What is librarianship?

A LIBRARIAN is no longer the stereotypical lady with a grey bun shushing library users to keep quiet! A librarian organises, researches and also presents information to his/her library’s users. Librarians work in a rapidly changing working environment and also need to embrace new and emerging information and communication technologies.

What does a library and information professional do? Depending on where a librarian works, she/he may be involved in:

• Selecting and purchasing of information resources;

• Organising and managing information resources and facilities;

• Managing electronic resources which includes licensing agreements and facilitating access to electronic databases, journals and books;

• Creating and managing digital collections in institutional repositories;

• Assisting library users in finding the materials or information they need and also training them in finding the resources on their own;

• Organising library programmes, events and community outreach projects, such as holiday activities, and community learning programmes;

• Marketing the library and its services;

• Managing technologies and automated systems;

• Creating and managing MakerSpaces (multidisciplinary collaborative and creative spaces where clients can engage, and share resources such as 3-D Printers, 3-D scanners and other electronic equipment).

Where do the opportunities lie?

• In public libraries;

• In school libraries and media centres;

• In university, university of technology, and technical vocational education and training college libraries;

• In special libraries (for example, law libraries), resource centres, and information services;

• In national libraries, which are responsible for material published in and relating to a specific country;

• In allied fields where library training and skills are relevant, such as freelancing and lecturing.

A librarian needs the following skills:

• Creative and innovative thinking;

• Strong communication and people skills;

• The ability to collaborate with others;

• Organisational skills and the ability to give attention to detail;

• Critical, flexible and problem-solving thinking skills;

• Marketing and advocacy skills; and

• Technological expertise.

• Post School Education

• There are 10 Library and/or Information Schools in several provinces in South Africa.

Qualifications can be obtained through full-time, part-time or distance education