What a librarian really does
You help people find exactly what they need, build a collection your community will use, and stand up for open access when it is challenged.
FieldEducation
Preparation (O*NET Job Zone)Extensive preparation needed
What the work involves
What fills a typical week for librarians, built from O*NET occupation data.
- Staff the reference desk and figure out what patrons really need, then find it in print, databases and online
- Help people with computers, job applications, printing and government forms
- Review circulation data and reviews to choose what to buy and what to weed
- Catalog and fix records so items can actually be found
- Plan and teach classes and programs, from storytime to digital skills
- Arrange interlibrary loans for things your branch does not own
- Handle complaints and explain library policies calmly
What the days are like
What people in the job know
- You serve the public all day, and that is the center of the job, not quiet time with books. Deal With External Customers or the Public: extremely important 48%, very important 48%; Face-to-Face Discussions: 93% every day (O*NET Work Context)
- Upset patrons are a regular part of the work. Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People: 26% once a week or more, 44% once a month or more (O*NET Work Context)
- Precision really matters: a wrong answer or a bad catalog record means people cannot find what they need. Importance of Being Exact or Accurate: extremely important 26%, very important 44% (O*NET Work Context)
- Unlike many education jobs, the work week is usually a steady 40 hours. Duration of Typical Work Week: 40 hours 85% (O*NET Work Context)
- Teaching is a big part of the job, from tech help to information literacy. Task rank 4, importance 84: Plan and teach information literacy and technology classes; rank 11, importance 78: Teach library patrons basic computer skills (O*NET Tasks)
How people get into it
O*NET places this job in Job Zone 5, and 96% of respondents say a master's degree is required. Most librarians earn a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an accredited program; school librarians usually also need a teaching or school media certification. Many start as library assistants or pages.
The Firstday trial, easy to hard
Three simulated tasks at Harbor County Public Library, Elm Street Branch, a fictional company, with AI coworkers who message you, react to your work and coach with questions. Nobody scores you.
What the trial can't show: This trial cannot show the physical side of a branch: shelving, moving carts, setting up rooms, leading a live storytime, or handling a disruptive patron in person. It also cannot show the variety of a real desk shift, where questions come from every direction at once. Search tools here are simulated versions of a catalog and databases.
Reading about it is one thing.
Find out how the work feels to you before you spend on a degree, course or job change. Your first trial is free.
Other careers you can try
Job details on this page are built from O*NET OnLine, 25-4022.00. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.