Librarian work query

Hi,
I have a sister interested in working as a librarian and thought I'd see if anyone out there has worked in this area and could provide some tips for her? What are pros/cons of the job? How hard is it to get a job once qualified? I think she has to do a course in UCD if she does decide to go down this route ... any info appreciated.

Ta.

Just to be aware that you need work experience in a library before you can actually do the MLIS in UCD.

Pros: Surrounded by books, dealing with the public, working in the civil service.
Cons: Surrounded by books (never finished a book whilst working there, kid in a sweetshop!), dealing with the public (you really do get all sorts in a library, and you need patience and tolerance), working in the civil service (dealing with such hierarchical structures).

Other than getting the MLIS, lots of people go in as library assistants /assistant librarians and do the distance learning qualification.

Its probably better to get an assistant job, and either do the distant learning course or get sponsorship for the MLIS course, as there are only so many qualified librarian jobs in each county. You will also figure out if it is really for you. (You also need a working knowledge of Irish).

SarahMc said:

Pros: Surrounded by books, dealing with the public, working in the civil service.

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This applies (to an extent) to the public library system, which is public service. Librarians may also work in the specialist or academic areas.

Calling an assistant librarian a library assistant is liable to get you a whack of a thesaurus.

Pavlik said:

Calling an assistant librarian a library assistant is liable to get you a whack of a thesaurus.

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Or a bang, bash, belt, biff, box, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, rap, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, strike, thrash, thump, thwack, wallop, wham..?

I've certainaly seen jobs for Library Assts at some of the colleges e.g. D.I.T. Leaving Cert minimum quals but I'm sure they get people with higher qualifications.

I've thought that many of the Libraries around Dublin e.g. Tallaght and Blanchardstown have a real community centred approach and the staff dont appear that stressed.

Try and see if you can do some work shadowing in a large public library for a day to get some insight. As othere have said Information Management is a diverse area and librarians/information specialists work in other sectors.

Public Librarian

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Information Officer

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There are also lots of private sector libraries as well (Colleges, Legal firms etc.) so don't be put off by feeling you'll be locked into the public sector!

There are also areas such as medical, health, archiving etc as well as the public libraries. I understand that it can be difficult to get onto the Grad.Dip in Information studies in UCD ([broken link removed]). Having experience (even voluntary) will only enhance your chances.

An "Assistant Librarian" is someone who already has the MLIS (master's) degree and also has an undergraduate bachelor's degree

A "Library Assistant" only needs to have a "pass" leaving cert ...

Mix up the two terms and you'll be in trouble

Since you need experience before you can get a place on the MLIS, most people doing their undergrad work part time in the univerity library (if they can) as a Library Assistant in the evenings/weekends/"study breaks" ... this experioence is normally more than enough to hget them their MLIS place.

Getting part-time work in the public library system is harder, because it is recruited much like the other "Clerical Officer Panels" for the civil service.

However - there are ways around it - many of the "Barnardo's" run a reading or lending library ... there's one beside Christchurch cathedral in Dublin for sure ... they'd love to have volunteers act as Library Assistants ... and befause they are "proper" libraries, the MLIS will recognise the experience more readilly than other posts ...

Hope that helps!

There seems to be some confusion here. An assistant librarian need not have a Masters (MLIS), the Grad. Dip in Information Studies is sufficient. This qualification is also sufficient for employment as a librarian. Experience is most important when it comes to actually securing a place on the Grad. Dip course.
As regards library assistant, a general leaving cert is all that's usually required.

Think my initial post may have fuelled confusion.

I said "Other than getting the MLIS, lots of people go in as library assistants /assistant librarians and do the distance learning qualification. "

I meant library assistant/branch librarians.

Assistant Librarian is indeed a job that requires the MLIS, although I understand there is now a grade between Library Assistant and Assistant Librarian for non qualified librarians.

Experience in a NGO library as suggested by Palantir is a good idea, Barnados library is brilliant, as is Combat Poverty's.

A friend of mine is a librarian and it would seem from their experience that theres a lot of low paid jobs in this area. The well paid jobs in colleges etc seem to have a lot of competition. Basically its not easy to get a well paid job as librarian. Thats my observation not theirs.

SarahMc said:

there is now a grade between Library Assistant and Assistant Librarian for non qualified librarians.

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Sarah, there is a grade of Senior Library Assistant which is the next grade up from Library Assistant. As far as I know, the senior LA posts are confined to existing staff only.

Neither library assistants nor senior library assistants are referred to as "non-qualified librarians", not in the public library service anyway! (I worked there over 20 yrs ago).

Not a lot of money to be made. A County Librarian responsible for 5-10 branches and maybe 100 staff is on Assistant Principal salary scale.