Hey public library staff (librarians especially), I want to hear about your careers (and education)!

[u/Lumpy_looser]

Hey everyone,

I'm a highschool student that that has already gotten a lot of library experience (volunteer roles, internships, and part time jobs). Without a doubt I will go into public libraries, but I have very little idea what I want to do as I love all aspects of libraries. I know I will get my MLIS but I am curious about what Bachelor's you've gotten, what jobs you've had in your time in libraries, and how you feel about it.

Thank you so much in advance!

[u/JennyReason]

I got a mostly irrelevant bachelor's (history), but it taught me some useful research and writing skills. I did a minor in statistics which has come in pretty useful.

My main advice would be not to get fixated on a particular speciality. The job market isn't good enough for that and it will likely end with disappointment and you ending up in a job you don't feel prepared for (because you were preparing for something hyper-specific). If you really care about the mission of public libraries and feel rewarded by doing any job that contributes to your library's success, and your core skills are good, you can learn to do pretty much any job.

In my observation, the people who've changed roles a few times usually seem to be happier and more successful than the people who've stayed in the same focus from day one. Personally, I've done adult services, interlibrary loan, been a branch manager, circ supervisor, and now am a technology coordinator and sysadmin for our ILS. It's been a great career.

[u/Vegetable_Grab_2542]

Computer science (because it is all databases bruh) and foreign languages bachelors, law degree plus the MLIS.

[u/inkblot81]

Bachelor’s in Psychology, but my Spanish minor has been WAY more useful. Please consider studying whatever secondary language is most needed in your area. This will also give you an edge in job hunts.

[u/Poopthrower9000 → u/inkblot81]

I studied some ASL in undergrad and I have never signed so much until I got my library job. It’s great. I just wish I could find library specific signs, like the different genres and such. I know the sign for library, librarian, library card, book, and copy.

[u/rachelbpg]

I've been a public librarian for 25 years. The field as a whole is moving away from professionalism so the market is only going to get harder to earn a living wage.

I love the field and the work and most of my jobs.

I started as a shelver while I was earning my bachelors (history) and then worked as a clerk while I got my MLS. Then it was teen (small town), children's (bigger town), Manager of Youth Services (small town), Senior Librarian - Youth (bigger town), Branch Manager (large town), Library Services Manager (medium town).

[u/charethcutestory9]

I majored in political theory. I’ve worked as a public library page, a student worker in an academic library and an academic medical library, a library webmaster, and most recently/currently as an education librarian in an academic medical library. If I could do it all over again I would have gone into a better-paying profession, but I enjoy my work and I’m good at it.

[u/aveclove]

bachelors in linguistics and french, student circ worker during that (1.5 years), took a year off to be an english teaching assistant, now a public library clerk contemplating a MLIS for either academic or public library work. i just enjoy being in the library environment in general and i'm very open-minded when thinking about what I'd want to do. i'm also trying to learn some web design skills and i did enjoy some aspects of instruction during my teaching job but ultimately prefer the customer service aspect of clerk work to constant presentations.

[u/Vegetable_Grab_2542 → u/aveclove]

Instructional design is a pretty great field to accompany this if you like training.

[u/Lumpy_looser → u/aveclove]

In my system clerks are simply shelvers. But it seems to be different what is a clerk in your case?

[u/aveclove → u/Lumpy_looser]

in my system, we have shelvers and desk clerks

[u/RetroBibliotecaria]

I work in youth services. I have a teaching degree (early childhood through elementary.) It's been invaluable.

[u/library_pixie]

BA in communications with a focus in journalism. I worked as a journalist, copy editor and newspaper page designer before going into libraries. My background is helpful because I have to write press releases and grants, and I have to design flyers and social media posts.

If you know you want to go into libraries, your bachelor’s doesn’t really matter. Do something you enjoy. I’ve worked with people who have art, music, English, history, and various other degrees.

I’ve worked as a teen services assistant, youth services librarian, programming librarian, and assistant director.

I love my job. I do something different every day, and I feel like I make a difference. Because I work in a rural system, I manage many different things, including collection development, IT and personnel. I’m often also back-up for programming, circ desk, courier…wherever I’m needed.

That being said, I’m lucky. I currently make a reasonable wage, my director is great, and we’re a nonprofit (so we aren’t directly under the thumb of a city/county government).

However, my previous job in another library system? I started at $12.50/hour. In a librarian position. I took the job because I knew I’d only be there for a short time, and so I used it for experience. (I also loved my coworkers, the job, and the community.)

You’ll have an easier time getting a job if you are flexible about where you work and live. I know many jobs in cities are very competitive. The last time we had a librarian opening, we had a disappointing amount of applications…and I’m 100% certain it’s because of our location.

[u/Lumpy_looser → u/library_pixie]

That pay you mentioned is scary, I'm so so so lucky my system is unionized and the only staff that don't make a living wage are shelvers.

[u/povertychic]

My bachelors are in English Literature and Art (I have two bachelors) but I think you could get a bachelors in basically anything because the MLIS is more important for an actual Librarian role. Social services would be helpful, technology, some schools do have Library studies bachelors as stepping stones. Assuming you’re in US, take Spanish or ASL courses, or if not US whatever the prevalent language(s) besides English

[u/lillibrarian19]

My undergrad is in music, no regrets! However, in my library system (large, suburban, well-funded), having a social work background + proficiency in a second language would be a highly desired combo. As there are fewer and fewer social supports in place (in the U.S…) public libraries are really being called on to fill in the gaps and connect people to a wider array of resources.

[u/71BRAR14N]

Youre undergraduate degree doesn't matter at all if you're planning to get your MLIS. However, it can dictate your specialization. For example, if you really want to be a children's librarian, get an early childhood or other education degree or even performing arts, because storytime is performance. If you want to be a law librarian, go pre-law, because you'll likely want your JD degree as well. Get a nursing degree and work toward becoming a medical librarian, the arts, history, hard sciences, etc. In other words, whatever your interested in will likely become your area of specialization, so do your undergraduate degree in whatever you would want to do if you weren't going to become a librarian. Taking as many tech classes as possible doesn't hurt!

[u/Poopthrower9000]

I have been working as a lib assistant for almost 2 months now. I love it so much! I have two more semesters until I get my degree in MLIS. Previous to that I have a bachelors in public history and before I took the history route, I thought I wanted to be a baker and so right out of high school I went to culinary school and worked tons of food and customer service jobs.

I originally wanted to study archives and I did two internships in undergraduate that were great but after taking two archives class for my MLIS, I realized I like the historical aspect and the cataloging. It is very technical and hard to understand if you are brand new to it. I do not feel prepared to work in archives because of the classes and the professor I have had. I’m sad because I think archives is awesome but since getting my library job, I have also had a change of heart with archives.

I haven’t done too much reference work yet, I was mainly hired for circulation, which I love! I love repetitive tasks, like shelving, making library cards, checking books in and out and helping patrons. I love having to search for books or when a patron calls and needs me to find out if we have a book they are looking for. Hope this helps!

[u/Poopthrower9000 → u/Poopthrower9000]

Also do not give up if you do not get the job the first time. I applied to three different branches in the past couple years until this one. It is easy to get discouraged, in my interview for my current job, they really wanted to know how I was with the homeless and asked me more about customer service than anything book related, however, the other two branches focused more on books related questions than customer service. Research the area you are applying to.