Skip to main content

Many Kinds of Librarian Jobs


Lady librarian fixing her hair among the shelves

 What are the types of librarians? Are there more than one type? It may seem like a one-size-fits-all profession, but many kinds exist. Each kind has responsibilities unique to it.

Academic librarians

These types of librarians are those who are in charge of college and university libraries. It is rare for academic librarians to work alone because the workload is just too much. Library aides, internet staff, catalogers, book binders, and even abstractors and indexers are often found in tertiary education libraries. Usually, there is a hierarchy in an academic library; there is a head librarian and one or several other librarians. Academic librarians may also enjoy benefit of having student assistants.

Public librarians

These types of librarians are those who are in charge of public libraries (city, municipal, provincial, and congressional libraries). They’re considered elite in the profession because snagging a job in a public library means enjoying the benefits of working for the Philippine government, e.g., competitive salary + benefits.

School librarians

Those who are in charge of elementary and secondary education (grade school and high school) libraries. They’re the most patient breed of librarians for obvious reasons.

When I was training in a school library, I developed profound respect for school librarians who have been doing this for several years (even decades). Even if children can only use the library during their free time, being around dozens of eager kids who need something simultaneously can be challenging.

Special librarians

Those who are in charge of learning centers and/or libraries of parent institutions or big organizations are “special”. Among the types of librarians, these special ones are rare, because in the past, special libraries are also rare. However, many organizations are setting up their own special libraries to deal with documentation issues or to complement the research that goes on in the organization. Some examples of special libraries are WHO library, Supreme court library, and other local special libraries that also serve as specialty bookstores.

Why Do Types of Librarians Matter?

Knowing the job description of a librarianship position would help a new librarian decide whether the position is worth the application or not. After all, there are many openings for librarians in the world even in the current economic climate.

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Why Every Library Needs a Hometown Authors Shelf and How to Promote Them

 I have previously written about building a Local Authors Collection in a library in a previous post, How to Start a Local Authors Collection . Now, I will discuss further why this is mandatory for every library, especially public ones. All libraries often highlight international bestsellers—but what about the author who lives just down the street? A Hometown Author Shelf tells the story of your community, written by its own people. Local authors offer unique perspectives that national voices can’t.  Their work may reflect regional issues, dialects, history, or folklore that rarely reach mainstream publication. Also, they don't have many followers, because they're just doing their thing and not getting much attention. This is where the library comes in. When patrons see familiar names or places in print, it deepens their emotional connection to both the library and literature. It says, “Your story matters here.” It also attracts local media attention, potential donors, and mo...
Read more

Short Story: The Vampire Next Door

Categories: FRIENDSHIP, TEENS & YOUNG ADULT, ROMANCE Nineteen-year-old vampire billionaire Welton Perry III stepped inside his new townhouse in suburban Maine already bored with the droning voice of the realtor. He held up one hand to stop the lady’s overeffusive description of the basement kitchen with the cold storage facility for his special dietary needs. He didn’t really need a fancy house, but his parents insisted. They wanted him to get as much rest as he needed after the ruckus he went through when his girlfriend and childhood friend sued him for assault, which was ludicrous.
Read more

What Librarians Do in 2024: Keeping Up with Everyone's Needs

Libraries are accessible to everyone... and we mean EVERYONE! Hey there! I'm a librarian, and if there's one thing I know, it's that libraries are not just about books anymore. They're about people – all kinds of people. And in 2024, our job is to make sure we're keeping up with what everyone needs, even as those needs keep changing. So, how do we do that? Let's dive in.   Getting to Know You   First up, we need to really understand who's using the library. This means looking beyond just the numbers and getting to know the community. What languages do they speak? What kind of information are they looking for? Do they need places to study, meet, or even just hang out? The more we know, the better we can be at making the library a welcoming place for everyone.   Technology is Our Friend   These days, almost everyone uses some form of technology, whether it's smartphones, tablets, or laptops. As librarians, we're jumping on this tech train too. We'r...
Read more