There are so many interesting books around the world. No matter how much development internet makes and brings the readers a platform to read online, there’s a different feeling altogether to read a book in a library where you are disturbed by none and there are others who are reading as quietly as you are. But when it comes to managing these books, have you ever wondered who does that? Who knows which book is placed where and what subject can sound interesting to you for reference? This is where a good librarian comes into the picture. A librarian is a professional person who works in a library and assists the readers or visitors.
If you are someone who is looking forward to become a librarian, following are the five different tips that you must follow:
1. Get a degree in librarianship:
There are different universities around the world that provide librarianship degrees at Master’s level as well. If you are planning to be a librarian, it is essential for you to have knowledge about the subject as a profession. You may know a little bit about what librarian profession is, but in order to get in-depth information, it is necessary for you to get a degree in the same.
2. Understand different types of libraries:
There are four different types of libraries out of which you can either shuffle as a professional or choose one to work for long. These types are mentioned below:
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Corporate libraries
This is one kind of special library that is generally possessed by huge corporate houses. You may have never heard of this concept but when you are working in an organization that is massive and has its own special building, there is one special section that has different books that can help you enhance your skills as an employee in the firm. Therefore, even huge corporate houses need librarians, if they have their libraries.
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School libraries
These libraries exist in schools, be it governmental or private. If you are looking forward to work in a private school library, you might not have to get yourself certified, depending on the criteria fixed by the school’s management. However, if you wish to work in a Governmental school or institute as a librarian, you might have to be certified or a degree holder in librarianship. Yet, this also depends on the decision of the management.
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Academic libraries
Such libraries are seen in different colleges, universities and even the community colleges that are especially established for the people living in a particular society. In such institutions, a librarian needs to maintain the works of the library in an efficient manner, by working as a faculty member. He needs to keep a track of the books in the library, the newly entered materials, books that have been carried at homes by people (there are certain libraries that let the reader take a limited number of books at home for a particular period of time), etc.
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Public libraries
Students of schools, colleges, adult readers, professors; no matter what profession an individual belongs to, he can visit a public library and enjoy reading as per his convenience. These libraries are open to all. Therefore, a librarian working in a public library needs to be more careful when it comes to work and assisting the readers. For an instance, there are certain books in libraries that are not supposed to be read by children. Such books for adults need to be given to only those people who have their identity cards. It is the duty of the librarian to make sure that such books are not distributed without ID cards.
It is necessary for a ‘want to be librarian’ to have a deep knowledge about different kinds of libraries so that he can understand how work differs in each of the types.
3. Make friends who are librarians by profession:
This may sound a little absurd to you but if you are interested to be a librarian, it is essential for you to make friends who are of the same profession. If you have librarian friends, you can learn from their experiences and understand how they tackle various people on a daily basis. Most of the times, your friends would help you by guiding you on what you should do to become an effective librarian, just the way some of them are.
4. Increase your communication skills:
If you are in a job or profession wherein you are expected to work with and in words, you need to enhance your communication skills. AS a librarian, you would be meeting a lot of people on daily basis. Some might even come with a few doubts that you would have to solve. For an instance, if someone has searched the entire section and has read a few books on something that he has to prepare a project on, he might come to take your guidance on which book to refer. At this time, it becomes your duty to find the right kind of books for him and interacting with him by knowing what exactly he is looking forward to read or refer to. Without communication, no librarian can be a professional and well respected one.
5. Expand the size of your knowledge:
You may have a lot of degrees or diplomas or courses in your hands, but do they make your knowledge? Actually, it is said by a lot of thinkers that knowledge expands with time, experience and practical scenarios. Therefore, as a librarian, you might have to stretch the sheets of your knowledge by reading everything that you can, as and when you have some time. In fact, if someone comes in your library and asks for books on a particular topic, you can easily tell them which books to refer as you can guess by the titles or prefaces written inside.
Being a librarian is as difficult as being any other professional as it not only requires skills but also a huge knowledge on different topics. Make sure that your mind’s pot is filled with creativity, active memory and immense patience to meet every requirement of the reader who has high hopes on you to help him find the right books.
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