Librarian Career Profile | Career Advice and Help Australia CareerNav

Librarian *

Last modified: November 07, 2011, 01:25 PM

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This is an ideal career for a logical thinker. The job of a librarian is to select, develop, organize, and maintain a library collection. If you work in a library that serves the community or a school, the collection is likely to consist mainly of books, newspapers, DVD’s, and videos.

Typical Career Progression

	Position	Remuneration	Experience	Education
Start Position	Library Assistant	$ 39 - $ 49k	0 – 6 Years	VCE/HSC
1st Promotion	Library Technician Grade 1	$ 50 - $ 59k	4 Years	Degree
2nd Promotion	Library Technician Grade 2	$ 65 - $ 74k	4 Years	Degree
3rd Promotion	Librarian Grade 1	$ 50- $ 65k	4 Years	Degree
4th Promotion	Librarian Grade 2	$ 68 - $ 77k	4 Years	Degree
5th Promotion	Librarian Grade 3	$ 81 - $ 90k	4 Years	Degree
6th Promotion	Librarian Grade 4	$ 93 – 102k	4 Years	Post Graduate
7^th Promotion	Librarian Grade 5	$ 105 – 115k	4 Years	Post Graduate

These salary bands are the 2009 awards set by the Crown Employees (Public Sector – Salaries 2008) Awards in NSW.

Typical accountabilities and responsibilities

Library Assistant

Working as part of a service team, assisting librarians and library technicians with library/office tasks and procedures. Assist with queries at counter, by phone, online. Assist with book returns, magazines, etc to shelves and storage areas. Enter data into computer data base.

Library Technician

Grade 1 – 2

You will work under the supervision of a librarian focussing on operational and technical aspects of a library. You assist with the internet/online searches, maintain resources, records and systems. Enter information into data base, develop and resent promo programs, displays, tours. At a senior level will supervise staff, manage small library or info service or be in charge of a section in a large library.

Librarian

Grade 1 – 5

You have a strong focus on client service and technical skills. You will supervise and lead staff, manage a branch library, a section of a large library, a small special library or a research program. Provide expert advice or consultancy services on strategic matters. You design, direct, formulate policies, and applying services to meet customer needs. Provide leadership, managerial and commercial skills and judgement. Market the library and its services. Prepare budgets submissions and briefings for management, as well as manage major projects, which include IT systems and applications in a resource environment.

**The above table is to be used as a guide only

Career Path Options and Employment opportunities

Librarians work in public libraries, archives, schools, technical colleges, and tertiary institutions. Some may also work for government departments, museums, in research and consulting organisations, hospitals, or industrial/business firms, all of which have libraries specializing in particular fields.

Becoming an information manager will see you filling the gap between the sources of information and those who are in need of the information. As a librarian you will often have assistants to help you in day to day running of the library.

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.