Library Types & Personnel Functions

Types of Libraries Academic Public School Special

Academic Libraries Colleges & Universities Collection designed to meet the needs of the curriculum Usually one main library May also have subject specific libraries Low focus on fiction Controlled population (students) Part of campus budget

Public Libraries Collection designed to meet the needs of the general public (broadest range of all library types) Large fiction collection Uncontrolled population Part of city or county budget Community services

Public Libraries Individual Branch Systems Palmdale City Library City Systems L.A. Public Library (68 Branches) County Systems L.A. County Public Library (84 Branches) City/County Systems Sacramento Public Library (25 Branches) A Central/Main library is common

School Libraries Part of a public or private school Elementary – Junior High/Middle – High Some combined with Public Library Scottsdale Public Library – Palomino Library Collection designed to meet the needs of the school Good fiction collection at the level of the school Part of school budget

Special Libraries Government Law Federal (U.S. Army Libraries) State (California State Library) Law Private Government (Public) Librarians often have law degrees (J.D.) Corporate (M.L.S. not always required) Non-profit Organizations Museums & Galleries Archives (NARA)

Personnel Roles Leader Administrative Supervisory Librarians Paraprofessionals Clerical

Librarians Stereotypes

Librarian Images This is What a Librarian Looks Like Ryan Gosling Meme lollibrarian

Librarians Master’s degree usually required. M.L.S., M.L.I.S., M.S.L.S., M.M.L.I.S. Library & Information Careers: Emerging Trends and Titles Second advanced degree may be required in universities or some special libraries. Two areas of library service Public Services Technical Services

Librarian Services Technical Services Public Services Catalog Management Book Ordering Book Processing Public Services Reference Services Collection Development Special Programs Pathfinders and Research Guides Community Services

Librarian Services (Public) Adult Services Reference Service Collection Development by Area Programming Books Clubs Classes Outside Speakers Community Services Taxes Special Groups Children’s Services Reference Service Collection Development Programming Storytimes Reading Clubs Special Contests Literacy Encouragement Community Services Schools Parents

Leader Library Director Appointed by Board Also Called City/County/State Librarian Appointed by Board Usually a former librarian with M.L.S. Many years of experience May have Ph.D. Usually does not perform librarian duties

Administrative Not necessarily librarians Administrate the Library Directors directives May not have advanced degree

Supervisory Usually librarians with M.L.S. Several years experience and leadership skills Supervises branches or departments of a central library Titles: Head Librarian, Branch Librarian, Supervising Librarian, Regional Librarian

Paraprofessionals Library Technicians/Assistants Also called Circulation Technicians Often have different levels based education and experience

Paraprofessionals Book maintenance & management Issuance of library cards Fines & fees

Clerical No education requirements Usually part-time Typing/Labeling Shelving Books Often college students in colleges & university libraries and high school students in public libraries.

Statistics There are about 150,000 librarians in the U.S. working in 121,000 libraries. 27,000 Academic Librarians 88,000 total staff 46,000 Public Librarians 140,000 total staff http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet02

Statistics Librarians answer around 6.6 million reference questions per week. 58% of U.S. adults have a public library card. Americans visit libraries three times more than they go to movie theatres. There are more public library branches than McDonald’s 16,700 vs. 14,000

Statistics The cost of all public libraries is about $36 per American per year. 2 million more people visited an academic library reference desk than saw a college basketball game. Academic libraries receive about three cents of every higher education dollar spent. The largest libraries in the U.S.