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Education

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

Median salary

$64,320

Typical range

$39k – $101k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Education

Typical entry: Master's degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

    Entry / Junior

    $38,920

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

    Established

    $64,320

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

    Senior

    $82,600

Key skills

A typical day

  • Check books in and out of the library.
  • Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
  • Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
  • Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
  • Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.

Fields of study

Any field

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