Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Educational Instruction and Library
The work centers on building and running a collection people can borrow or consult—books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Typical days mix circulation and inventory with selecting new materials from reviews, catalogs, and faculty requests, then answering reference questions by searching standard sources. Settings range from schools and museums to corporate libraries. The job also includes teaching patrons how to search databases and use media equipment, and in some roles supervising staff, budgets, and daily operations. A good fit if you prefer careful records, answering specific questions, and showing others how to find information on their own.
Typical education: Master’s Degree
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$68'270
Median Wage Market Position
$68'270
What you might do
- Help patrons find the information they need
- Check books and other materials in and out
- Select and order print, audio, and digital materials
- Teach patrons how to search library databases
- Correct catalog errors and track what's on hand
- Oversee daily operations, staffing, and the budget
Skills that matter
- Teaching basic computer and database skills
- Material selection from reviews and catalogs
- Answers to patrons' reference questions
- Accurate circulation and inventory records
- Listening closely to what patrons need
- Hiring, training, and scheduling library staff
AI & the future of this role
Answer engines and automated cataloging may take over much reference triage and collection metadata work. Community programming, licensing judgment, and in-person guidance still count, yet employment tied to routine information access looks more exposed.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details