Overview
In this career, your responsibilities may include:
- Maintaining and organizing the library’s collection of books, videos, music, and other media.
- Researching new books and other media, to decide what to purchase for the library’s collection.
- Helping people who come to the library find the information and media they need, and teaching them how to use information resources like the internet and searchable databases.
- Planning and conducting educational and enrichment programs for children and other library patrons.
- Training and supervising library support staff and volunteers.
Job Titles
In your job search, you may find listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at Career One Stop.
Academic Requirements
Typically requires a master’s degree in Library Science, although some states only require public school librarians to have a bachelor’s degree. Even if it is not required, obtaining a master’s degree can make you eligible for careers with greater responsibility and higher salaries in this career pathway, if you do not already have the U.S. equivalent of a master’s degree.
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Certification
Teaching certification is required to be a public school librarian or library media specialist in most states. This required certification process is the same as what other professions call “licensure,” as it is regulated at the state level. See “Licensure” for more information.
Some states may also require public school librarians or library media specialists to pass a test such as the PRAXIS II Library Media Specialist test.
Some states require certification for librarians working in public libraries.
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Licensure
Licensure is only required to work as a public school librarian or library media specialist in most states.
Contact us with any questions you might have.