LNDL Work Study Program: Careers in Libraries

Careers in Libraries & Cultural Institutions

Library Science (LIS) roles are those found in a variety of settings, including school, public, and academic libraries. Individuals interested in an LIS career track can pursue a variety of positions, including (but not limited to) academic librarian, law librarian, school librarian, data curator, instruction librarian, and emerging technology librarian. Many of these careers require an ALA accredited Master of Sciences in Information Sciences Degree.

Where can I work?

• School libraries may be found in public or private schools, charter schools, online schools, or military-base schools.
• Public libraries may be rural or city-based, tiny or large, or serving a homogeneous or highly culturally diverse community.
• Academic libraries encompass those in community colleges, private universities, very large, publicly-funded research institutions, and small, specialized campuses such as theological colleges.
• Special libraries (legal, healthcare, science, etc.) may be found in every type of organization imaginable, including nonprofits, for-profits, government agencies, museums, industry associations, and more.

What type of work?

• User or public services (includes reference; research assistance; community outreach; patron and/or bibliographic instruction; readers’ advisory; programs for children, seniors, immigrants, and other special populations and other similar activities; or research, knowledge management, product development support, etc).
• Technical services (usually encompasses acquiring materials; collection development; serials management; cataloging and processing materials; and managing the library’s computers and system technologies; in a special library, may include intranet support).
• Administrative services/management (the processes that keep the organization working effectively, such as budgeting; personnel management and staff development; external liaison and communication; organizational development, and leadership).
• Data services (an emerging area of information work that deals with data, rather than text, as its “content”).
• In addition, roles like website management and marketing fall within various departments depending on the library’s organizational structure.

Interested in Library School? 

Let your direct supervisor know, and they can help you explore any areas you'd like to know more about.

Library science careers - the university of Tennessee. School of Information Sciences. (2020, August 5). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://sis.utk.edu/traditional-is-careers