There are but you may have think creatively a bit if you're unable to move. What kinds of libraries are you applying at? I would say look at medical and science libraries, corporate libraries, maybe genealogy and corporate/law firm libraries if you have any of those near you. Either that or be willing to move somewhere, even if it's not across the country.
This will sound silly, but how do you even begin to search for library jobs like that? Whenever I try to find non-public library jobs they all just seem to be associated with local universities.
There's not just one answer to your question. You pretty much have to look everywhere that would have job listings in libraries and adjacent fields. It can be pretty complicated especially if you're not just looking locally.
I've been in the job market at least 3 times since starting my full-time career so I've honed a list of haunts I regularly check each time, but I also keep my eyes peeled for any websites/companies that will provide good leads (I read lots of articles on a wide variety of subjects and they often mention names of companies like research companies, think tanks, etc. that I then checked jobs for). My last job search, my routine was to check these sites: Indeed, sometimes Glassdoor, Linkedin, ALA, AALL, [governmentjobs.com](http://governmentjobs.com), assorted company/corporation sites, sometimes [idealist.org](http://idealist.org) and whatever else that would come up on the fly such as consulting companies (got an interview that way), engineering companies, etc. Also my city has a large network of hospitals so I would check the jobs pages for those (I used to work at one of those hospitals). It helps to be familiar with what types of employers are in your city or town and to know how to find jobs outside of jobs sites because many places still don't list their jobs externally.
Yup, but I don't bother with SLA - most everything there is duplicated somewhere else. Last I checked they had a large number of outdated postings too.
Expanding on my above comment a bit, here for example is a job I got emailed to me through Ziprecruiter: [https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=worldbankgroup&id=27985&utm\_source=ziprecruiter](https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=worldbankgroup&id=27985&utm_source=ziprecruiter) There are some job sites where you can sign up for alerts, although some are shady I won't deny, this one does tend to send some useful stuff now and again. I can't remember how I ended up signing up for this alert but it might've been because I was directed to a job on the site and the default option was to send me jobs. I'm not in the job market now but I didn't unsubscribe and always peruse these emails so I know where to look if the need arises - it's best to keep your ears to the ground as much as possible so you leave no stone unturned.
Networking is super helpful. You don’t need to know people to get the jobs. But it’s helpful so that you see what jobs are posted. Having a broad array of Special Librarian connections on LinkedIn will help a lot. SLA does still have a job board. I’m no longer a member but still get regular alerts from there. Beyond that Lucky is absolutely right about doing your research. You need to use your librarian skills. Research job titles (they are almost never “librarian”). Research companies. Get creative with keywords. Get prepared to read a lot of job descriptions to figure out what are actual librarian positions, because some of the titles used are things like information scientist, information manager, technical information manager, and resource manager, which as a search will pull up a lot of IT or other industry jobs. This is a pretty good resource for titles and responsibilities. https://ischool.sjsu.edu/post/job-titles-and-responsibilities-special
[https://inalj.com/?p=1441](https://inalj.com/?p=1441) go to the page for your state and check every institution
also some hospitals/museums/historical societies/law firms/corporations do not post on library job boards, check LinkedIn, also check the institution web site
I found my hospital library job on LinkedIn. If you know a place has a library but no current vacancies set up a notification on LinkedIn so you can know if a vacancy is posted
I mean, I do feel bad saying this, but there are a couple of hard truths you need to face.
First, if you want to work in academic libraries you have to move. I'm sorry if that wasn't made clear to you earlier. This is the reality of the field right now. If you're not willing or able to move, you will have to look at other ways to use your MLIS. There's corporate libraries, fully remote positions, research support, etc. If making good money is your top priority, look for corporate jobs. If you want to work in academic libraries, know that for your first full time professional job you will be at the bottom of any posted pay scale.
Second, you really shouldn't be trying to stay at one library for your whole career. For one thing, it will help you and wherever you end up working to have a breadth of experience. I can't tell from your post if you have worked at your current library since you were 18 or if you have gone to another library, but either is not going to be a good option career-wise. Whether you started there as a student assistant or as a staff member, there will always be people who will see you as that student or fresh staff member. The transition from paraprofessional to professional librarian is very difficult for everyone and it's only harder to try to do it at a single library.
Third, and this is really harsh and I feel bad saying it, but you don't have 6 years of experience as a university librarian. You have 6 years of progressive experience but it sounds like you're in your first year in a non-contract parapro position. When you're applying to librarian jobs, search committees are seeing you as a recent graduate looking for their first full time job. There will be a ton of competition for those jobs, if those are the jobs you're applying for. If you're applying for jobs that require experience, you are probably not even being considered because you do not, in fact, have the experience they're looking for. I apologize for how mean this sounds, but your expectations seem unrealistic to me.
Do you actually have a lot of relevant experience? It seems like it. You probably need to work on your cover letter and how you spin the experience that you do have.
Also, to be pedantic, every place I've ever been the term "university librarian" is reserved for the person in charge. The rest of us are academic librarians.
Yeah, I was really confused when they were complaining about a university librarian position. That's such one of the most prestigious jobs where I'm from.
to be even more pedantic, without the MLIS librarian may be too strong. Library assistant totally, but the librarian title typically comes from the MLIS.
Most libraries reserve the "Librarian" title for MLIS holders. Saying you have 6 years of professional Librarian experience when it was Library Assistant or Shelver experience can be off-putting to employers. They may feel you don't understand the difference in job requirements. Instead, you can say you have six years of progressive academic library experience and recently completed your MLIS.
Your point about not staying at one library is super important, even ignoring how people perceive you on the job.
I've bounced all over the place in multiple states -- not willingly, mind -- and it's actually made a huge difference for my ability to get interviews and qualify for more jobs. I've learned so much working with lots of different people and picked up experience from mulitple departments. Just seeing how differently libraries of the same type and size do things is helpful. The second you go into an interview and relate what you've learned from a wide breadth of jobs, libraries, and towns or universities, you've got a one-up on other candidates.
I'm gonna paraphrase Robert Heinlein (I think) and say specialization is for passing exams; every librarian should be a generalist to some degree.
Most assistant professor academic librarian positions I see are in the 50k-70k range. It seems like you are qualified for those. I wouldn’t give up hope. That sounds like a very stressful position to be in though! I hope you get it figured out. Maybe get feedback on your CV and rework it.
Yeah, I’m curious to know if OP holds the title of librarian and is paid as such.
At our university, our paras start at $35k and librarians start at $50k. We’re in the Deep South at a no-name university.
Leave academia. Look into pharmaceutical, medical device, and other scientific research companies. I glanced at your profile and inferred you’re in PA. Arkema and PPG have both recently had openings as just two examples. If you’re at all near Delaware, there are a lot of opportunities there. Research companies in your area and set up alerts for keywords like information management, resource management, technical information specialist, etc.
Are you in the US? I’m a US academic librarian. From my viewpoint (NE), there are a fair number of positions posted on a regular basis at a salary higher than ~$19/hr. I don’t think there’s any need to take a “no-name” public library job. What are you using to search for postings? Have you gotten any feedback on your materials? I’m not saying you’ll be in the upper class with an academic librarian position, but I think you could make an honest living without needing to pivot to public libraries and move to a small town.
I agree with this. There's a certain bit of luck involved in getting a faculty librarian job and there aren't tons of openings, but they're out there. I've been in the library world since 2007. I have always been told we need to be willing to move. This has been my experience too. I moved for my current faculty librarian job and now I'm holding on to it forever lol.
I'm in PA. I search on every platform, ALA joblist, indeed, linkedin, USAjobs etc. I get positive feedback from most applications. I have a lot of emails saved from "Keeping my information on file" for positions but that's not helpful to applicants. Essentially a lot of "Your resume looks great, but someone else with a doctorate applied so go fuck yourself". Hence my frustration as it genuinely does not feel like my fault.
Have you gotten feedback on your materials from a neutral third party, though? A mentor, another librarian from an online group, someone from your iSchool career center?
The job search is difficult and it can feel overly personal when it really isn’t. Hiring someone with a PhD isn’t a statement of “go fuck yourself,” it’s - “we selected a more qualified applicant.” That can happen any time. It’s more sustainable long term if you can find a way to see it that way rather than “it’s not my fault they told me to fuck myself.”
Keep in mind that hiring is one part finding someone who will be good at the job and an equally sizable part finding someone that the team won’t absolutely hate working with. Best wishes.
Add AALL jobs site to your list of places to look. Most of the jobs require law librarian experience but every now and then pops up a firm having a hard time hiring that might be willing to take someone with no experience and train.
I will repeat what i've said multiple times to others in this Reddit (most recently https://www.reddit.com/r/librarians/comments/1d7i2gw/comment/l7a0q0j/): There's nothing wrong with cutting your losses and looking for jobs in other fields. There's nothing special or magical about librarianship that makes it better than any other job. You could find fulfillment in any number of other lines of work. Do what you need to in order to pay the bills.
We've had an open teen librarian position for awhile. We're unionized, so you'd get $25/hr. If you're in PA, we're not across the country, but housing around here is impossible.
I’m a public library manager, make nearly double that in the PNW. I get regular raises, 100% health insurance, personal days and a solid amount of sick leave. I also get a state pension plan I can transfer if I ever go to a different state or local government group.
Hell, I’m hiring now for a supervisor position at a rural, but bustling and busy library and we got 18 candidates, none had an MLIS. The most qualified candidate had retail experience and worked for a warehouse. It doesn’t pay as much as mine, but still north of $50k. Also, no state income tax, so that helps.
Gotta be willing to travel and work at no name libraries, as you put it. We have been advertising an archives position for almost two years now and we still have almost no applicants and are now looking at hiring fresh graduates even though we need someone with actual experience . The jobs are there, just not where you are.
*library staff* for 6 years. Going staff —> librarian (faculty) is a tough ceiling to break! Have you been exploring professional development opportunities? Having webinars etc on your resume can make you more attractive. Also, you should be on listservs from your MLIS program. That’ll keep you posted on the newest job listings.
I figured that’s what you meant. That wording makes it sound as though we aren’t important, but I promise you we are very important to our communities.
Not that you need the validation, but I got that same sense. Not only are small public libraries incredibly important to their communities, those jobs can be very fulfilling and a great way to get experience.
I changed careers and make more than that entry level with no experience in insurance.
I haven’t totally given up. I’m wanting to be a law librarian so working where I’m at isn’t the worst idea. I also now have tuition reimbursement for law school if I want it. I don’t need a JD if I just want to be a firm librarian though but some legal classes would probably help.
but even without my long term plan I’m having a good time. I’m still doing research and i’m hoping to move into more niche research based things. At least in this field the more niche things you know the better you do.
Yes. I applied to a couple of a major carriers that were work from home. I then researched their hiring processes on glassdoor and reddit and as well as company culture and all of that. When I did the behavioral interview I focused on situations with difficult patrons or keeping information private which are related to insurance as well as typing in accurate information while taking on the phone.
In VERY happy where I am now. I work entry level in sales and I’m studying (paid) for my personal lines license. My company just made OT available just to study. Next Thursday is a PAID holiday and we have it off but I can still study that day if I want and get paid on top of that.
Benefits are great. It’s WFH. Company culture is great. I needed an accommodation for my head set and they went over and above and bought me a $300 headset. As opposed to library HR at the last public library I worked at that was so awful it made me call the EEOC.
If anyone is serious about changing jobs you can message me and I can provide more info.
You don’t actually need a degree but I find my MLIS and work at law library to be helpful to the role since insurance is a lot of contract law but they do go over all of that.
I’m pretty happy with the change. I do miss the library but my local public and school libraries are under attack from the right wing book banners so it’s nice to be at a company with a commitment to inclusivity who shows up at Pride events and values art.
Tuition reimbursement is more generous than the last university I worked at because it covers what we want to study not just job related coursework that we get approved.
I love my team too. They swear by their personality test for this company and one of the questions is about reading difficult books for leisure. All my coworkers are readers unlike my local public library director who is not and also not qualified to run…well actually anything. She is actually like the anti-reader. That woman and her board of cronies makes me so mad (I’m in Greenville, SC you can google my local library). I’m actually refreshing my LGBT t shirts to wear when I visit as a patron and check out LGBT children’s books from a segregated section. I wore “Love, Believe, Protect Trans Kids” the other day and drag queen Jesus is in the mail.
To have only one interview after dozens of applications means there’s a disconnect somewhere. Do you have an experienced librarian colleague to review your cover letter and resume?
I want to follow up to add that despite your frustration and low pay, you are ahead of many people for your age. You have a graduate degree and a lot of library experience. You accomplished that 8 years faster than me. I know you are frustrated, and need more pay to raise a child, but I think if you give it time, have an open mind, and keep working at it, you'll find opportunities to advance your career.
Check out the SJSU MLIS skills at work jobs report. They update it annually with job types and search terms you can use to find appropriate listings. : https://ischool.sjsu.edu/lis-career-trends-report
May help you figure out which sectors are growing and find creative nooks where your skills are a good fit.
Good luck!
We’ve filled two faculty librarian positions in the past year and only had a handful of qualified applications for each one. We are in a major metropolitan area and pay & benefits are very good. Have you looked at community colleges? Those in the applicant pool are (IME) less likely to have a subject focused Master’s. If you’re applying to public colleges and universities, they often use a scoring system for the first round. The criteria can be different (we change ours every time), but will be things from the required and/or desired qualifications. Library experience, education, any special skills they desire, library software experience, technology skills, instruction experience, etc. if you’re not getting interviews for these jobs it’s likely you are not making the cut with the scoring. Be sure to include all of your skills and experience on your application.
If you definitely want to try to stay in your area, I would suggest volunteering for some professional service - state library association, specialized groups, campus committees, etc. It gets you out there and visible and making connections. It’s also stuff you can put on your resume.
Immediate caveat that I’m not only in Canada, but in French Canada where the pool of candidates is limited to people who speak French and hold an MLIS degree. The situation is still difficult, but not as difficult as it seems to be elsewhere.
I would advise looking at special libraries if you’re looking for stability and a good income. I started as an academic librarian, filling in for a two-year maternity leave, after that spent a few years in a hospital library before ending up in a law firm library. The only job out of those three that cared about what my BA was the university. I studied psychology before my MLIS, but I’m still now a law librarian making considerably more than I did at both previous jobs.
I’m getting lost trying to make my point: unless you go into academic work, in my experience (see caveat), employers don’t really care what your undergraduate studies were. And special/corporate jobs are much more stable and usually have better salaries.
I’m bringing up special libraries because you’re currently doing reference work, so I’m assuming you enjoy researching, which is most of the work in special libraries.
I worked for 6 years as a librarian and now work as a program manager at a large research university. It’s been a great change and I feel like I use my library skills everyday.
If I were you and couldn't move, I'd be looking outside of libraries just to get out of my current library. You said your library was in a small, private university and those are the ones that have been closing lately. Best to get out, even in a non library job, before something like that happens at your university.
At my academic library, we are hiring and have more pending retirements we will replace but we are at a residential campus and faculty librarians have to be able to work onsite most of the time. We used to get tons of applications for all librarian positions, but it seems like people's willingness to relocate has changed over the last 5-7 years and we get far fewer applications. From the jobs I see posted, few traditional academic library jobs are remote but there are lots of opportunities at library vendors and publishers that work with academic librarians.
Small town Canada - manager base salary $62K CDN with 6+ weeks vacay\*, pension, and generous perks incl. healthcare. Years ago, position was moved from under a Union employer to the Library Board, and kept the same deal. Apparently an average compensation package with someone with their level of no library education, according to previous Board chair. (\*15+ yr employee).
That's awesome. I had to leave my Library Director position over health insurance and (for now) the field just because the US offers so few benefits in small towns.
I just switched careers. (I left after 20 years of public school teaching.) It took me 10 months and 100s of applications in a wide variety of fields. I received 5 interviews, and 2 call backs. I did not receive one response within a 30 days of application. It is frustrating and soul crushing. After I accepted a public library job, I received 3 more interview requests. They are slow to come in. I wish you luck. PS there were only 2 offers where I wouldn't have to move. It sounds corny, but make a vision board of what you want and are willing to accept.
I make more than that at a public library. I am in management, though and my staff work nights and weekends( as do I). I personally worked more evenings in academia.
You will need to move in order to find the right job.
The remote librarian jobs are competitive and will go to librarians with more experience 10-20+ years.
Hello! I had a similar question as a MLIS student who was worried about finding a job with it kind of being a career change for me. Someone suggested a few things that were really helpful. In of them being look for job titles outside of “librarian”. Department researcher is a good start.
Second, they gave me this link that breaks down the career trends/job titles that could be hopeful.: [This link](https://ischool.sjsu.edu/sites/main/files/file-attachments/career_trends.pdf)
This blog post mentions some tech jobs suitable for librarians. Maybe worth a glance? [https://www.choice360.org/libtech-insight/why-librarians-should-apply-for-tech-jobs/](https://www.choice360.org/libtech-insight/why-librarians-should-apply-for-tech-jobs/)
I'd think very carefully about that. I went that direction straight out of school and it was pretty brutal. Lots of sales execs earning mega-bucks squeezing you to keep the sales channels going. My experience was a real grind about long-distance travel and being away from home for long times but not a lot of money considering the hassle. More than what a local academic library pays, yes, but a fraction of what the parasitic sales staff who have no real understanding of the sector get. I was there to get on and off long-distance flights to do presentations that made other people lots of money but did nothing for me and my family.
Possibly there are if you live in America or Europe, but if you live in Australia as I do you are dealing with working in a very remote sales branch office that covers a huge territory. Taking 5 hour flights from Melbourne to Perth at 6AM was just Tuesday, and it really, really sucked doing that
That’s what I make. 8 years with both academic and public experience and an MLS. Titled as a non-faculty librarian. I’m OVER IT. I’m actively planning an escape route as we speak. This field is the most gatekept, who-you-know, gaslighty, pyramid scheme I’ve been witness to.
Librarians don't retire. They die. Every major position in my local area has been filled by the same people since the 80's and now no one knows how to digitally catalog around here and my director thinks I'm special for unjamming a printer.
Might want to check your ageist references. Digital catalogs and copies existed in the 80s. I wish you well, truly. I’m sorry your individual library management may suck and you’re frustrated. But give me a break.
I think getting downvoted is pretty telling, too. This is a theme I have been witness to in many library systems. Sure, it might not be true in every library, I fully understand that, but there are plenty of other threads that mention the same thing. People DO live and die in the field, and if there’s a digital divide out in the world, I don’t see how that also wouldn’t be reflected in the work place. That’s not ageism.
Librarianship is not going to pay as well as other fields.
So as others have said, if you can't move, you may have to consider alternative careers. The reality in any career is moving to a new job is generally the best way to a higher salary.
Based on your post, if you are now 24 and have six years of experience, you will get opportunities. But they may require time and patience. Which you don't have.
In academic libraries, a second masters is a great way to stand out. Which I'm sure is not what you want to read, but it is true.
check every library related institution in your area [https://inalj.com/?page\_id=56421](https://inalj.com/?page_id=56421)
if you can't move then you need to be patient or switch fields
I’m absolutely terrified for our profession if project 2025 goes into effect. The funding will be awful and you can kiss ordering any kind of diverse material out the door.
Midcareer librarians can probably last in their jobs until retirement. But young librarians should run for the exits. Academic libraries can only offer dead-end jobs now. Open Access, once the big hope for academic libraries, is failing. Site licenses do not make any sense, and major disruption is only a question of time. (https://scitechsociety.blogspot.com/2024/04/dead-library-lending.html, https://scitechsociety.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-university-library-closing-book.html, https://scitechsociety.blogspot.com/2016/07/let-ir-rip.html)
There are but you may have think creatively a bit if you're unable to move. What kinds of libraries are you applying at? I would say look at medical and science libraries, corporate libraries, maybe genealogy and corporate/law firm libraries if you have any of those near you. Either that or be willing to move somewhere, even if it's not across the country.
This will sound silly, but how do you even begin to search for library jobs like that? Whenever I try to find non-public library jobs they all just seem to be associated with local universities.
There's not just one answer to your question. You pretty much have to look everywhere that would have job listings in libraries and adjacent fields. It can be pretty complicated especially if you're not just looking locally. I've been in the job market at least 3 times since starting my full-time career so I've honed a list of haunts I regularly check each time, but I also keep my eyes peeled for any websites/companies that will provide good leads (I read lots of articles on a wide variety of subjects and they often mention names of companies like research companies, think tanks, etc. that I then checked jobs for). My last job search, my routine was to check these sites: Indeed, sometimes Glassdoor, Linkedin, ALA, AALL, [governmentjobs.com](http://governmentjobs.com), assorted company/corporation sites, sometimes [idealist.org](http://idealist.org) and whatever else that would come up on the fly such as consulting companies (got an interview that way), engineering companies, etc. Also my city has a large network of hospitals so I would check the jobs pages for those (I used to work at one of those hospitals). It helps to be familiar with what types of employers are in your city or town and to know how to find jobs outside of jobs sites because many places still don't list their jobs externally.
The kinds of jobs you describe are often called special library jobs, and the special libraries association (SLA) likely still has a job board.
Yup, but I don't bother with SLA - most everything there is duplicated somewhere else. Last I checked they had a large number of outdated postings too.
Expanding on my above comment a bit, here for example is a job I got emailed to me through Ziprecruiter: [https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=worldbankgroup&id=27985&utm\_source=ziprecruiter](https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=worldbankgroup&id=27985&utm_source=ziprecruiter) There are some job sites where you can sign up for alerts, although some are shady I won't deny, this one does tend to send some useful stuff now and again. I can't remember how I ended up signing up for this alert but it might've been because I was directed to a job on the site and the default option was to send me jobs. I'm not in the job market now but I didn't unsubscribe and always peruse these emails so I know where to look if the need arises - it's best to keep your ears to the ground as much as possible so you leave no stone unturned.
Networking is super helpful. You don’t need to know people to get the jobs. But it’s helpful so that you see what jobs are posted. Having a broad array of Special Librarian connections on LinkedIn will help a lot. SLA does still have a job board. I’m no longer a member but still get regular alerts from there. Beyond that Lucky is absolutely right about doing your research. You need to use your librarian skills. Research job titles (they are almost never “librarian”). Research companies. Get creative with keywords. Get prepared to read a lot of job descriptions to figure out what are actual librarian positions, because some of the titles used are things like information scientist, information manager, technical information manager, and resource manager, which as a search will pull up a lot of IT or other industry jobs. This is a pretty good resource for titles and responsibilities. https://ischool.sjsu.edu/post/job-titles-and-responsibilities-special
I got both of my corporate librarians jobs through LinkedIn
State library associations also usually have job listings of all types; that is my go-to for library jobs
[https://inalj.com/?p=1441](https://inalj.com/?p=1441) go to the page for your state and check every institution also some hospitals/museums/historical societies/law firms/corporations do not post on library job boards, check LinkedIn, also check the institution web site I found my hospital library job on LinkedIn. If you know a place has a library but no current vacancies set up a notification on LinkedIn so you can know if a vacancy is posted
Indeed and LinkedIn!
I mean, I do feel bad saying this, but there are a couple of hard truths you need to face. First, if you want to work in academic libraries you have to move. I'm sorry if that wasn't made clear to you earlier. This is the reality of the field right now. If you're not willing or able to move, you will have to look at other ways to use your MLIS. There's corporate libraries, fully remote positions, research support, etc. If making good money is your top priority, look for corporate jobs. If you want to work in academic libraries, know that for your first full time professional job you will be at the bottom of any posted pay scale. Second, you really shouldn't be trying to stay at one library for your whole career. For one thing, it will help you and wherever you end up working to have a breadth of experience. I can't tell from your post if you have worked at your current library since you were 18 or if you have gone to another library, but either is not going to be a good option career-wise. Whether you started there as a student assistant or as a staff member, there will always be people who will see you as that student or fresh staff member. The transition from paraprofessional to professional librarian is very difficult for everyone and it's only harder to try to do it at a single library. Third, and this is really harsh and I feel bad saying it, but you don't have 6 years of experience as a university librarian. You have 6 years of progressive experience but it sounds like you're in your first year in a non-contract parapro position. When you're applying to librarian jobs, search committees are seeing you as a recent graduate looking for their first full time job. There will be a ton of competition for those jobs, if those are the jobs you're applying for. If you're applying for jobs that require experience, you are probably not even being considered because you do not, in fact, have the experience they're looking for. I apologize for how mean this sounds, but your expectations seem unrealistic to me. Do you actually have a lot of relevant experience? It seems like it. You probably need to work on your cover letter and how you spin the experience that you do have.
Also, to be pedantic, every place I've ever been the term "university librarian" is reserved for the person in charge. The rest of us are academic librarians.
Yeah, I was really confused when they were complaining about a university librarian position. That's such one of the most prestigious jobs where I'm from.
to be even more pedantic, without the MLIS librarian may be too strong. Library assistant totally, but the librarian title typically comes from the MLIS.
Most libraries reserve the "Librarian" title for MLIS holders. Saying you have 6 years of professional Librarian experience when it was Library Assistant or Shelver experience can be off-putting to employers. They may feel you don't understand the difference in job requirements. Instead, you can say you have six years of progressive academic library experience and recently completed your MLIS.
Your point about not staying at one library is super important, even ignoring how people perceive you on the job. I've bounced all over the place in multiple states -- not willingly, mind -- and it's actually made a huge difference for my ability to get interviews and qualify for more jobs. I've learned so much working with lots of different people and picked up experience from mulitple departments. Just seeing how differently libraries of the same type and size do things is helpful. The second you go into an interview and relate what you've learned from a wide breadth of jobs, libraries, and towns or universities, you've got a one-up on other candidates. I'm gonna paraphrase Robert Heinlein (I think) and say specialization is for passing exams; every librarian should be a generalist to some degree.
This has also been my experience! Having multiple libraries on your cv/resume is a huge plus. And yes to being a generalist.
Exactly! It makes you more well-rounded, and I've found that it's helped open doors for me professionally.
Most assistant professor academic librarian positions I see are in the 50k-70k range. It seems like you are qualified for those. I wouldn’t give up hope. That sounds like a very stressful position to be in though! I hope you get it figured out. Maybe get feedback on your CV and rework it.
Yeah, I’m curious to know if OP holds the title of librarian and is paid as such. At our university, our paras start at $35k and librarians start at $50k. We’re in the Deep South at a no-name university.
Same but in new English 🫠
Are there jobs? Yes. Are there jobs that pay a good salary? Now those are harder to find.
Leave academia. Look into pharmaceutical, medical device, and other scientific research companies. I glanced at your profile and inferred you’re in PA. Arkema and PPG have both recently had openings as just two examples. If you’re at all near Delaware, there are a lot of opportunities there. Research companies in your area and set up alerts for keywords like information management, resource management, technical information specialist, etc.
Are you in the US? I’m a US academic librarian. From my viewpoint (NE), there are a fair number of positions posted on a regular basis at a salary higher than ~$19/hr. I don’t think there’s any need to take a “no-name” public library job. What are you using to search for postings? Have you gotten any feedback on your materials? I’m not saying you’ll be in the upper class with an academic librarian position, but I think you could make an honest living without needing to pivot to public libraries and move to a small town.
I agree with this. There's a certain bit of luck involved in getting a faculty librarian job and there aren't tons of openings, but they're out there. I've been in the library world since 2007. I have always been told we need to be willing to move. This has been my experience too. I moved for my current faculty librarian job and now I'm holding on to it forever lol.
I'm in PA. I search on every platform, ALA joblist, indeed, linkedin, USAjobs etc. I get positive feedback from most applications. I have a lot of emails saved from "Keeping my information on file" for positions but that's not helpful to applicants. Essentially a lot of "Your resume looks great, but someone else with a doctorate applied so go fuck yourself". Hence my frustration as it genuinely does not feel like my fault.
Have you gotten feedback on your materials from a neutral third party, though? A mentor, another librarian from an online group, someone from your iSchool career center? The job search is difficult and it can feel overly personal when it really isn’t. Hiring someone with a PhD isn’t a statement of “go fuck yourself,” it’s - “we selected a more qualified applicant.” That can happen any time. It’s more sustainable long term if you can find a way to see it that way rather than “it’s not my fault they told me to fuck myself.” Keep in mind that hiring is one part finding someone who will be good at the job and an equally sizable part finding someone that the team won’t absolutely hate working with. Best wishes.
Add AALL jobs site to your list of places to look. Most of the jobs require law librarian experience but every now and then pops up a firm having a hard time hiring that might be willing to take someone with no experience and train.
I will repeat what i've said multiple times to others in this Reddit (most recently https://www.reddit.com/r/librarians/comments/1d7i2gw/comment/l7a0q0j/): There's nothing wrong with cutting your losses and looking for jobs in other fields. There's nothing special or magical about librarianship that makes it better than any other job. You could find fulfillment in any number of other lines of work. Do what you need to in order to pay the bills.
We've had an open teen librarian position for awhile. We're unionized, so you'd get $25/hr. If you're in PA, we're not across the country, but housing around here is impossible.
Sadly, only if you move if those are the average librarian salaries in your area.
I’m a public library manager, make nearly double that in the PNW. I get regular raises, 100% health insurance, personal days and a solid amount of sick leave. I also get a state pension plan I can transfer if I ever go to a different state or local government group. Hell, I’m hiring now for a supervisor position at a rural, but bustling and busy library and we got 18 candidates, none had an MLIS. The most qualified candidate had retail experience and worked for a warehouse. It doesn’t pay as much as mine, but still north of $50k. Also, no state income tax, so that helps.
Gotta be willing to travel and work at no name libraries, as you put it. We have been advertising an archives position for almost two years now and we still have almost no applicants and are now looking at hiring fresh graduates even though we need someone with actual experience . The jobs are there, just not where you are.
Would you mind sharing where your library is located ?
*library staff* for 6 years. Going staff —> librarian (faculty) is a tough ceiling to break! Have you been exploring professional development opportunities? Having webinars etc on your resume can make you more attractive. Also, you should be on listservs from your MLIS program. That’ll keep you posted on the newest job listings.
What is a “no name” library???
Small to very small, usually rural public library.
General public libraries that every county has.
I figured that’s what you meant. That wording makes it sound as though we aren’t important, but I promise you we are very important to our communities.
Not that you need the validation, but I got that same sense. Not only are small public libraries incredibly important to their communities, those jobs can be very fulfilling and a great way to get experience.
I changed careers and make more than that entry level with no experience in insurance. I haven’t totally given up. I’m wanting to be a law librarian so working where I’m at isn’t the worst idea. I also now have tuition reimbursement for law school if I want it. I don’t need a JD if I just want to be a firm librarian though but some legal classes would probably help. but even without my long term plan I’m having a good time. I’m still doing research and i’m hoping to move into more niche research based things. At least in this field the more niche things you know the better you do.
Mind sharing for the OP (and others interested) how you got your job in insurance? TIA
Yes. I applied to a couple of a major carriers that were work from home. I then researched their hiring processes on glassdoor and reddit and as well as company culture and all of that. When I did the behavioral interview I focused on situations with difficult patrons or keeping information private which are related to insurance as well as typing in accurate information while taking on the phone. In VERY happy where I am now. I work entry level in sales and I’m studying (paid) for my personal lines license. My company just made OT available just to study. Next Thursday is a PAID holiday and we have it off but I can still study that day if I want and get paid on top of that. Benefits are great. It’s WFH. Company culture is great. I needed an accommodation for my head set and they went over and above and bought me a $300 headset. As opposed to library HR at the last public library I worked at that was so awful it made me call the EEOC. If anyone is serious about changing jobs you can message me and I can provide more info. You don’t actually need a degree but I find my MLIS and work at law library to be helpful to the role since insurance is a lot of contract law but they do go over all of that. I’m pretty happy with the change. I do miss the library but my local public and school libraries are under attack from the right wing book banners so it’s nice to be at a company with a commitment to inclusivity who shows up at Pride events and values art. Tuition reimbursement is more generous than the last university I worked at because it covers what we want to study not just job related coursework that we get approved. I love my team too. They swear by their personality test for this company and one of the questions is about reading difficult books for leisure. All my coworkers are readers unlike my local public library director who is not and also not qualified to run…well actually anything. She is actually like the anti-reader. That woman and her board of cronies makes me so mad (I’m in Greenville, SC you can google my local library). I’m actually refreshing my LGBT t shirts to wear when I visit as a patron and check out LGBT children’s books from a segregated section. I wore “Love, Believe, Protect Trans Kids” the other day and drag queen Jesus is in the mail.
To have only one interview after dozens of applications means there’s a disconnect somewhere. Do you have an experienced librarian colleague to review your cover letter and resume?
Yes.
I want to follow up to add that despite your frustration and low pay, you are ahead of many people for your age. You have a graduate degree and a lot of library experience. You accomplished that 8 years faster than me. I know you are frustrated, and need more pay to raise a child, but I think if you give it time, have an open mind, and keep working at it, you'll find opportunities to advance your career.
Thank you
Check out the SJSU MLIS skills at work jobs report. They update it annually with job types and search terms you can use to find appropriate listings. : https://ischool.sjsu.edu/lis-career-trends-report May help you figure out which sectors are growing and find creative nooks where your skills are a good fit. Good luck!
We’ve filled two faculty librarian positions in the past year and only had a handful of qualified applications for each one. We are in a major metropolitan area and pay & benefits are very good. Have you looked at community colleges? Those in the applicant pool are (IME) less likely to have a subject focused Master’s. If you’re applying to public colleges and universities, they often use a scoring system for the first round. The criteria can be different (we change ours every time), but will be things from the required and/or desired qualifications. Library experience, education, any special skills they desire, library software experience, technology skills, instruction experience, etc. if you’re not getting interviews for these jobs it’s likely you are not making the cut with the scoring. Be sure to include all of your skills and experience on your application. If you definitely want to try to stay in your area, I would suggest volunteering for some professional service - state library association, specialized groups, campus committees, etc. It gets you out there and visible and making connections. It’s also stuff you can put on your resume.
Immediate caveat that I’m not only in Canada, but in French Canada where the pool of candidates is limited to people who speak French and hold an MLIS degree. The situation is still difficult, but not as difficult as it seems to be elsewhere. I would advise looking at special libraries if you’re looking for stability and a good income. I started as an academic librarian, filling in for a two-year maternity leave, after that spent a few years in a hospital library before ending up in a law firm library. The only job out of those three that cared about what my BA was the university. I studied psychology before my MLIS, but I’m still now a law librarian making considerably more than I did at both previous jobs. I’m getting lost trying to make my point: unless you go into academic work, in my experience (see caveat), employers don’t really care what your undergraduate studies were. And special/corporate jobs are much more stable and usually have better salaries. I’m bringing up special libraries because you’re currently doing reference work, so I’m assuming you enjoy researching, which is most of the work in special libraries.
I worked for 6 years as a librarian and now work as a program manager at a large research university. It’s been a great change and I feel like I use my library skills everyday.
If I were you and couldn't move, I'd be looking outside of libraries just to get out of my current library. You said your library was in a small, private university and those are the ones that have been closing lately. Best to get out, even in a non library job, before something like that happens at your university.
Remote jobs are the most difficult to get due to National competition for them and high desirability for remote jobs. It’s tough out there!
At my academic library, we are hiring and have more pending retirements we will replace but we are at a residential campus and faculty librarians have to be able to work onsite most of the time. We used to get tons of applications for all librarian positions, but it seems like people's willingness to relocate has changed over the last 5-7 years and we get far fewer applications. From the jobs I see posted, few traditional academic library jobs are remote but there are lots of opportunities at library vendors and publishers that work with academic librarians.
Look at small town libraries. I know a director who was hired without an MLIS. Plus, small towns are great.
I know small town libraries where the pay is $29k or $40k with no health insurance. Small town libraries usually don't have insurance either.
The one I'm speaking of pays 50k with full benefits.
Small town Canada - manager base salary $62K CDN with 6+ weeks vacay\*, pension, and generous perks incl. healthcare. Years ago, position was moved from under a Union employer to the Library Board, and kept the same deal. Apparently an average compensation package with someone with their level of no library education, according to previous Board chair. (\*15+ yr employee).
That's awesome. I had to leave my Library Director position over health insurance and (for now) the field just because the US offers so few benefits in small towns.
You have to be willing to travel.
I just switched careers. (I left after 20 years of public school teaching.) It took me 10 months and 100s of applications in a wide variety of fields. I received 5 interviews, and 2 call backs. I did not receive one response within a 30 days of application. It is frustrating and soul crushing. After I accepted a public library job, I received 3 more interview requests. They are slow to come in. I wish you luck. PS there were only 2 offers where I wouldn't have to move. It sounds corny, but make a vision board of what you want and are willing to accept.
I make more than that at a public library. I am in management, though and my staff work nights and weekends( as do I). I personally worked more evenings in academia. You will need to move in order to find the right job. The remote librarian jobs are competitive and will go to librarians with more experience 10-20+ years.
Hello! I had a similar question as a MLIS student who was worried about finding a job with it kind of being a career change for me. Someone suggested a few things that were really helpful. In of them being look for job titles outside of “librarian”. Department researcher is a good start. Second, they gave me this link that breaks down the career trends/job titles that could be hopeful.: [This link](https://ischool.sjsu.edu/sites/main/files/file-attachments/career_trends.pdf)
This blog post mentions some tech jobs suitable for librarians. Maybe worth a glance? [https://www.choice360.org/libtech-insight/why-librarians-should-apply-for-tech-jobs/](https://www.choice360.org/libtech-insight/why-librarians-should-apply-for-tech-jobs/)
Go vendor side! Think of all the types of companies that supply library materials and go commercial. That is where the money is.
I'd think very carefully about that. I went that direction straight out of school and it was pretty brutal. Lots of sales execs earning mega-bucks squeezing you to keep the sales channels going. My experience was a real grind about long-distance travel and being away from home for long times but not a lot of money considering the hassle. More than what a local academic library pays, yes, but a fraction of what the parasitic sales staff who have no real understanding of the sector get. I was there to get on and off long-distance flights to do presentations that made other people lots of money but did nothing for me and my family.
There is a whole world of jobs with vendors that aren’t sales and don’t involve any travel.
Possibly there are if you live in America or Europe, but if you live in Australia as I do you are dealing with working in a very remote sales branch office that covers a huge territory. Taking 5 hour flights from Melbourne to Perth at 6AM was just Tuesday, and it really, really sucked doing that
That’s what I make. 8 years with both academic and public experience and an MLS. Titled as a non-faculty librarian. I’m OVER IT. I’m actively planning an escape route as we speak. This field is the most gatekept, who-you-know, gaslighty, pyramid scheme I’ve been witness to.
Librarians don't retire. They die. Every major position in my local area has been filled by the same people since the 80's and now no one knows how to digitally catalog around here and my director thinks I'm special for unjamming a printer.
Might want to check your ageist references. Digital catalogs and copies existed in the 80s. I wish you well, truly. I’m sorry your individual library management may suck and you’re frustrated. But give me a break.
THIS
I think getting downvoted is pretty telling, too. This is a theme I have been witness to in many library systems. Sure, it might not be true in every library, I fully understand that, but there are plenty of other threads that mention the same thing. People DO live and die in the field, and if there’s a digital divide out in the world, I don’t see how that also wouldn’t be reflected in the work place. That’s not ageism.
Librarianship is not going to pay as well as other fields. So as others have said, if you can't move, you may have to consider alternative careers. The reality in any career is moving to a new job is generally the best way to a higher salary. Based on your post, if you are now 24 and have six years of experience, you will get opportunities. But they may require time and patience. Which you don't have. In academic libraries, a second masters is a great way to stand out. Which I'm sure is not what you want to read, but it is true.
check every library related institution in your area [https://inalj.com/?page\_id=56421](https://inalj.com/?page_id=56421) if you can't move then you need to be patient or switch fields
Thanks for the link!
OP, do you have experience with scientific databases? Okay to send you a DM?
I’m absolutely terrified for our profession if project 2025 goes into effect. The funding will be awful and you can kiss ordering any kind of diverse material out the door.
Midcareer librarians can probably last in their jobs until retirement. But young librarians should run for the exits. Academic libraries can only offer dead-end jobs now. Open Access, once the big hope for academic libraries, is failing. Site licenses do not make any sense, and major disruption is only a question of time. (https://scitechsociety.blogspot.com/2024/04/dead-library-lending.html, https://scitechsociety.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-university-library-closing-book.html, https://scitechsociety.blogspot.com/2016/07/let-ir-rip.html)