Librarians are skilled and qualified professionals who are in charge of organizing, maintaining, and issuing library sources (Books, Magazines, Journals, Digital Recordings, etc) to the patrons. Librarians are responsible for handling the inventory of the library and are responsible for cataloging resources and conducting periodic audits.
In order to become a Librarian, candidates are required to take up Library science courses either at the certificate, Diploma, Undergraduate or postgraduate level. Bachelor in Library and Information Science and Bachelor of Library Science are two of the popular courses opted by aspiring Librarians in India. Candidates can also pursue Certification in Library Science or Diploma in Library and Information Science courses if they have a shorter time frame. Some of the top colleges offering Librarian courses are Jadavpur University Kolkata, Chandigarh University, University of Lucknow etc. The average course fee of the program ranges between INR 2700-INR 55,000 per annum.
Candidates after completion of the courses are absorbed as School Librarian, College Librarian, Law Librarian, Music Librarian and many more. The average salary of a Librarian in India according to the PayScale website is INR 2.59 LPA. However, with gradual experience and updated skills the highest salary of a Librarian can go upto as much as INR 8.33 LPA.
- Quick Facts to Become a Librarian
- What does a Librarian do
- Steps to Become a Librarian
- Types of Librarians
- How to become a Librarian in India?
- Courses to become a Librarian
6.1 Bachelor in Library Science
6.2 Bachelor of Library and Information Science
6.3 Master in Library Science and Information Science
7.1 UK
7.2 USA
7.3 Australia
7.4 Canada
10.1 Job Roles
10.2 Annual Salary
10.3 Specialization wise
10.4 Gender wise
10.5 Experience wise
All About Career as a Librarian
Industry | Education |
Eligibility | Bachelor of Library Science in minimum requirement. |
Average Course Fees | INR 15,000 to INR 2 LPA |
Average Starting Salary | 1.5- 2 lakh per year |
Top Recruiting areas | Universities, Colleges, Institutes, Private bookstores, Public libraries and Research labs. |
What does a Librarian Do?
The librarians' typical activities include aiding clients in learning how to utilise information retrieval systems, recommending books and information sources pertinent to patron questions, and preserving collections. The librarians are also in charge of overseeing junior librarians, clerks, and other members of the library staff. The librarians should be prepared to continue their education and development in the information sciences throughout their careers, as technology advances and information needs in the Internet era evolve.
Work of Librarian :
- Providing blended learning assistance and helping individuals in locating books, electronic resources, and other items.
- obtaining, arranging, and categorizing resources to make them conveniently available
- Managing and structuring information sources such as books, magazines, newspapers, e - resources, video, audio recordings, pictures, and manuscripts.
- Organizing information resources such that they are easily accessible.
- Answering questions and supporting library customers.
- Keeping up with the latest publications.
- Increasing the utilisation of the library.
- Organizing activities such as reading groups.
Step to Follow to Become a Librarian
There are some simple yet important steps to become a librarian.
- Decision Making - Students can decide to become a librarian after completing the 12th standard exam. Students can not take the librarian course directly after 10th examinations as a bachelor's degree is compulsory for becoming a librarian.
- Subject Choices - B.L.I.Sc. and B.Lib. are popular library science degrees in India. It is advised that you do one of the above-mentioned courses if you want to have a strong career in this field.
- Entrance examination: The candidates are required to start preparing for various entrance examinations proctored by individual colleges such as the Aligarh Muslim University B.Lib entrance or the Calcutta University BLISc entrance Examination.
- Selecting Correct Colleges - Degree in library courses can be achieved from any private or public college providing bachelors or masters in library science. The admission procedure at reputable institutes is merit-based. Seats are assigned to deserving individuals depending on their achievement in the admission exam or selection procedure.
- After Qualifying exam - After completing the degree in library science, students can apply for jobs in schools or private institutions. Students may also pursue higher courses to get a good package in an institution.
Types of a Librarians
Below are some types based of the work of librarian:-
- Academic Librarians are often employed at educational institutions where they administer libraries and other instructional materials.
- A digital librarian is someone who maintains and organises digital libraries or resources by dealing with storage, access, and digital knowledge.
- Music librarians monitor, organise, maintain, and acquire music-related resources.
- Law Librarians are legal experts who are in charge of keeping and conserving legal books and information.
- Library administrators oversee the library's different tasks, such as book management, collecting, and preservation. They are in charge of the library's cataloguing and public relations.
How to Become a Librarian in India?
The particular procedures you must take to become a librarian differ significantly depending on the type of librarian you wish to be. The career of librarian can be achieved with the sequence degree or courses as follows:
UG Preparation
The courses offered at the UG level to pursue the career as a librarian have been mentioned below:
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor of Library Science (B.Lib.) & Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.L.I.Sc.) are well-known and popular degrees. To become a librarian, you must first complete one of the courses listed above. The course lasts one year.
If you do not already have a bachelor's degree, you must get one in order to pursue the master's degree required for librarian employment. You can even acquire a degree online. Although bachelor's degree programmes in the library and information sciences are available, they do not qualify you to work as a librarian. Bachelor's degrees in English, education, history, anthropology, and other social sciences are prevalent among librarians.
Diploma and certificate courses
Diploma in Library Science, Diploma in Library and Information Science, Certificate in Library Science & Certificate in Library and Information Science are some other famous courses. Some programmes may allow you to pursue certain concentrations or endorsements. Whether you desire to be a school librarian, a public library, or an archivist, such recommendations will be useful.
PG Preparation
The majority of prospective school librarians are expected to have a master's degree in library science. Most librarian professions need a bachelor's degree in any field and a master's degree in library science or information studies.
Master of Library Science, Master of Library and Information Science, M.Phil. Library and Information Science & PhD in Library and Information Science are very famous masters degree courses. Some programmes may allow you to pursue certain concentrations or endorsements. Whether you desire to be a school librarian, a public library, or an archivist, such recommendations will be useful.
Courses to Become a Librarian
There are several undergraduate courses available to pursue the career as Librarian. The duration of the course can be 1-2 years. Some of them have been discussed below:
Bachelor in Library Science (B.Lib.)
Bachelor of Library Science (B.Lib) is a one-year degree given to students who excel in the field of library science. The primary goal of B.Lib is to provide applicants with the necessary abilities for the particular sector. The need for professionals in this sector is increasing by the day.
Admission Process
Bachelor of Library Science admission is a merit-based admission procedure in which institutes compile a merit list based on the qualifying test grades given by candidates. The institutes contact the applicants on the merit list and guide them through the rest of the admission procedure until seats are assigned.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must have completed their degree from any recognised university using the 10+2+3 education pattern in order to be eligible for the Bachelor of Library Science programme. To be considered eligible for B.Lib.Sc admission, students must have at least 50 percent aggregate marks in their qualifying degree exam.
Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS)
Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.Lib.I.Sc.) is a one-year undergraduate programme that teaches applicants about library management and supervision. In general, the course is split into two semesters. The Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.Lib.I.Sc.) degree is primarily concerned with the maintenance and care of libraries.
Admission Process
Every college has its unique admissions process. However, in the majority of situations, the procedure is very similar. Students must complete the application form and wait for the college to announce the cut-off date. If they pass the cut-off, they will be able to enrol in a college of their choosing. In some circumstances, there may also be an admission exam.
Eligibility criteria
Each institution or institution has its own set of eligibility requirements that prospective candidates must meet. The following are the main qualifying requirements for the Bachelor of Library and Information Science [B.Lib.I.Sc] programme:
- The candidate must have a bachelor's degree in any field.
- Candidates must have a graduating grade point average of 50-55 percent.
- Candidates must also meet the admission requirements for the specific college to which they wish to apply.
- Several colleges have their own admission exams that must be passed.
Master in Library Science and Information science
MLibSc, or Master of Library Science, is a postgraduate level library science degree study. The course is available at several universities and institutions in India as a full-time or part-time (distance learning) programme. The course provides a basis for individuals who want to pursue a career in research or education. However, for individuals who desire to seek careers, the course also provides attractive career prospects.
Admission Process
Admissions to MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) programmes are based on merit lists issued by universities and institutions. For admission to this programme, a few colleges have their own entrance examinations. You may simply apply for admissions once the institution has issued the applications for the entrance test or the merit list.
Entrance Exam
The majority of the time, admission to this degree is based on merit, although a few schools and universities have their own entrance examinations to provide this degree. Below are the details for Pondicherry University M. Lib.I.Sc Entrance exam-
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Application opening Date | To be Announced |
Application closing date | To be Announced |
Date of exam | To be Announced |
Eligibility criteria
To obtain a Master of Library And Information Science degree, you must satisfy the following qualifying requirements:
- A Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50%-60% aggregate marks.
- You must be between the ages of 20 and 22 to apply for this programme.
- Candidates possessing a Bachelor of Library and Information Science or Bachelor of Library Science degree will be given preference.
- A minimum of 50 percent in high school is also regarded as a criterion for entrance to this programme.
How To Apply
The admission to the Librarian courses at the various academic levels are done on the basis either merit list or entrance examination. The admission process remains more or less the same for all the courses. Let us go through the steps
- Registration: The candidates are required to visit the college website from where they want to study and see the admission criteria (Merit based or entrance based). In either case the candidates are required to fill up a registration form by filling up their email and mobile number. After that a Login Id would be generated for the candidates
- Application fill up: After getting the login ID the candidates are required to fill up their form by providing the necessary details. The candidates are required to fill up the location for their entrance exam
- Upload Documents: The candidates after filling up the application form are required to upload various documents in the correct format and size on the website.
- Payment of the Application fees: The candidates are required to check the application form and make the payment in favour of the college or the entrance exam board.
- After that the candidates are required to take out a receipt of the application form for future reference.
- If qualified in the entrance examination, then the candidates are required to appear for the counselling process.
Note:
- In the case of admission through merit list candidates are required to follow the above steps
- The college will declare a merit list of the qualified students after some time.
- The candidates who have made it to the list can confirm their admission by paying the admission fee.
How to Prepare for the entrance exam
The following are some of the simple steps that the candidates are required to follow to crack the entrance exam
- The candidates should visit the college website and download the entrance exam syllabus.
- Candidates are required to find out about the weightage of the subjects and prepare a plan accordingly.
- The candidates are required to prepare a time table of the various subjects and must keep one day a week for revision of all the subjects covered in a week.
- The candidates must appear for frequent mock tests so that they can practice time management
- The candidates are required to complete the syllabus at least one month before the entrance examination.
- During the entrance , the candidates must answer the easier questions and then proceed to the tougher questions. In this way they can save time for revision
How to Become a Librarian Abroad
Apart from India one can choose to pursue librarian courses abroad as well. Some of the top countries like UK, USA etc offers several courses to become a Librarian. To study abroad one must meet certain criteria, listed below are few of them for your reference,
- Consistently good academic records throughout. Students with 70% and above are however preferred in some of the top colleges offering librarian courses abroad
- One must clear various language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL to be able to study abroad
Some of the top countries to pursue a career as Librarian in Abroad has been mentioned below along with their fees structure and courses offered.
UK
The following are the list of colleges offering Librarian Courses in UK
College | Degree | Fees(INR) |
---|---|---|
Coventry university | Masters degree | 16,54,367 |
University of Brimingham | Masters degree | 20,61,754 |
Kingston University London | Master degree | 18,40,482 |
University of Manchester | Master degree | 22,74,753 |
Brunel university | Ph.D. | 59,80,534 |
University of kent | Bachelor degree | 63,58,970 |
Kingston University London | Bachelor's degree honours | 46,52,905 |
Aberystwyth university | Bachelor's degree | 49,63,099 |
University of Sussex | Bachelor's degree | 57,38,583 |
USA
The Following are the list of Colleges offering Librarian courses in the USA
College | Degree | Fees(INR) |
---|---|---|
Northern Arizona University | Masters degree | 39,58,321 |
University of south florida | Masters degree | 23,26,251 |
University of Washington | Masters degree | 44,42,224 |
University of Wisconsin | Graduate Certificate | 15,86,687 |
The catholic university of america | Master degree | 74,30,102 |
University of north texas | Graduate certificate | 12,08,876 |
Florida state university | Ph.D | 48,98,412 |
National University | Associate degree | 24,41,508 |
Colleges of contra costa | Advanced certificate | 6,08,837 |
St, John’s university | Combined baccalaureate and masters program | 1,58,22,143 |
Australia
The following are the list of colleges offering Librarian Courses in Australia
College | Degree | Fees(INR) |
---|---|---|
La Trobe university | Bachelor's degree | 62,71,130 |
Australian National university | Bachelor's degree | 66,25,364 |
Monash University | Bachelor's degree | 55,69,441 |
Victoria University | Ph.D. | 78,64,335 |
Charles Sturt University | Ph.d. | 46,10,128 |
University of Tasmania | Masters degree | 34,97,144 |
University of New south wales | Masters degree | 42,03,352 |
University of Sydney | Masters degree | 23,44,612 |
Canada
The following are the list of colleges in Canada offering Librarian courses in Canada
College | Degree | Fees(INR) |
---|---|---|
University of Alberta | Masters degree | 11,39,971 |
Seneca college | Graduate diploma | 1,25,52,101 |
University of new Brunswick | Ph.D. | 32,04,203 |
University of British Columbia | Ph.D. | 21,56,429 |
Fanshawe College | Bachelor's degree | 37,66,660 |
Algonquin College | Bachelor's degree | 19,16,271 |
Benefits of Becoming a Librarian
Salary
In India, a Librarian can get a salary between Rs. 2 to 4 lacs per annum. In the United States, a Librarian can expect an average salary of $48 k on an annual basis.
Salaries will vary upon the working area, education, experience and many other factors. With holding a masters degree and good experience as a Librarian you can earn a very good salary package.
Job Security
In terms of librarian job security, observes that much of the empirical work done among librarians in developed countries has focused primarily on the antecedents of job satisfaction, such as differences in job satisfaction between male and female librarians and between librarians of different units and divisions in the library. Furthermore, most of the research has focused on the relationship between librarians' job satisfaction and their age, work experience, pay, and possibilities for advancement in the library.
Positive Impact of the career
Librarians are in high demand right now. They can also work as research assistants for professors or in publishing companies, where they will produce bibliographies and catalogues. This industry offers a variety of job opportunities. You may be in charge of a unique service or collection. You can explore a range of career possibilities within library organisations.
Unique Experience
There are several chances to work while pursuing your degrees that will not pay more, but will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about how to become a librarian while still in school.
Skills Required to Become a Librarian
Some of the top skills required to become an efficient librarian are tabulated below for your reference,
Communication skills | Interpersonal Skills |
Analytical Skills | Technological Skills |
Organizational Skills | Creativity |
Research Skills | Persuassion Skills |
Average Salary of a Librarian
Librarians can work as a university/college librarian and as the Head of the Department of Library. Marketing, online content management and design, knowledge management, database development, reference tool development, information systems, publishing, and Internet coordination are some of the business industries you might work in.
Job Roles of a Librarian
Job role | Description | Average Annual Salary(INR) |
---|---|---|
Chief librarian | The main responsibility of a Chief Librarian is to oversee the work of Librarians who prepare and maintain records. | 3-4 lakh |
Library Assistant | Library assistants majorly take care of all the clerical tasks at libraries. Library Assistants are in charge of in and out materials at the circulation counter, accept fine payments, shelve books when patrons return them, and aid in the processing of new material. Library assistants help clients by finding them their books and also organising the library according to the requirements | 1.5-2 lakh |
Library attendant | A Library Attendant takes care of Shelving of books, Preparation & pasting jobs, Shifting of books, Display of journals etc as assigned by the Librarian from time to time. | 1-2 lakh |
Deputy librarians | His work is to generally assist the Librarian in planning academic and professional work in the Library and to contribute to the educational functions of the University by providing bibliographic guidance in the area of the specialization. | 3-4 lakh |
Public librarian | These Librarians work for public libraries that are available to the public. They aid consumers in finding the proper book to read. Public librarians also assist people with their study by supplying artefacts and scholarly texts to scholars. | 2-3 lakh |
School librarian | They are employed to teach school pupils about the importance of libraries and how to use them. School librarians assist students in understanding what a library is, how to look for the correct book, how to uphold library standards, and what method they should follow to issue and return a book. | 2-3 lakh |
Teacher librarian | A teacher librarian is someone who is recruited by academic institutions to manage the institution's library. These librarians assist students with projects and research. They also assist students in locating the appropriate book and reference material for their subject. | 2-3 lakh |
Law librarian | Law librarians try to fulfil the information difficulties faced by law firms, companies, colleges, and government libraries in a variety of roles and situations, including research support, online legal research and education, operations management, and strategic planning. | 3-4 lakh |
Junior Librarian | Junior Librarians majorly assist Librarians in various duties that are performed by them | 1-2 lakh |
Average Annual Salary
A Librarian's pay is decided by the organisation for which they serve. The wage scale can be determined by the merit of the candidates, their degree of comprehension, educational qualifications, and job experience. In India, the average salary for a Librarian is about 21,800 INR per month. Salaries vary from INR 11,300 to INR 33,300
Name of Organisation | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Govt | INR 261,000 |
Private | INR 336,000 |
Specialisation Wise
A Librarian's annual pay is INR 194,000 when their education level is Certificate or Diploma. A person with a Bachelor's Degree earns INR 350,000 a year, which is 80% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma degree.
Specialisations | Salary |
---|---|
Certificate or diploma | INR 194,000 |
Bachelor's degree | INR 350000 |
Gender Wise Salary
Though gender should not have an impact on wages, it does. So, who makes more money: men or women? On average, men librarians in India earn 10% less than their female counterparts.
Gender | Salary |
---|---|
Male | INR 250000 |
Female | INR 279,000 |
Experience Wise
A Librarian with less than two years of experience may expect to earn around INR 154,000 per year. While someone with 2 to 5 years of training is projected to earn 34% more than someone with less than 2 years of experience. Looking ahead, anyone with 5 to ten years of experience earns 30% more than others with 2 to 5 years of experience.
Experience | Salary |
---|---|
Fresher | INR 154,000 |
Experienced | INR375,000 |
After becoming a Librarian
Librarians are currently in high demand in both the public and private sectors. They can also work as research assistants for academics or in publishing businesses, where they will prepare bibliographies and catalogues. The degree will be sufficient to gain a position as a librarian at educational institutions, public libraries, and other related organisations.
There are several employment options available in this industry. If you desire to pursue higher education, courses such as M.Phil and PhD are accessible.
M.Phil in Library and Information Science
M.Phil in Library and Information Science encompasses two major fields: library and information science. Initially, library science is an interdisciplinary area where it applies the practices over the information technology, tools of management, education and other areas of library management such as collection, organization, preservations and gathering pieces of information from different resources.
This course aims to build in the management, organizational and preservation skills of the candidate. This course enables the students to organize information which involves classification, cataloguing, recording and maintenance of materials and books.
PhD Library & Information Science
PhD Library and Information Science mainly focuses on two major fields like library and information science. It is an interdisciplinary study that offers advanced knowledge on library management practices over information technology, management tools, education etc.
- This research program prepares the students for advanced research work, teaching and administration.
- This course study helps the students to conduct independent research work and analysis to understand the intricacies of cataloguing information and make it accessible to people.
- During this course study, the students will learn to interact with people by using information and get to know how it impacts fundamentally on society.
- The course study is specially designed to develop the management, organizational and preservation skills among the students.
- The course teaches the students to organize information that involves classification, cataloguing, recording and maintenance of books and other study materials.
- The course is perfect for those students who have excellent communication skills and knowledge on various scholarly and public information resources.
How to Become a Librarian: FAQs
Ques. Is teacher certification required to work as a school librarian?
Ans. Certification requirements vary by state; for school librarians, teaching certification may or may not be necessary. Although most public schools require certification, private institutions may not.
Ques. What do librarians get paid?
Ans. A school librarian's compensation is determined by a number of criteria, including the school's budget and the librarian's expertise. According to the BLS, the median annual income for all types of school librarians was $59,050 in 2018. However, the compensation range is broad, with the top 10% of librarians making $93,050 and the worst 10% making $34,630 or less.
Ques. What is the average length of time it takes to become a librarian?
Ans. To become a librarian, you must first complete six years of full-time education. A bachelor's degree in any subject (four years of full-time study) and a master's degree in library and information science are required (two years of full-time study)
Ques. Is it a nice job to be a librarian?
Ans. If you love conducting research, organising information, and connecting with members of the community or students, being a librarian might be a highly satisfying career option for you. Additionally, librarians might receive attractive benefits packages.
Ques. How difficult is it to become a librarian?
Ans. Because most entry-level roles demand a master's degree, the profession is more challenging than other areas that do not. There are several chances to work while pursuing your degrees that will not pay more, but will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about how to become a librarian while still in school.
Ques. Is it possible for Librarians to get work in other countries?
Ans. Candidates with the necessary qualifications and abilities can apply for Librarian positions in other countries. For such positions, a foreign degree in the subject of Library Sciences is preferred.
Ques. Are librarians allowed to become university professors?
Ans. Librarians can become professors at a variety of universities and institutions. Candidates must, however, have either a certified UGC NET or a Ph.D.
Ques. Is it possible to work for the government in the subject of library sciences?
Ans. There are numerous government libraries in India, and a librarian recruiting procedure is in existence.