Who is academic librarian

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Academic librarians tend to work from nine-to-five, but evening and weekend work might be required from time to time, especially in libraries that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can begin a career as an academic librarian with a degree in any discipline.

However, a degree in information management, information science or librarianship will really set you apart from the rest of the pack. If you have your heart set on becoming a member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals CILIP , you will need to complete a postgraduate qualification in information management, information science or librarianship.

You will also need to gain sufficient experience of working in a library. The majority of your initial training will involve getting to grips with in-house processes and online catalogue systems.

Once you have settled into your role, you may have the opportunity to attend training courses offered by organisations, such as the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals CILIP and the Association for Information Management. Careers advice. Job descriptions. Academic librarian: job description Academic librarians are responsible for acquiring, organising, managing and distributing library resources, and ensuring that library provision meets the needs of all its users.

Typical employers Qualifications and training Key skills Academic librarianship is a people-focused role, requiring individuals to manage learning resources while keeping the library users' needs in mind. Typical employers of academic librarians Universities and their academic departments Research institutes Public libraries Higher and further education colleges Professional and learned societies Specialist departments within government, hospitals, and large professional firms Self-employment is uncommon; however, secondments with different institutions and fixed-term contracts are increasingly common.

Qualifications and training required You are eligible to become an academic librarian with any degree, but if your first qualification isn't related to information management you will need to do a postgraduate qualification with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals CILIP. Key skills for academic librarians Employers seek confident individuals with excellent organisational and interpersonal skills. Other key skills include: strong IT skills and familiarity with the use of databases and the internet teamworking and management skills assessment of resources and library users' needs presentation and verbal communication skills subject-specific knowledge or expertise in a particular function, for example ICT resources or resource ordering.

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