Librarian job description

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Libraries at schools and places of higher education in the UK are an invaluable resource for both students and teachers. A capable librarian working at one of these book and media sanctuaries is an essential part of it and organises it to ensure it is up to date and all materials are easily retrievable
A good librarian also offers pertinent advice to students on research and education queries and puts up displays that promote the library and its contents. Additional duties may involve running an after-hours book club, contributing recommendations for the purchase of new books and resources, and maintaining the facility’s database.
Applicants for senior positions are expected to have several years’ experience in the role, while those applying for assistant or junior posts need experience of filing and IT media. A library and information science degree will add extra options for applicants, especially at the larger university libraries and research centres.
Starting salaries for inexperienced individuals are around £12,000 per annum. Those with suitable experience in big libraries and those with relevant degrees may command up to £31,000 a year.

Description

Librarians are required to run libraries and their services. They work in libraries inside colleges, schools, universities, and hospitals, and public libraries where people borrow music, books, and multimedia resources. They are responsible for managing, organising, and collecting all resources inside a library in order to meet users’ needs. They constantly need to acquire new books in order to replace damaged ones or just making library supply bigger.

Librarians usually perform many of the following tasks:
• Buying relevant materials.
• Keeping up to date with new publications.
• Organising group activities.
• Cataloguing books.
• Promoting library services.

Skills

• Being logical and methodical.
• Having good memory.
• Having interpersonal abilities.
• Being patient and tactful.
• Having IT skills.
• Being able to meet deadlines.
• Being a good manager.
• Having organisational skills.
• Having good written and spoken communication.
• Being able to supervise others.

Education

There are two main routes to become a Librarian. One is to have a university qualification related to this area and the other is to find a job as a library assistant in order to gain suitable experience to move forward. Academic qualifications for this type of job are degrees in information management or librarianship recognised by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Full time study plans for these courses vary from three to four years.

Another option for applicants with a degree in any other subject is having a postgraduate qualification in information management or related subject accredited by CILIP. Postgraduate courses take one full year or two/three years following part-time plan.

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