Does anyone out there work in a library?

[Emma27]

I'm curious to know what it would be like working in a library.

At the moment it seems like a dream job as it would combine my love of reading and helping people. Also I tend to drift towards quiet peaceful places (not sure if a library is always like that once your working there )

At one stage I was doing a teacher librarianship through CSU. I had to stop as I wanted to devote more time to Joshua. Now I think I would porefer to work in a local council library anyway.

What qualifications would you need and what are the pay / working conditions like?

[*Ang*]

I will be watching this thread with interest too so I hope that someone answers your questions! It is something that I have always thought about as an "ideal" career, especially after all the noise of children!

[Marydean]

Ok, ladies, well libraries are no longer the quiet peaceful places they once were AND you're likely to be far too busy to be 'reading' books or anything else for that matter!

You can work in a library in a range of positions starting from the relatively unskilled 'library assistant" (ie basic customer service and reshelving roles) through "library technician" (skilled, para-professional, requires TAFE diploma and does a lot of collection maintenance) right through to librarian positions (requires a degree or post-grad qualification). However the job market is pretty tight so regardless of what qualifications you have or don't have, you will need to demonstrate you have relevant experience. Think about what transferable skills and experience you have.

The Australian Library and Information Association has more info on their website. Hope that helps.

PS It's usually the library staff who talk the loudest too

[Emma27]

Hi Marydean

I'm actually a primary school teacher who was doing a Master of Ed in Teacher Librarianship. Do/ did you work in a local library or school library?

[Marydean]

Government department library. There are hoardes of library workers in corporate or other 'special' libraries (health and law), as well as state and national libraries, and university libraries. Public and school libraries - although fairly visible to the public, are only a very small part of the library world.

Your teaching qual will see you in good stead, even if you don't end up in a school library, since a lot of library work is about teaching info literacy to clients (whether in a public library or post grad level researchers in a uni).

[laurab]

Can't help with any of your questions. but good luck with everything.My mum and Sister both work in libraries and it's something I am interested in one day doing too.