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If you’re looking for professional standing in the information world, this is it. Achieving Chartered Librarian status is on a par with many other licensed professionals – accountant, HR, even lawyers. Once chartered, you can take your skills far and wide. As a Librarian, you could work in a public or academic library. But jobs also exist in government, the legal sector, business and industry and hospitals.
The job itself is as diverse as the environments you might work in. These posts require creative, confident and outgoing personalities to address the demands of information avid library users. There are many specialist paths, depending on your personal interests. If you enjoy working with technology and getting the creative juices flowing, then Librarianship can be interesting, lively and highly respected.
- Organising the management and distribution of a wide range of library resources
- Meeting the diverse needs of the public or academic community
- Researching and gauging public opinions about the services offered and developing new marketing approaches to reach target groups
- Improving the efficiency of services and information offered and maintaining statistical and financial records
- Selecting and ordering new stock
- Cataloguing library resources and conducting quality checks
- Supporting independent learning, providing a range of information to enquirers concerning business, careers and learning
- Educating library users and staff on the best ways to retrieve information
- Planning and running events
- Managing teams, conducting appraisals, training and sorting out cover.
Librarians may specialise in a specific academic subject area or function, such as resource ordering, loans service, special collections or IT systems.
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Starting salary
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Newly qualified Chartered Librarians should earn no less than £23,300 a year.
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Potential earnings
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With between two to five years experienced, public Librarians can earn up to £28,000, potentially reaching £32,000 in a government library. As a Head of Service, these could reach between £45,000 and £52,000, depending on work environment and specific management responsibilities.
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Entry requirements
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To call yourself a Librarian, you’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification accredited by CILIP. Some may start as Library Assistants and undertake these qualifications on a part-time basis or via a distance-learning course.
Good grades and academic success, while not always essential, are indications of commitment – particularly for people wanting high-level responsibility early on.
You might encounter a lot of competition for librarian traineeships, so employers can often pick and choose the best candidates. They may look for examples that demonstrate your determination, such as sporting, community service or other cultural and extra-curricular activities.
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Essential skills
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High on employers’ wish lists are motivated people with strong team working and interpersonal management skills. Energy and a sense of purpose are equally essential, and you’ll need to show commitment to ongoing professional development.
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Professional qualifications
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CILIP offers four levels of professional qualifications:
1. Certification (ACLIP), aimed at paraprofessionals that have worked in library and information full time for two years, or equivalent.
2. Chartership (MCLIP), considered the gold standard for library and information professionals.
3. Revalidation, for Chartered members that wish to gain evidence and recognition of their commitment to personal professional development.
4. Fellowship (FCLIP), the highest level of professional qualification awarded by CILIP, given to Chartered Members that have been on the register for six years or longer.
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Promotional prospects
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- Senior Librarian
- Head of Information Services
- Information Manager
- Records and Archives Manager
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