation.
Prepare yourself for a specific information-based career path. All MLIS concentrations provide core library & information science knowledge in addition to concentration subject matter.
**School Library Media programs can be stand alone programs or additions to an MLIS program.
Librarian licensure represents a patchwork of career requirements for school and public librarians. Licensure in any field can bring with it both good and bad things for a community. Along with gatekeeping processes, comes higher costs for employment. In the case of school and public librarians, costs of employment for school districts, cities and states can be a burden on the whole system. Yet, most would agree the costs do not outweigh the benefits.
By catering to diverse needs and offering a wealth of resources, libraries play a vital role in enriching communities, promoting lifelong learning, and fostering a vibrant and informed citizenry.
What is a librarian? Fundamentally, a librarian connects people with information for their professional, personal, or research objectives. The explosion of data-driven analytics in the 21st century has opened new employment opportunities for librarians. The skills and training of a modern librarian are now sought in fields spanning medicine, law, government, and academics.
School librarians work in K-12 schools teaching students to access information and resources. They may also assist faculty in the development of lesson plans by sourcing instructional material. Many public schools now call their librarians “media specialists.”
Public librarians serve the patrons of a public library. They locate print and digital media for checkout or research and plan events like book fairs and story time sessions for children.
Academic librarians are the unsung heroes of the university world. They act as the information backbone of colleges and universities, providing vital support for research and learning. These research rockstars assist faculty and students in navigating complex research projects. They offer in-depth guidance on finding scholarly materials, databases, and research tools. But their role goes beyond simple resource retrieval. Instructional all-stars, they often teach information literacy courses, equipping students with the skills to critically evaluate sources and become effective researchers themselves.
Academic librarians are also collection curators, carefully selecting and maintaining library collections to ensure they align with the academic programs offered by the institution. And as libraries embrace new technologies, some librarians are becoming innovation instigators, managing makerspaces or offering workshops on data visualization and digital tools. In short, academic librarians are a multifaceted force, empowering students, faculty, and the entire academic community.
Special librarians are a breed apart. Unlike their academic counterparts, they delve deep into a specific field, becoming subject matter mavens. Whether it’s medicine, law, business, or engineering, these librarians develop expertise in a particular industry. This specialized knowledge allows them to transform into in-depth research guides. Professionals within these fields can rely on special librarians to provide targeted research assistance, ensuring they have the most up-to-date information to tackle complex challenges.
Curators of Specialized Collections is another hat special librarians wear. They meticulously build and maintain collections of resources relevant to their specific domain. This ensures that doctors have access to the latest medical journals, lawyers can find the most recent legal precedents, and businesses can stay informed about industry trends.
In the fast-paced world of business, some special librarians even take on the role of competitive intelligence specialists. They help companies gather valuable intel about their competitors or conduct market research to gain a strategic edge.
Ultimately, special librarians act as knowledge brokers. They bridge the gap between researchers and the information they need. By translating complex knowledge into clear and actionable insights, special librarians empower professionals to make informed decisions and achieve their goals.