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Librarians work in public and commercial libraries, managing access to books, digital resources, archives and computers.
You could work: evenings / weekends; on shifts
As a librarian, you could:
You could work at a library, at a school, at a university, at a college or in a prison.
You can get into this job through:
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
Subjects include:
You may need some practical experience to do a postgraduate course. You can get this through an internship during your first degree or by volunteering in a library or archive collection.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a library assistant or data officer with an information service.
With experience, you could apply for Certification through the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and study for further qualifications while you work.
If you have a first degree, you could join an employer's graduate training scheme in librarianship and information management.
You'll need to:
You can join the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals for training and development opportunities.
You can find out more about becoming a librarian from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
With experience, you could move into a senior job as a library or area manager. Another option is to take responsibility for a specialist service or collection.
You could also apply for professional registration with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Registration leads to chartership and is a way to have your skills and expertise recognised within the profession.
You can find out more about becoming a librarian from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.