Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn a median of $32.82/hr — about $68,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.99/hr; the top 10% earn $50.00/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Check books in and out of the library.
- Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
- Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
- Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
The feel of the work
The work splits time indoors and out. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0.9% of librarians and media collections specialists are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, people-focused and analytical.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a librarians and media collections specialist make?
- The median pay is $32.82 per hour — roughly $68,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.99/hr (10th percentile) to $50.00/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a librarians and media collections specialist?
- The typical entry-level education is: Master's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
- What does a librarians and media collections specialist actually do all day?
- Check books in and out of the library. Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases. Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
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