Do you need to have a degree in Library Science to be a librarian?

Question

what are the things you learn in Library Science and what can you do with that degree?

Answer 1

Generally "yes" and to be considered a true librarian to your colleagues, definately. The standard degree was the Masters in Library Science several years ago, then it became the Masters in Library and Information Science, and now several universities offer a Masters in Information Science with a library specialty.

Librarian who do not have masters include School Media Technicians who generally have some education, either a two year degree or a BA in Education and a teaching credential. Still, to people outside the library world, they're still known as Librarians.

Also, many poor communities where community education is not a high priority, will have library branches managed by people without degrees. In Tacoma they have librarian teleconferencing at their branches, but most would agree that the library techs there are considered the librarians.

What do library students learn? Before the 50's when Home Economics became something offered teen girls in High Schools, the study was called "Library Economics." What we study is about the same thing it always was, though. Stretch your budget, get the best information the most rapidly with the least effort, effective marketing, personnel management, some practical experience through internships. Yes we study computers, but they are just tools. Carpenters don't study hammers for the sake of inventing better hammers. They want to know which hammer would be best to drive this kind of nail.

Library students with a few years experience before or after getting a degree make fabulous executives, lawyers (with a JD), school curriculum developers, historians and writers, besides being even better librarians than they were before.

Answer 2

Yeah. To actually be classified as a "Librarian" in the US, almost all libraries require you have a Masters in Library Science (or Information Sciences) from an ALA (American Library Association) accredited school. A list of such schools is online at: http://www.ala.org/lisdir/

Yes, this is a Masters Degree. It's not really an easy degree, and it's like a Social Services degree: you're not gonna make a lot of money with it. With a Master's in Library Science, you can work as a Librarian on many levels (Youth, Teen, Adult, Reference, Technology, etc) and with enough experience, you can become a Library Director. At least on the Public track. There are also corporate Librarian's (who make more money), but these jobs are not numerous. A Corporate Librarian might, for example, work for a Law Firm and be required to help find information for the Lawyers. Or an Auto Company, where you may be in cgarge of keeping track of all the manuals for fixing transmissions in 100 years of vehicles.

Answer 3

Library science these days is high-tech. You learn information systems, how to research and compile data, management of libraries, even customer service. Most libraries require a degree in library science (often a masters), and many also require a second masters degree in a specialty such as business, science, humanities or social sciences. After years of low enrollment, library science majors are more in demand.

Answer 4

Yes. or if you are a graduate of another course, you can take a master's in library and information science. they will teach how to manage different types of libraries - research, academic, law, medical, school, and public libraries. you will also learn about archives and archiving (for museums). laws and trends affecting the libraries. information technology and databases will also be discussed.

you can work as a librarian, an information specialist, an archivist, researcher, etc. you can also work for media network companies such as national geog and discovery channel as media librarian!

Answer 5

Yes you need one. As for careers, you could teach others to be librarians or be a librarian, not sure what else you can do

Answer 6

In Australia, you are only recognised as a librarian through the professional organisation ALIA. You will need to check the American professional association ALA: http://www.ala.org/ about how you are defined as a librarian.

Answer 7

yes, there are not many librarians about, i am a library assistant and we have one librarian in the whole library, and its a big library..

Hope i helped

Answer 8

Yes you have to be a bachelor degree holder in Librayr science.