Librarian
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Librarians select, develop, organize and maintain library collections and provide advisory services for users. They are employed in libraries or other establishments with library services throughout the public and private sectors. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information (U.S)
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- Sokanu: Librarian - occupational profile and videos (U.S)
- A Day in the Life a Librarian - The Princeton Review (U.S)
- Career Spotlight: What I do as Senior Manager of the TIFF Film Reference Library - Librarianship.ca
- Interviews: Archivist / Librarian
- Interviews: Children's Librarian
- Interviews: Music Librarian
- Medical Librarian career profile - ExploreHealthCareers.org
- Types of Libraries/Library Careers - American Library Association
- UMToday article and librarian interviews - More than what meets the eye: A career in library science
Education
The University of Manitoba does not offer training in Library & Information Science, but does offer pre-requisite courses and educational pathways for students applying to graduate programs at other schools. UM Libraries offers an Indigenous Librarian Internship which provides opportunity to work in the Libraries while pursuing an online Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS).
Please view the links below for information on UM courses and other programs in North America. PLEASE NOTE: When considering other institutions, it is recommended that that you consult with their admissions office, review admission requirements, and consider any applicable transfer credits.
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Exploring Other Education Options
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis - Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Manitoba Library Association
- Canadian Association of Law Libraries
- Canadian Health Libraries Association
- American Library Association (U.S)
- Public Library Association - Association includes a focus on advocacy, social justice, and community engagement
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) - formerly the Canadian Library Association (website resources still available but not updated since 2016)
- Canadian Association of Research Libraries
- Canadian Heritage Information Network - Government of Canada
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- Library & Archives Canada
- Services for Libraries and Librarians - Government of Canada
- Library Journal - Online journal publication for professionals in the library community
- Center for the Future of Libraries - Initiative of American Library Association examining new trends and resources relevant to libraries and librarians
- Librarianship.ca - Canadian site with news, career profiles, and events relevant to librarians
- Libraries + Media - Articles and podcast series on the future of libraries produced by MediaShift
- The Oskâpêwis Mentorship program - a mentoring opportunity for Indigenous library, archive, and other information-related employees and students