5 Career Options with a Degree in Library Science

5 Jobs for Library Science Majors

• Librarian
• Teacher
• Archivist
• Database Administrator
• Taxonomist

A degree in library science is a specialized degree, but that doesn’t mean students who get one have to become librarians. There are several other careers graduates with this degree can pursue, some of which students may not be aware of. These careers all require the skills of a librarian.

1. Librarian

Given how a degree in library science specifically prepares students to become a librarian, this is the most common profession students interested in this degree want to pursue. Librarians can work in school libraries, government libraries, law libraries and public libraries. They decide what items to add or remove from a collection, help patrons find what they need, plan programming and more. They can choose to specialize in a particular type of library to position themselves in a niche and potentially improve job prospects.

2. Teacher

This degree can also open up a career path as a teacher. Librarians working in primary and secondary school libraries usually need to teach classes about library usage anyway, so the ability and knowledge to put together education curriculums are usually taught in a library science degree program. Graduates can become a teacher by possessing a bachelor’s degree and going through the process to get a teaching certificate in a particular state. They can pursue a role in teaching in archival information or similar subjects such as English. Teaching at the college level will usually require a master’s degree or even a PhD for some positions.

3. Archivist

Archivists are like librarians but they typically work specifically with important historical documents, films, recordings and other items. This career is especially attractive to students who have a particular interest in a specific time so they can work to preserve and maintain records from that era. They do this by creating organizational systems for collections, restoring items and making digital copies as a fail-safe. They may also organize tours, classes and workshops as well as establish rules for public access to archived materials.

4. Database Administrator

Individuals interested in both library science and tech can consider a career as a database administrator. These professionals create, maintain and update electronic databases for a wide variety of purposes such as maintaining customer financial information or the medical records of patients. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, administrators must ensure the ease of access to the database for authorized personnel as well as the creation of backups. They typically work in this capacity for private companies but can also do so for government agencies and non-profit organizations. They need to stay updated on new database software trends as well as consider the security of stored information.

Related Resource: 10 Best Affordable Bachelor’s in Library Science

5. Taxonomist

Taxonomy is the fascinating science of grouping living things together and organizing them based on shared characteristics. In the scientific community, organisms are organized into groups of descending size, beginning at the domain and going all the way down to an individual species. This not only extends to living species but extinct ones as well, such as dinosaurs. This profession can be ideal for students who are interested in both library cataloging and biology. With many species yet to be identified and the classifications of existing species often questioned, there is still much work to do in this field.

Librarians provide a valuable service to the general public and various organizations by collecting, storing and preserving knowledge for future use. Librarians need a library science degree but can pursue other careers with this educational background as well.