Librarianship Stats 2023

The librarianship profession involves a range of duties and specializations that cater to the diverse needs of communities and organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), the median annual wage for librarians and library media specialists was $61,660 as of May 2022. The employment rate in this field is expected to grow by about 3% from 2022 to 2032, with an estimated 13,700 job openings each year.

Librarians and library media specialists perform various tasks, including creating and maintaining databases of library materials, organizing materials for easy access, assisting patrons with research, and evaluating search results and reference materials. They also curate collections, plan programs for various audiences, and teach classes about information resources.

There are different types of librarians, such as academic, administrative services, public, school, and special librarians. Each class focuses on specific aspects of librarianship, such as assisting students and faculty in academic settings, managing library operations, serving the general public, supporting educational curricula in schools, or catering to the specialized information needs of organizations in fields like business, law, and healthcare.

/Approximately 35% of librarians and library media specialists worked in elementary and secondary schools, 31% in local government (excluding education and hospitals), 18% in colleges, universities, and professional schools, and 6% in the information sector as of 2022 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). The work schedules for librarians vary depending on their work setting. While most work full-time, part-time positions are also common. Public and academic librarians often have schedules that include weekends, evenings, and holidays, whereas school librarians typically follow the same work and vacation schedules as teachers. Special librarians, such as those in corporate settings, usually work standard business hours but may work longer to meet deadlines.

The educational requirements for librarians vary. Generally, a master's degree in library science (MLS) is required. For school librarians and library media specialists, a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field and a teaching certificate might be necessary, though requirements can differ by state. MLS programs typically cover research methods, online reference systems, and Internet search techniques and usually take 1 to 2 years to complete (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).

References:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Librarians and Library Media Specialists. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm