Learn How to Become a School Librarian

Much more than the traditional Dewey decimal or Library of Congress system subscribers, school librarians unite students with information using the most advanced resources available. As new technologies are created and mainstreamed, librarians create systems that provide the information in an organized manner to meet student needs. Some school librarian responsibilities include the following:

• Analyzing school and student needs to determine appropriate informational sources
• Finding reliable source information and distributing it
• Classifying information in a user-friendly way
• Writing summaries and abstracts
• Showing students and teachers how to access information
• Overseeing library management and administration
• Supervising employees and volunteers
• Fundraising and public relations
• Managing a budget

As soon as you enter, you will notice the relaxed but focused atmosphere of most school libraries. Librarians and patrons work together, immersed in searches. Stimulated minds solve mysteries and learn skills in comfortable chairs and workspaces.

A school librarian's workplace is one of constant discovery and interaction. Using the most current technologies, librarians spend most of their time helping students troll the Internet and locate printed materials for resources and information.

Research requires a considerable amount of time viewing computer monitors and walking students to source locations. Libraries often have volunteer staff to aid in sorting and shelving materials, as well as other responsibilities; however, lifting and shelving books and climbing ladders to access upper stacks is usually part of the job.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for librarians in 2009 was $55,670, but the highest 10 percent earned more than $82,450. Library administration positions often deliver higher earning potential than assistant or associate positions.

The average annual salary for school librarians in 2009 was as follows:

• elementary and secondary school librarians: $57,950
• community college librarians: $60,560
• college and university librarians: $59,430

School librarians, like most teachers, enjoy holiday and vacation time that most careers do not offer. While many of these full-time opportunities exist for qualified library teachers, there are a significant number of part-time jobs available as well. If you are interested in working in an educational setting without the struggles of daily lesson plans and lectures, becoming a school librarian might be for you.

Certification requirements for library teachers vary among states. Some require a bachelor's degree and regular state teacher certification. Others require library teachers to have a master's degree in library science or a master's degree in education (MEd).

Master's programs in library science and education prepare you for the job in different ways. A library science degree will prepare you for library jobs outside of the educational system, while an education degree will better equip you to move into other teaching positions in your school. Check your state Department of Education for more information on requirements in your area and choose your major based on your career goals.

If you choose a library science program, you are sure to take classes in the following disciplines:

• foundations of library and information science
• intellectual freedom and censorship
• cataloguing and indexing
• research strategies
• customer / user service
• online reference systems
• Internet search methods
• automated circulation systems
• library administration

If learning and sharing knowledge excite you, then a career as a school librarian could be the perfect fit. The work is intriguing and gratifying as you discover new insights and inspire young minds, searching for answers to the unlimited variety of questions posed by students. Your reward is the great sense of accomplishment you'll get every time you solve a young person's mystery and expand his or her world.