This presentation describes the different types of libraries and types of jobs that exist in libraries.

1. Library Types & Personnel
Roles
Fall, 2015

2. Types of Libraries
 Academic
 Public
 School
 Special

3. Academic Libraries
 Colleges & Universities
 Collection designed to meet the
needs of the curriculum
 AVC Collection Development
 Usually one main library
 May also have subject-specific libraries
 Low focus on fiction
 Controlled population (students)
 Part of campus budget

4. Public Libraries
 Collection designed to meet the
needs of the general public
(broadest range of all library types)
 Large fiction collection
 Uncontrolled population
 Part of city or county budget
 Community services

5. Public Libraries
Individual
 Palmdale City Library
Branch Systems
 City Systems
L.A. Public Library (68 Branches)
 County Systems
L.A. County Public Library (84 Branches)
 City/County Systems
Sacramento Public Library (25 Branches)
 A Central/Main library is common

7. School Libraries
 Part of a public or private school
 Elementary – Junior High/Middle – High
 Some combined with Public Library
• Scottsdale Public Library – Palomino Library
 Collection designed to meet the needs of
the school
 Good fiction collection at the level of the
school
 Part of school budget

8. Special Libraries
 Government
 Federal (U.S. Army Libraries)
 State (California State Library)
 Law
 Private
 Librarians often have law degrees (J.D.)
 Government (Public)
 Corporate (M.L.S. not always required)
 Non-profit Organizations (IELC)
 Museums & Galleries
 Archives (NARA)

9. Personnel Roles
 Leader
 Administrative
 Supervisory
 Librarians
 Paraprofessionals
 Clerical

10. Librarians
 Stereotypes

14. Librarian Images
 lollibrarian
 This is What a Librarian Looks Like
 Ryan Gosling Meme

15. Librarians
 Master’s degree usually required.
 M.L.S., M.L.I.S., M.S.L.S., M.M.L.I.S.
 List of institutions with Library Science Programs
 Library & Information Careers: Emerging Trends and
Titles
 Bureau of Labor Statistics information on Librarians
 Second advanced degree may be
required in universities or some
special libraries.

16. Two Areas of Librarian
Services
 Technical Services
 Catalog
Management
 Book Ordering
 Book Processing
 Public Services
 Reference Services
 Collection
Development
 Special Programs
 Pathfinders and
Research Guides
 Community
Services

17. Two Areas of Librarian
Public Services
 Adult Services
 Reference Service
 Collection Development
by Area
 Programming
• Books Clubs
• Classes
• Outside Speakers
 Community Services
• Taxes
• Special Groups
 Children’s Services
 Reference Service
 Collection Development
 Programming
• Storytimes
• Reading Clubs
• Special Contests
• Literacy
Encouragement
 Community Services
• Schools
• Parents

18. Leader
 Library Director
 Also Called City/County/State Librarian
 Appointed by Board
 Usually a former librarian with M.L.S.
 Many years of experience
 May have Ph.D.
 Usually does not perform librarian duties

19. Administrative
 Not necessarily librarians
 Administrate the Library Director’s
directives
 May not have advanced degree

20. Supervisory
 Usually librarians with M.L.S.
 Several years experience and
leadership skills
 Supervises branches or departments
of a central library
 Titles: Head Librarian, Branch
Librarian, Supervising Librarian,
Regional Librarian

21. Paraprofessionals
 Library Technicians/Assistants
 Also called Circulation Technicians
 Often have different levels based
education and experience

22. Paraprofessionals
 Book maintenance & management
 Issuance of library cards
 Fines & fees

23. Clerical
 No education requirements
 Usually part-time
 Typing/Labeling
 Shelving Books
 Often college students in colleges &
university libraries and high school
students in public libraries.

24. Statistics (Source: American Library Assoc.,
2012)
 There are about 150,000 librarians
in the U.S. working in 121,000
libraries.
 27,000 Academic Librarians
• 88,000 total staff
 46,000 Public Librarians
• 140,000 total staff

25. Statistics (Source: American Library Assoc.,
2012)
 58% of U.S. adults have a public library
card.
 Americans visit libraries three times more
than they go to movie theatres.
 There are more public library branches
than McDonald’s franchises.
 16,700 vs. 14,000

26. Statistics (Source: American Library Assoc.,
2012)
 Academic and public reference
librarians answer about 6.6 million
questions each week.
 There are 584 students in colleges
and universities for every academic
librarian (14 students for every
teaching faculty member.)

27. Statistics (Source: American Library Assoc.,
2012)
 The cost of all public libraries is
about $36 per American per year.
 2 million more people visited an
academic library reference desk
than saw a college basketball game.
 Academic libraries receive about
three cents of every higher
education dollar spent.
 The largest libraries in the U.S.