by Brennan K. February 1, 2012

 The average annual salary of all librarians working in elementary or secondary schools in March 2009 was $54,650.  Earnings can be affected by different employers. The federal government pays more than the local government on average.  Earnings can also be affected by different jobs. Librarians can be employed as historians or school librarians, and each job pays differently.

 Entry to a library sciences program requires a bachelor’s degree. Any undergraduate major is acceptable.  A master’s degree in library sciences is needed for the career.  A librarian certification is required, but the requirements to earn them vary by state and by job.

 The entry level position in library sciences is a job as a librarian.  Advancement opportunities include administrative positions such as department head, library director, or chief information officer.  With experience, good communication skills, and good organization skills, these advancement opportunities become possible.

 Librarians order books, develop organizational systems for books, plan programs for the public, recommend books, and maintain databases.  Librarians work in information centers or libraries and spend a lot of time at their computer desks. Most have consistent job schedules.

 159,900 librarians were employed in  172,400 librarians are expected to be employed in  Employment of librarians is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is as fast as the average for all occupations.

 A consistent job schedule  Access to books  Being able to work with and to help others  Working with technology  Spending a lot of time working at a computer desk  Working under deadlines  Keeping up with technology

 I enjoy developing organizational systems.  I love reading.  I enjoy helping others pick out books to read, and I enjoy helping others research.  These are all necessary skills and traits for a career in library sciences.

 To prepare for becoming a librarian, I can plan for getting a bachelor’s degree.  I can also keep up my grades, so I can get scholarships. Scholarships would help me graduate with a bachelor’s degree and with minimal debt.  I can continue to be a library aide at my high school and build necessary skills for the career.

 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Edition, Librarians, on the Internet at (visited January 31, 2012).