Education Qualifications
Becoming a librarian will mean completing one of two avenues of university study. The most common route to becoming a librarian is completion of a general (often Arts) degree course followed by a post graduate diploma in librarianship or information studies.
Alternatively, there are specialised degrees in library and information studies.
For entry into undergraduate courses you will need to complete Year 12 with a pass in English. Entry into a post graduate course means you will need to complete a degree course or an appropriate bachelor degree course. Charles Sturt University and the University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Monash University, and RMIT all offer a 3 year full time course with a major in library and information management. The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is the professional association for library workers and the advocacy organisation for library users.
Courses of study recognised by ALIA for qualification as a librarian are at the ALIA website. These courses are regularly reviewed for recognition purposes.
The entry criteria for tertiary institiutions differs from year to year. The above comments are a guide only. To gain specific entry criteria either contact the relevant university or use Hobson's The Good University Guide.
Relevant Universities Colleges & TAFE
Careernav have trolled through all the universities, specialist colleges and TAFE’s across the nation to identify those courses we consider relevant to this career. We have only focussed on the core single degree and its full time period. We acknowledge many combination degrees are available and different students combine different degrees. Course names also differ by university and we have grouped like courses together. We may have missed the odd course being offered, so we recommend for a more detailed guide check with the universities direct or one of the university course guide books such as Hobson’s. Please note Careernav are totally impartial and do not recommend one tertiary institution over another. To view the A to Z of tertiary institutions that offer relevant courses for this career.
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All tertiary institutions have an open invitation to make available their course outline using the ‘For Institutions’ tab in the footer section of each page. From time to time universities, colleges or TAFE will take up Careernav’s offer to promote their courses and make available ‘Course Outline’ for your consideration. When an icon appears, consider its relevance and download the Course Outline on the one that interests you by clicking “I would like to learn more” at the end of the course profile.
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About the Author
Heather Nash
The Australian Library and Information Association [ALIA] is the professional organisation for the Australian library and information services sector. It seeks to empower the profession in the development, promotion and delivery of quality library and information services to the nation, through leadership, advocacy and mutual support.
Did you know that the Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the most stolen book in public libraries?