Library Science: Career Options for Aspiring Professionals

As the Internet changes the way that we catalog and research information, graduates of library science degree programs strive for accuracy and purity in the stacks of data they maintain. Far from the stereotypical authoritarian portrayed in television and films, many library science professionals find ways to make their facilities open and welcoming to students, professionals, and other community members. Library science degree programs balance the rigorous career training necessary to run a library with the development of crucial communications and marketing skills.

Library Science Degree Programs

• Associate's Degree Programs
• Bachelor's Degree Programs
• Master's Degree Programs

Career & Salary Options for Graduates of Library Science Degree Programs

Many graduates of library science master's degree programs earn annual salaries higher than $39,000. By blending a library science degree with a teaching certification, prospective librarians can qualify themselves for good positions in high schools that mix management and teaching duties. Depending on school funding and location, these positions can pay $49,000 or more per year, according to recent government statistics. Librarians work in the private sector as well, managing corporate libraries for media organizations and other large corporations.

Typical Library Science Course Work

Library science degree programs help students gain functional skills that help with the day-to-day management and marketing of libraries, including:

• Online Reference Systems
• Library Administration
• Research Methods
• User Services

Online Education Options

Most professional librarians enroll in master's degree programs accredited by the American Library Association. Approved courses include a growing number of online degree programs. Responding to a wave of retiring library services professionals, some employers now consider highly-qualified applicants with bachelor's degrees in library science and relevant professional management experience. Online degree programs allow teachers and other busy professionals to gain library science skills without sacrificing work and family commitments. By using online education tools to complete their own degree programs, library science professionals can understand the challenges faced by their future patrons.
Sources:
Stamford Advocate
The Independent
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

Joe Taylor Jr. is an internal business consultant for a Fortune 500 company, who writes about finance, culture, and design. He holds a bachelor's of science in communications from Ithaca College.