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What degree do I need to work in a library?

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You dont need a degree to work in a library though it'd give you a better chance of getting the job. Two of my friends work in a library. One finished school after a levels and the other didnt even do a levels.

You may need a degree depending on the job. Professional roles (librarians and archivists) usually require at least a bachelor's degree. This has been established in this thread.

For entry level positions (those you've highighlited) then it's unikely a degree will be a significant advantage or disadvanage.

Reply 61

SoulfulBoy

Original post by sweetness345

I'm thinking about this and I want to know what kind of degree I need.

Thank you.

Do you really need a degree to work in a library? You only need this :deal:

Anyway seeing this question,I know no one will contract you ever! :stupid:

Reply 62

Dude Where's My Username

Wow, I've finally learnt something new off TSR! As an engineer, I totally get and agree with everything River 85 has said. I never knew you got professional librarians before reading this thread :moon:

Reply 63

Pedrobear

Original post by SoulfulBoy

Do you really need a degree to work in a library? You only need this :deal:

Anyway seeing this question,I know no one will contract you ever! :stupid:

I'd say it would be, if not courteous, at least appropriate of you to learn to read before you begin to pass judgement on matters regarding libraries.

Original post by Dude Where's My Username

I'm not understanding why this misconception occurs. Do you believe library archives spring into existence by themselves? Do you think any old chancer could rearrange potentially numerous floors full of books, work out their relevance, and organise them efficiently? Can you even think of any non-mechanical process anywhere near as complicated as maintaining a busy library, one which (in the case of universities) could be used by thousands of people daily?

A library can be viewed as a physical database, an archive. Now, would you place just anyone in charge of the Police National Computer? What about the Land Registry? No? Then why a library?

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 64

sweetness345

Original post by Pedrobear

Uh... the above posts are highly ignorant. Come back when you know what you're talking about, and stay classy, TSR.

Assuming you mean as a librarian, any undergraduate degree will do, then you'll have to do a Masters in Library/Information Sciences.

Oh ok...thanks...but i don't want to do masters so i'll see after i finish my degree.

Reply 65

sweetness345

Original post by SoulfulBoy

Do you really need a degree to work in a library? You only need this :deal:

Anyway seeing this question,I know no one will contract you ever! :stupid:

Wow that was so rude.....I was just asking a simple question...you don't have to answer it. :mad:

Reply 66

sweetness345

Original post by chinaberry

Why are people being like this?

I'm interested in the answer myself, and I thank people who have answered seriously.

Thank you, people don't need to be so ungrateful or rude.

Reply 67

sweetness345

Original post by Bunkd

This is why our country is screwed. No librarian needs a masters-degree to do her job.

That's what I was thinking....I think you just need some experience.

Reply 68

Joinedup

At my university, librarians are likened to Hitler, in the student magazine. I wanted to throw up when I read it, I can't believe how ungrateful and arrogant some people can be.

Librarians should be the uni students best friends - loads more use than the lecturers tbh. I guess they're acting like hitler cos people are rocking up with the sort of snotty attitudes permiating this thread.

Reply 69

mark.266

i think you need a degree in being boring and sad.
good news is after reading this thread i think you're on track to getting a 1st

Reply 70

Enoch.

Ignorance is a bliss...

Reply 71

River85

Original post by sweetness345

That's what I was thinking....I think you just need some experience.

As has been said many times in this thread, you don't just need some experience.

You're probably not realising the difference between a librarian and a library assistant. A librarian is someone who is a managerial level professional and deals with a range of tasks including budgeting, possibly assisting with academic research and being in charge of library access.

A library assistant does more routine tasks including issuing and renewing books and shelving. This isn't to say a librarian can't do these things also, but their principal role is a managerial one.

A library assistant can later become a librarian with work experience although they'll still usually need a degree (or degree level qualification).

Reply 72

Joinedup

Original post by River85

Hmmm well the OP did ask what they needed to work in a library and not what they needed to become a librarian...

Reply 73

Dude Where's My Username

Original post by Pedrobear

What exactly are you getting your knickers in a twist about? :lolwut:

There's a lot of managerial jobs out there where you don't need a degree, let alone a masters, to carry it out adequately. I imagined that archiving books was done by a number of people delegated specific areas within the library. Sorting fiction from psychology from languages isn't rocket science, just extremely labour intensive. I wouldn't expect a village idiot to be able to do that job obviously.

Like I said previously, I didn't know before that you had professional (i.e a mandatory degree educated position) librarians and it appears many others didn't either (and still don't). This thread has set me straight. So chillax :cookie:

Reply 74

Joinedup

Original post by Dude Where's My Username

What exactly are you getting your knickers in a twist about? :lolwut:

Archiving isn't just sorting book :rolleyes:

Reply 75

chaikhosi

Original post by W.H.T

should've known a civil engineering degree alone isn't enough these days.....

*sigh*

*sigh*

LOL @ smartarses :biggrin:

I worked as a library assistant (the person on the front counter who stamps the books out) before uni, and that isn't normally a graduate job. You need A-Levels and some vaguely relevant experience, like working in a bookshop or volunteering with Read International. Actually I did meet some graduates doing the same job, but they were getting work experience while studying for their MA in Librarianship or Information Management.

In big libraries, there are often shelver jobs that you only need GCSEs for.

To become a professional chartered librarian with CILIP, there are three ways. Go directly into a BA in library/information studies, or do your first degree in another subject then a library MA (the most prestigious route), or work as a library assistant for a long time, do CILIP training courses on the side, get your ACLIP certificate and eventually earn your Chartership while working.

Your mileage may vary, of course. I've heard jobs are a bit thin on the ground at the mo, and you might have to work as a library assistant for a while even after you get qualified. And yes, there is sometimes a bit of an attitude about archivists... :rolleyes:

Reply 76

Pedrobear

Original post by chaikhosi

Your mileage may vary, of course. I've heard jobs are a bit thin on the ground at the mo, and you might have to work as a library assistant for a while even after you get qualified. And yes, there is sometimes a bit of an attitude about archivists... :rolleyes:

Good post. What do you mean by this?

Reply 77

River85

Original post by Joinedup

Hmmm well the OP did ask what they needed to work in a library and not what they needed to become a librarian...

It was implied. What the OP probably wanted to know was the range of careers and positions available in a library and perhaps not just librarianship, that is true, but my point stands that most of those saying you don't need a degree are referring to all careers available in libraries.

But that post was in reply to sweetness345, who in turn quoted another member who was referring to librarians.

Original post by Dude Where's My Username

What exactly are you getting your knickers in a twist about? :lolwut:

An archive isn't someone who just sorts books. They are people in charge of a collection of archives (films, photos, books, maps, tapes....), there to "manage" them. Curatorial skills like cataloguing, knowledge of conservation techiniques as well as promotional work is involved. Then managing staff and budgeting at senior level.

Reply 78

LAF

You do need a degree or MA for 'professional' librarian posts. So studying librarianship depends on whether you want a paraprofessional or professional library job.

I think most people take the MA route with an undergrad degree in a different subject as it's hard to know exactly what you want to do at 18 and a separate undergrad degree gives you more options for the future.

I'm currently doing my MA in Librarianship at the University of Sheffield. This link should take you to their page http://www.shef.ac.uk/is/prospectivepg/courses/lib/index.html

There is no specific undergrad degree needed to get on to the course for example I have a degree in Psychology others on my course studied Chemistry, History, Politics, English etc. However some degrees might be more useful if you know that you want to work in a specialist library e.g. art.

Most postgrad librarian courses need you to have experience of working in a library. A really good way of doing this is to take part in the graduate trainee schemes which are advertised through CILIP. This link should give you more information: http://www.cilip.org.uk/jobs-careers/qualifications/graduate-opportunites/pages/introduction.aspx

I hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions.

Reply 79

cozman1

Wow..ther are some seriously ignorant people answering on this thread.. if you don't know the answer then shut up!

Fact: a degree in information science/library studies/archiving OR a degree in anything and a masters degree accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. CILIP. such as Msc information science/library science/information and knowledge management etc. look at Findamasters.com

To climb the ladder and reach management positions you should aim to become a chartered Librarian.

Some of the great jobs you can get with these qualifications are working in archiving or research for broadcasting companies like the bbc, specialise in old book restoration, work in a university library, work as a researcher for major corporations.. and many more.

Working in a library and putting books on a shelf does not make you a loibrarian, it makes you a unskilled manual worker. If you get these qualifications you will have a number of interesting jobs to choose from and some them pay very very well.

Cousin works for the BBC as head of archiving for the BBC, started with masters degree, worked in auniversity libaray in London, eventually got a job in Princeton u.s.a. as lead librarian, then started work for the bbc. Great job, really great money nearly 6 figure sum..

I say go for it!!!