Librarianship Professions

School Librarianship as a Profession

Each year there are notices of more K-12 Library Media Teacher positions open in southern California than there are candidates to fill the positions. (See the California School Library Association job hotline.) The majority of the credential candidates currently enrolled in the CSULB Library Media Teacher Services Credential Program already work in their respective school library media centers under an emergency credential.

The Master of Library Science or Master of Library and Information Science degree is not required for a California Library Media Teacher Services Credential. If you ever plan to work in a college or university library, public library, or special library, however, you will need a Master of Library Science degree from a library school accredited by the American Library Association In California, those universities include UCLA and San Jose State University. The CSU San Jose program has an off-campus extension program at CSU Fullerton that offers the MLS degree and the credential through evening and weekend classes. At this point, UCLA does not offer a Library Media Teacher Services Credential.

Representative professional websites for Library Media Teachers include:

California School Library Association
California Library Association
American Association of School Libraries
Computer Using Educators
California Learning Resource Network
Information Literacy for K-16 Settings
Center for the Study of Books in Spanish for Children and Adolescents
Labor Market Information

Along with CSULB, some of these organizations provide scholarships; check their web sites for details.

In the broader field of librarianship, graduates work in school, academic, public, and "special" sectors (e.g., museums, agencies, industry). Most librarian positions incorporate three aspects of library work: user services, technical services, and administrative services. Librarians and other information professionals must have knowledge of a wide variety of information sources, be organized and analytical, be able to collaborate and manage, have good communication and often instructional skills; most need technical skills. Some of these careers require additional education or experience.

Last update: 2/20/07