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The job of librarian has changed dramatically as technology has advanced – no longer are librarians the stuffy old women who bury themselves under piles of old books, constantly shushing people.
Today’s librarian is technology-savvy, working more with computers and databases than with card catalogues and paper records. In fact, few libraries even have card catalogues today – instead, it’s all done with computers.
Working as a Librarian
But despite all of this new technology for librarians to learn, the same basic skills and knowledge are still required. For example, librarians still need to know the Dewey Decimal System, have a good idea what kinds of information sources are out there, and – more specifically – know which of these sources will be the most helpful for their clients.
Another result of the growth of technology is that the duties of the librarian have been split into three areas – technical services, administrative services, and user services. |
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Each of these areas has its own responsibilities, and while it’s not necessary for a librarian to specialize in one, most spend their careers working exclusively in one of these areas.
- Technical services librarians do much of the behind-the-scenes work. They handle library acquisitions, catalog books, and prepare new library materials for check out. Generally, technical services librarians don’t work directly with people, making this an ideal position for those who enjoy office work.
- Administrative services librarians are the managers of the libraries. They supervise the other librarians and employees, deal with fundraising and public relations, draft budgets, and make certain that every aspect of library operations run smoothly.
- User services librarians are the most like the traditional librarian in that they still work primarily with the public. They help patrons find books, check them in and out, and – in today’s world – help people use the internet or other computer programs to find information.
In larger libraries, duties are divided up into these categories more rigidly, with librarians specializing in acquisitions, special collections, reference, and other areas. However, in smaller libraries, the duties often overlap a bit. In addition to these duties, librarians in rural areas must also keep up with newly released books, offer suggestions on new books to purchase for the collection, and work directly with distributors to buy new books.
Often, librarians are able to exercise their creative sides by designing bulletin board displays, coordinating special events for the library, or even reading to children during special programs. They may also have the chance to design publication materials and newsletters to be distributed to library patrons.
Librarians spend a lot of time indoors – die-hard nature buffs may want to consider other lines of work. Many librarians work in front of computers for long periods of time, especially those who specialize in technical services. Other librarians spend a lot of time at their desks when they aren’t working directly with customers. The job usually isn’t that stressful, although user services librarians may deal with aggravated customers or customers working under deadlines, so good customer service skills and a healthy dose of patience are highly recommended for working in the field.
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