Public Librarianship
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Contents |
Public Librarianship
"Public librarians are technology experts, information detectives, managers, literacy experts, trainers, community programming coordinators, reader advisers, children's storytellers, material reviewers and buyers[1]." They hold many roles as library guardian, materials protector and guru, and now information locating technique teacher. In similar regard as other librarianship specialties, the public librarian is less expected to dredge up printed or other materials for patron use, and more expected to know how to find such information and be able to teach the user how to do the same.
Roles
If one agrees with the idea that public libraries are built and maintained in order to disseminate information to the most people, then is is not a leap to say that "librarians working in local authorities run public libraries to help make available a wide range of books, magazines, music cassettes, CD-Roms and internet access. Their aim is to meet the broadest spread of information needs[2]." As government employees, public librarians can serve in many levels of the government hierarchy, ranging from the county library system to the Library of Congress itself.
Most public library users probably interact with the county level library system and librarians. That is not to say that average citizens are barred from using the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress encourages public use, and has online services such as Ask a Librarian, likely instituted to allow national (international?) access to a famous library limited by physical space from distributing its material stores.
This trend toward online outreach and resources is found on most library websites, as librarians realize that their constituents spend more time independently researching where there is Internet access than coming into the library buildings. If this is the way that librarians can reach out to people and prove their usefulness as an institution and thereby get funding, then that is what they are going to do. If it helps people learn how to get the information they need, then that is a bonus.
Issues with Public Libraries
A clear limitation in the public library system is that smaller libraries that are not networked into larger interlibrary loan systems or county networks are limited by the space and budget available to such a degree that they may not adequately serve the community they are for. This is a big issue when the public library is the only resource for lower-income communities when accessing books, audio/visual media, and computers.
Granted, this is a limitation for medium or larger and/or wealthier communities served by libraries, but they often have more people with personal resources and the effect or dependency is not so sharply felt.
Occupational Outlook and Salaries
Median annual wages for librarians in "local government," ie. public libraries was $47,940 in May of 2008[3].
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook reports, "librarians are needed to manage staff, help users develop database searching techniques, address complicated reference requests, and define users' needs. Despite expectations of slower-than-average employment growth, the need to replace librarians as they retire will result in numerous additional job openings[4].
References
- Careers in Local Government - Librarian
- Indiana University Description of Public Librarian Duties
- Library of Congress Website
- Ask a Librarian Function
- Bureau of Labor Statistics - Librarians PDF
