|
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs. Typically, librarians work in a public or college library, an elementary- or secondary-school media center, a library within a company, or another information-provision agency. Some librarians are independent entrepreneurs working as information specialists, catalogers, indexers and other professional, specialized capacities. Librarians may be categorized as a public, school, correctional, special, independent or academic librarian. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
Events January 16 - Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 - The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China. ...
Vertumnus, a portrait of Rudolf II. The Librarian, 1566, oil on canvas, Skoklosters Slott, Sweden Giuseppe Arcimboldo (also spelled Arcimboldi; 1527 - July 11, 1593) was an Italian painter best known for creating imaginative portrait heads made entirely of such objects as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and books -- that is, he...
Library and information science (LIS) is the study of issues related to libraries and the information fields. ...
Julio Pérez Ferrero Library - Cúcuta, Colombia A modern-style library in Chambéry A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, and services: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. ...
Julio Pérez Ferrero Library - Cúcuta, Colombia A modern-style library in Chambéry A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, and services: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. ...
Outline, requirements and positions
The term librarian is used often and incorrectly to refer to anyone who works in a library. Para-professional or clerical staff working in a library are more properly referred to as library clerks, library assistant, or some equivalent title. Professional Librarians (in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere) have achieved a Master of Science or of Arts degree requiring some 30 to 46 semester hours from an accredited school of library and/or information science within a college or university. As with most professional degrees, librarians may carry forward obligations to contribute to their profession through writing and publication, attendance and participation at professional conferences, mentoring, etc. To qualify for a Master's degree program, the student must have successfully completed a Bachelor degree of some 130 or more semester hours.
Traditionally, librarians have been associated with collections of books, as demonstrated by the etymology of the word "librarian" (< Latin liber, 'book'). However, modern librarians deal with information in many formats, including books, magazines, newspapers, audio recordings (both music recordings and audiobooks), video recordings, maps, photographs and other graphic material, bibliographic databases, and digital resources. Librarians often provide other information services, including computer provision and training, coordination of public programs, basic literacy education, and help with finding and using community resources. For other uses, see Book (disambiguation). ...
A bibliographic or library database is a database of bibliographic information. ...
In western nations, the librarian is a professional with a Master's degree in library and/or information science (library science) capable of analyzing information, information needs and of providing information services and materials to patrons in a variety of settings with available and appropriate resources. This article is about people called professionals. ...
A masters degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of an academic program of one to six years in duration. ...
Library science is an interdisciplinary science incorporating the humanities, law and applied science to study topics related to libraries, the collection, organization, preservation and dissemination of information resources, and the political economy of information. ...
In a library, there are many positions other than that of librarian. Such positions include library associate, library technician, library assistant, clerk, page, shelver, and volunteer. Other professional positions, such as manager, director or administrator, are often filled by librarians. In these positions, the worker may be given the title Administrator, Director, Manager or Librarian. Julio Pérez Ferrero Library - Cúcuta, Colombia A modern-style library in Chambéry A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, and services: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. ...
Librarian roles and duties Olivia Crosby described librarians as "Information experts in the information age".[1] Specific duties vary depending on the size and type of library. Most librarians spend their time working in one of the following areas of a library: - Public service librarians work with the public, frequently at the reference desk of lending libraries. Some specialize in serving adults or children. Children's librarians provide appropriate material for children at all age levels, include pre-readers, conduct specialized programs and work with the children (and often their parents) to help foster interest and competence in the young reader. (In larger libraries, some specialize in teen services, periodicals, or other special collections.)
- Reference or research librarians help people doing research to find the information they need, through a structured conversation called a reference interview. The help may take the form of research on a specific question, providing direction on the use of databases and other electronic information resources; obtaining specialized materials from other sources; or providing access to and care of delicate or expensive materials. These services are sometimes provided by other library staff that have been given a certain amount of special training; some have criticized this trend. [2]
- Technical service librarians work "behind the scenes" ordering library materials and database subscriptions, computers and other equipment, and supervise the cataloging and physical processing of new materials.
- Collections development librarians monitor the selection of books and electronic resources. Large libraries often use approval plans, which involve the librarian for a specific subject creating a profile that allows publishers to send relevant books to the library without any additional vetting. Librarians can then see those books when they arrive and decide if they will become part of the collection or not. All collections librarians also have a certain amount of funding to allow them to purchase books and materials that don't arrive via approval.
- Archivists can be specialized librarians who deal with archival materials, such as manuscripts, documents and records, though this varies from country to country, and there are other routes to the archival profession.
- Systems Librarians develop, troubleshoot and maintain library systems, including the library catalog and related systems.
- Electronic Resources Librarians manage the databases that libraries license from third-party vendors.
- School Librarians work in school libraries and perform duties as teachers, information technology specialists, and advocates for literacy.
- Outreach Librarians go out of their way to provide library and information services for underrepresented groups, such as people with disabilities, low income neighborhoods, homebound adults and seniors, incarcerated and ex-offenders, and homeless and rural communities.
Experienced librarians may take administrative positions such as library or information center director. Similar to the management of any other organization, they are concerned with the long-term planning of the library, and its relationship with its parent organization (the city or county for a public library, the college/university for an academic library, or the organization served by a special library). In smaller or specialized libraries, librarians typically perform a wide range of the different duties. The reference desk or information desk of a library is a public service desk where professional librarians offer help to library users. ...
Childrens books redirects here. ...
Young adult (YA) literature is literature written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...
The card catalog at Yale Universitys Sterling Memorial Library goes almost completely unused, but adds to the austere atmosphere. ...
In this day an age of security checking, bombings, money laundering etc. ...
An archivist surveying an unprocessed collection of materials. ...
For alternate uses see: Archive (disambiguation). ...
A special library is a term for a library that is neither an academic or school library, or a public library. ...
Representative examples of specific tasks:
- Researching topics of interest for their constituencies.
- Referrals to other community organizations and government offices.
- Suggesting appropriate books ("readers' advisory") for children of different reading levels, and recommending novels for recreational reading.
- Supervising and promoting reading clubs.
- Developing programs for library users of all ages and backgrounds.
- Managing access to electronic information resources.
Community organizations are nonprofits that operate within a single local community. ...
For other uses, see Novel (disambiguation). ...
Workplaces Southwest Collections / Special Collections Library at Texas Tech, a university in the United States Basic categories of workplace settings for librarians are routinely classified around the world as: public, academic, school, and special. Some librarians will start and operate their own business. They often call themselves information brokers, research specialists, knowledge management, competitive intelligence or independent information professionals. Below are the basic differences between the types of libraries. Texas Tech University redirects here. ...
Information Broker An Information Broker is someone who buys and sells information based on the needs of a client. ...
Knowledge Management (KM) comprises a range of practices used by organisations to identify, create, represent, and distribute knowledge. ...
// Competitive Intelligence (CI) is both a process and a product. ...
Public library: These institutions are created through legislation within the jurisdiction they serve. Accordingly, they are given certain benefits, such as taxpayer funding, but must adhere to service standards and meet a wide group of client needs. They are usually overseen by a board of directors or library commission from the community. Mission statements, service and collection policies are the fundamental administrative features of public libraries. Occasionally private lending libraries serve the public in the manner of public libraries. In the United States, public librarians and public libraries are represented by the Public Library Association.[3] Librarians and patrons in a typical larger urban public library. ...
The American Library Association (ALA) promotes libraries and library education in the United States and internationally. ...
Academic library: Libraries that serve a post-secondary institution. Depending upon the institution, the library may serve a particular faculty or the entire institution. Many different types, sizes, and collections are found in academic libraries and some academic librarians are specialists in these collections and archives. A university librarian, or chief librarian, is responsible for the library within the college structure, and may also be called the Dean of Libraries. Some post-secondary institutions treat librarians as faculty, and they may be called professor or other academic ranks. Some universities make similar demands of academic librarians for research and professional service as are required of faculty. Academic librarians administer various levels of service and privilege to faculty, students, alumni and the public. An academic library is a library which serves an institution of higher learning, such as a college or a university — libraries in secondary and primary schools are called school libraries. ...
An academic library is a library which serves an institution of higher learning, such as a college or a university — libraries in secondary and primary schools are called school libraries. ...
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities. ...
School library media center: Libraries which exclusively serve the needs of a public or private school. The primary purpose is to support the students, teachers, and curriculum of the school or school district. In addition to library administration, certificated teacher-librarians instruct individual students, groups and classes, and faculty in effective research methods, often referred to as information literacy skills. Audio-visual equipment service and/or textbook circulation may also be included in a school librarian's responsibilities. Often, teacher-librarians are qualified teachers who take academic courses for school library certification and/or earn a Master's degree in Library Science. A School library is a library that exclusively serves the students and staff of a public or private school. ...
A teacher-librarian is a certified teacher who also has training in running a school library. ...
Special library: News, law, medical, government, nongovernmental organization, prison, corporate, museum or any other type of library owned and operated by an organization are considered as special library. They can be highly specialized, serving a discrete user group with a restricted collection area. In an increasingly global and virtual workplace, many special librarians may not even work in a library at all but instead manage and facilitate the use of electronic collections. Funding for special libraries varies widely. Librarians in some types of special libraries may be required to have additional training, such as a law degree for a librarian in an academic law library or appropriate subject degrees for subject specialties such as chemistry, engineering, etc. Many belong to the Special Libraries Association.[4] There are also more specific associations such as the American Association of Law Libraries,[5] Art Libraries Society of North America,[6] the Medical Library Association,[7] or the Visual Resources Association.[8] A special library is a term for a library that is neither an academic or school library, or a public library. ...
Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a professional association for information professionals working in special libraries as distiguished from public or academic libraries. ...
The American Association of Law Libraries is a nonprofit educational organization with over 5,000 members nationwide. ...
The Art Libraries Society of North America (also known as ARLIS/NA) was founded in 1972 at the initiative of Judith Hoffberg by a group of art librarians attending the American Library Association annual conference in Chicago. ...
The Medical Library Association was founded in 1898 as the Association of Medical Librarians and changed its name to Medical Library Association in 1907. ...
The Visual Resources Association (also known as VRA) was founded in 1982. ...
Education In the United States and Canada, a librarian normally has a one or two-year master's degree in library and information science, library science or information science (called an MLS, MALIS, MSLS, MIS, MSIS, MS-LIS, MISt, MLIS, or MILS) from an accredited university.[9] These degrees are accredited by the American Library Association and can have specializations within fields such as archiving, records management, information architecture, public librarianship, medical librarianship, law librarianship, special librarianship, academic librarianship, or school (K-12) librarianship. School librarians often are required to have a teaching credential, as well as a library science degree. Many, if not most, academic librarians also have a second, subject-based master's degree. A masters degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of an academic program of one to six years in duration. ...
Library and information science (LIS) is the study of issues related to libraries and the information fields. ...
Library science is an interdisciplinary science incorporating the humanities, law and applied science to study topics related to libraries, the collection, organization, preservation and dissemination of information resources, and the political economy of information. ...
Not to be confused with informatics or information theory. ...
ALA Logo The American Library Association (ALA) is a group based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. ...
Archive of the AMVC An archive refers to a collection of historical records, and also refers to the location in which these records are kept. ...
Records Management is the practice of identifying, classifying, archiving, preserving, and destroying records. ...
Information architecture (IA) is the art and science of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. ...
A teaching credential is a basic multiple or single subject credential obtained upon completion of a bachelors degree and prescribed professional education requirements. ...
In the UK and some other countries, a librarian can have a three- or four-year bachelor's degree in library and information studies or information science; separate master's degrees in librarianship, archive management, and records management are also available. In the United Kingdom, these degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and the Society of Archivists.[10] In Germany and some other countries, the first step for an academic librarian is a PhD in a subject field, followed by additional training in librarianship. A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years. ...
Library and information science (LIS) is the study of issues related to libraries and the information fields. ...
Not to be confused with informatics or information theory. ...
A masters degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of an academic program of one to six years in duration. ...
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is a professional body representing librarians and other information professionals in the United Kingdom. ...
Established in the UK, the Society of Archivists exists to promote the care and preservation of archives and the better administration of repositories and to advance the training of archivists and to encourage relevant research and publication. ...
PhD usually refers to the academic title Doctor of Philosophy PhD can also refer to the manga Phantasy Degree This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...
In Australia, a professional librarian must meet the requirements set out by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). There are three ways in which these requirements can be met: the individual must obtain an ALIA-recognised bachelor degree in library and information studies, complete a first degree in any discipline followed by an ALIA-recognised postgraduate diploma or masters course, or gain an ALIA-recognised library technician qualifications (undertaken at TAFE) followed by an ALIA-recognised bachelor degree in library and information studies.[11] ALIA is responsible for accreditation of library specific qualifications for both librarians and library technicians. Professional Australian teacher-librarians require slightly different qualifications. In addition to having a degree that meets ALIA's accreditation process, teacher librarians must also hold recognised teaching qualifications.[12] In Australia, Technical and Further Education or TAFE institutions are those which offer a wide range of post-secondary education and training, generally in vocational fields (such as hospitality, tourism, construction, woodwork, secretarial skills, community work, etc), often at a level of difficulty below that of a corresponding or related...
It is also possible to earn a doctorate in library and information science. Graduates with PhDs usually become teaching faculty in schools of library and information science, or sometimes occupy the directorship or deanship of university libraries. Those undertaking research at the doctoral level can pursue a very wide range of interests including information technology, government information policy, social research into information use among particular segments of society, information in organizations and corporate settings, and the history of books and printing. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. ...
The history of the book is the story of a suite of technological innovations that improved the quality of text conservation, the access to information, portability, and the cost of production. ...
It is common in academic and other research libraries to require the librarians to obtain Master's degrees in some academic subject, sometimes but not necessarily related to their professional responsibilities; in major research libraries, some of the librarians will hold Ph. D degrees in subject fields.
Other advanced degrees often taken in conjunction with a degree in librarianship are law, management, health administration or public administration. J.D. redirects here. ...
For other uses, see Management (disambiguation). ...
Health administration is a term that typically refers to the Master of Health Administration (MHA)—also Master of Healthcare Administration— degree, which is a graduate professional degree that provides training in health policy, economics, project and program implementation. ...
Public Administration can be broadly described as the development, implementation and study of government policy. ...
Library associates, library technicians, and library assistants often have college diplomas but usually do not hold library-related degrees. Occasionally they also hold undergraduate or graduate degrees in other disciplines. These workers, sometimes referred to as para-professionals, perform duties such as database management, cataloging, ready reference, and serials and monograph processing. This article is principally about managing and structuring the collections of data held on computers. ...
The card catalog at Yale Universitys Sterling Memorial Library goes almost completely unused, but adds to the austere atmosphere. ...
Professional organizations and activities The two largest library associations in the United States are the American Library Association (ALA) and the Special Libraries Association.[13] Many U.S. states have their own library association as well. Librarians may also join such organizations as the Association of College and Research Libraries[14] and the Public Library Association[15] and the Art Libraries Society.[16] The Canadian Library Association serves Canada and there are provincial associations as well, such as the Ontario Library Association. In the United Kingdom, the professional body for Librarians is the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals[17] (formerly known as the Library Association). The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)[18] represents the interests of libraries and librarians internationally. (See also the List of Library Associations.) ALA Logo The American Library Association (ALA) is a group based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. ...
Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a professional association for information professionals working in special libraries as distiguished from public or academic libraries. ...
The American Library Association (ALA) promotes libraries and library education in the United States and internationally. ...
The Canadian Library Association (CLA) was founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1946, and was incorporated under the Companies Act on November 26, 1947. ...
Founded in 1900, the Ontario Library Association is the oldest continually operating library association in Canada. ...
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is a professional body representing librarians and other information professionals in the United Kingdom. ...
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is a worldwide organization created to provide librarians around the world with a forum for exchanging ideas, and promoting international cooperation, research and development in all fields of library activity. ...
// International Association of Christian Librarians Website International Association of Law Libraries Website International Association of Music Libraries Website International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres Website International Association of School Librarianship Website International Association of Technological University Libraries Website International Council on Archives Website International Federation of Library...
Recent issues of concern for U.S. libraries include implementation of the Patriot Act and the Children's Internet Protection Act. Many librarians around the world share American librarians' concern over ethical issues surrounding censorship and privacy. Some librarians join activist organizations like the UK-based Information for Social Change[19] and the North American-based Progressive Librarians Guild.[20] Within the American Library Association (ALA), some also join the Social Responsibilities Round Table.[21] SRRT came into being amid the social ferment of the 1960s and is often critical of the American Library Association for not living up to its professed ideals. Another important activist organization is the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section[22] of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL).[23] These activist organizations are viewed as controversial by some librarians, while others view them as a natural extension and outgrowth of their own deeply-held library ethics. This article needs cleanup. ...
The Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is one of a number of bills that the United States Congress has proposed in an attempt to limit childrens exposure to pornography and other controversial material online. ...
For other uses, see Censor. ...
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to control the flow of information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively. ...
ALA Logo The American Library Association (ALA) is a group based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. ...
The American Association of Law Libraries is a nonprofit educational organization with over 5,000 members nationwide. ...
Technology in libraries The increasing role of technology in libraries has a significant impact on the changing roles of librarians. New technologies, such as open url, are dramatically increasing the accessibility of information, and librarians are adapting to the evolving needs of users that emerge from the adoption of these new technologies.
The most significant example of how technology has changed the role of librarians in the last 50 years has been the move from traditional card catalogs to online public access catalogs (OPACs). Librarians had to develop software and the MARC standards for cataloguing records electronically. They had to purchase and run the computers necessary to use the software. They had to teach the public how to use the new technologies and move to more virtual working environments. The OPAC System used at the Vyners School LRC An online public access catalog or OPAC is a computerized online catalog of the materials held in a library, or library system. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
The same could be said of other technology developments, from electronic databases (including the Internet), to logistical functions such as barcodes (or in the near future RFID). Many librarians provide virtual reference services (via web-based chat, instant messaging, text messaging, and e-mail), work in digitalization initiatives for works in the public domain, teach technology classes to their users, and work on the development of information architectures for improving access and search functionality. These examples illustrate some of the ways in which librarians are using technology to fulfill and expand upon their historical roles. An EPC RFID tag used for Wal-Mart Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. ...
Librarians must continually adapt to new formats for information, such as electronic journals and e-books, which present both challenges and opportunities in providing access and promoting them to library patrons. An ebook is an electronic (or digital) version of a book. ...
Increasing technological advance has presented the possibility of automating some aspects of traditional libraries. In 2004 a group of researchers in Spain developed the UJI Online Robot. This robot is able to navigate the library, look for the specified book, and upon its discovery, carefully take it from the shelf and deliver it to the user. Because of the robot's extremely limited function, its introduction into libraries poses little risk of the employment of librarians, whose duties are not defined by menial tasks such as the retrieval of books. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The UJI Online Robot is a robot librarian that was created at University Jaume I, Spain in 2004. ...
See also An archivist surveying an unprocessed collection of materials. ...
A bookstore. ...
Look up curator in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Stereotypes of librarians in popular culture are frequently negative: bookish characters who may be prim and introverted if female, or timid and mild if male. ...
A library technician is a person who helps librarians acquire, prepare and organize information. ...
This is a list of people who have practised as a librarian and are well-known, either for their contributions to the library profession or primarily in some other field. ...
The Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) is the Massachusetts professional library association that advocates for libraries, librarians, and library staff, defends intellectual freedom, and provides a forum for leadership, communication, professional development, and networking to keep libraries vital. ...
References
External links Look up Librarian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 151 languages. ...
|
Feeds |
Contact