BellaOnline Forums Career Library Sciences libraries and the future

I'm entering library school (masters degree level) this fall, and I confess to a lot of doubt. Some librarians say that there's so many jobs available - but then again, that's what ppl said about teaching jobs 5 years ago - and now there are too many teachers for the market. Also, what about the changing landscape of libraries? BOoks and periodicals are now available on-line, and there are several required courses I'll take that involve computers, digital librarianship and web architecture. Are we shifting from being librarians to computer technicians?

Excellent questions. There are more jobs than ever for "traditional" librarians. There are also many jobs available for librarians who are interested in technology. It's one of the great things about the profession. You can go into an area that interests you.

There is a severe shortage of school librarians. In Alabama there is a shortage of about 300 school library media specialists is the public schools. The private schools are also having difficulty finding people.

The Department of Defense is looking for libraries to serve military communities in Europe. Last year several jobs were open in Germany.

If you subscribe to LibJobs you will receive several job announcements each day from around the US and overseas.

As you can see, you can get a job as a librarian. Technology has made us more important, not less important.

well.. that is the great thing about libraries - i can travel and work anywhere in the world (hopefully) and since it is a universal trope for countries to drive towards technological progress, librarians will be along for the ride. I'd better learn some html!

Apparently the certifications in the States, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand are all equally valid and interchangeable - not like other fields where you have to write a qualifying exam in each new country.

Basic Html is a good thing to know. You might want to check out our April site of the month.

I would like to suggest a book to you. It's called Learning and Libraries in an Information Age...Principles and Practices.

I hope you are able to find it useful on your journey.

The role of Librarians, and Library Media Specialist has made a dramatic shift over the past several years. No longer are we the person to shelve books, or even run the circulation desk. We are guides, leaders, experts, and learners ourselves. By partnering with other educators, we can truely make a difference in the lives of learners. A leading edge librarian understands that there is more to utilizing a library or a library media center than just access. Accessing information (in it's variety of formats) is only the beginning....that's elementary. The Internet is a wonderful, yet dangerous thing. Learners can easily become over stimulated, lose focus, and become frustrated. The public librarian may choose to create programs in his/her branch that will help learners go beyond the access stage of information gathering and on to the analysis, and synthesis stage. The academic library media specialist may partner with a classroom teacher to do lessons with students that will go beyond lecture and regurgitation to meaningful authentic learning.

Librarians becoming glorified computer technicians? Not this one. No way. I'm much more valuable, and so are you.

You're right. I think technology has helped school librarians move closer to the vision the ALA had in 1939. Back then a series of essays were written about what the profession would look in 50 years. The vision was for a collaborative environment where the librarian and teacher work together to meet curriculum needs.

I'm amazed at how far sighted they were.

I agree. now that I've observed a bit more at the library where I work, I've noticed that the librarians do a lot of consultation work, as well as teach.
I read an article where the future of medical librarians is much more involved with doctors; librarians direct the specialists to their particular field of interest, freeing up the doctor's time from frustrating searches, and allowing for a more dynamic partnership.
Also, my friend works as a librarian in a university sociology library. She teaches students how to access sociological material and teaches them how to conduct/start their research

When helping students, teachers, doctors, etc., with research you might want to start with some of the great ideas found on The Big 6 site.