Job Descriptions
We’ve assembled a range of job descriptions organized by different occupational groups within the information professions. Follow the links below to a variety of representative job descriptions under each occupational group.
Archives & Records Management
Archivists are essentially professional collectors. They help preserve our heritage by preserving manuscripts and other materials from the past as well as items from the present that may eventually prove to be of historical interest. Despite the possibilities introduced by digital preservation technologies, most libraries and archives recognize that of attempting to collect the sum total of human knowledge as a futile effort. Thus, in addition to expertise in archival preservation and organization techniques, archivists must also be quite knowledgeable about the cultures and histories with which they work in order to make the often difficult decisions about what is worth holding on to. More and more modern archivists need to be comfortable with physical documents and equipment and with digital technologies such as Digital Asset Management Systems and Archival Description Software and other technologies.
Education: Master’s of Library Science with an emphasis on Archives and/or a Master’s of Archival Science. May also require a second Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
Skills: Requires excellent research skills. Archival description, Archival preservation, may require knowledge of metadata (EAD, Dublincore etc.) may require knowledge of Digital Asset Management systems, ContentDM. Islandora, archival description software (ICAAtoM) and digital preservation techniques.
Average Salary (OOH): $21.35/hr.
Outlook (OOH): Average growth
Growing out of the combination of archival science and information technology, the digital asset manager (DAM) or digital archivist deals primarily with the preservation and storage of born-digital materials, and digitized copies of analog materials. While physical repositories are still alive and well, archives of born-digital and digitized materials are becoming common, ranging from small private collections to large scale initiatives like Project Gutenberg and Google Books.
The most exciting aspect of working in digital asset management is the newness of the field. While paper-based records have been around for decades, the history of their electronic equivalents spans mere decades. These technologies are constantly evolving, which means DAMs need to stay up date with technologies and materials need to be migrated to the newest file and storage formats to ensure future access. While a physical book can’t “crash” or be “erased” per se, these are legitimate concerns for information in electronic form. Thus backup copies in other locations help ensure that the data remains safe. Perhaps the biggest problem is the youth of digital: History has shown us that paper can last for hundreds of years, while digital data hasn’t existed long enough to prove similar longevity. Thus digital asset management is very much an evolving field, and those involved in it must be adaptable to new technologies and meticulous with regards to data organization and migration.
Education: Usually at least a Bachelor’s degree, sometimes a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Library Science, or Archival Science. Corporations are more likely to ask for a Computer Science or Information Science backgrounds. Educational and heritage institutions might also specify Library or Archival Science backgrounds.
Skills: Knowledge of digital asset management and/or media asset management systems. Some examples might include Islandora, ContentDM (libraries) and Cortex or NetXposure. Knowledge of Metadata Standards. Some knowledge of programming and database technologies. Knowledge and familiarity of different file formats and their uses and characteristics. Knowledge and experience with digital capture technologies (hardware and software) for a variety of formats (depending on industry or institution)
Outlook: Digital Asset Managers do not fit cleanly into a standard occupational category, with some skills from Archives, Database Administrators, and Web Developers. Employment of this area is likely projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations, due to the growing demand of managing digital content.
Interviews: Yves Maurer
With all the information that organizations create while conducting their everyday business, it is no wonder that companies and other organizations require information professionals to organize their records and to ensure that records are kept in a manner to comply with legal requirements and informational requirements. The information professionals who manage records are called Records Managers. To be a good records manager you should have excellent organizational skills, be detailed oriented in writing down policies and procedures and have a good grasp of freedom of information, privacy laws and financial disclosure laws. Records managers organize records to ensure easy access later, create retention schedules based on relevant laws if applicable or on informational needs and ensure that records are retained and disposed of on schedule. You should have good communication and networking skills because you will need to be able to liaison with coworkers throughout your organization to ensure records retention and destruction compliance.
Education: Usually a Master’s of Library Science or Archival Science. May also require certification as a records manager (CRM)
Skills: Organizational skills, Legal knowledge, Good computer skills, Digitization skills and experience with Digital Asset Management systems and EDRMs (Electronic Documents and Records Managements Systems.)
Outlook: Overall employment of archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators is projected to grow 11 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The need to store information in archives and public interest in science, art, and history will continue to spur demand for curators, museum technicians, and conservators. Applicants should expect very strong competition for jobs. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Fred Grevin
Computer Engineering
Organizations rely on enterprise databases to contain all of the data that a business creates on a day to day basis. To keep these systems running, they require information professionals to install, manage, troubleshoot and plan upgrades of their systems and plan for future growth. These professionals are called Database Administrators.
To be a good Database Administrator you need to have excellent technical skills especially database administration and server administration. Excellent scripting skills are also important, particularly Powershell, Python and Perl. A good knowledge of network protocols is helpful. Good project management skills are also very important, especially when upgrading systems.
Education: Usually requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.
Skills: Database Administration, advanced scripting skills, knowledge of network protocols.
Average Salary: The median annual wage for database administrators was $77,080 in May 2012. (U.S.)
Outlook: Employment of database administrators is projected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth in this occupation will be driven by the increased data needs of companies across the economy. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Organizations rely on computer networks and computing resources to connect with others both internally and externally. To manage smooth connections in an organization’s networks, we rely on skilled professionals to manage them. These professionals are called Network and Computer System Administrators.
To be a good Network and Computer System Administrators you need to have excellent technical skills especially experience or certification in network and systems administration, as well as knowledge and experience or training with operating systems and server hardware. You also need expert knowledge of computer security and assisting in defining user computing policies. Also requires excellent project management skills. A good knowledge of server hardware is also important.
Education: Usually requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and/ or certification in relevant skills and technologies.
Skills: systems administration, network engineering, project management, knowledge of server software.
Average Salary: Average salary for Network Engineers is $34.88/hr (U.S.)
Outlook: Employment of network and computer systems administrators is projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth will be highest at firms that provide cloud computing technology. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Paul Frields, Theo Engelman
While there are a number of self-publishing tools that allow anyone with a computer and an internet connection to create a basic website, there is still a demand for expert web development and management. As long as companies want dynamic sites that stand out from the crowd, there will be no shortage of work for web developers. These information professionals need solid programming backgrounds, allowing them to build sites and site components to cater to each client’s unique situation and needs. Webmasters may be charged with maintaining a site over time, adding current content and features, and troubleshooting any problems that arise. They might also provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) advice and be in charge of any advertisements that the site hosts to generate revenue. Overall, web professionals help ensure their clients’ sites are user-friendly, look nice, and do what they’re supposed to do.
Education: At a minimum an Associate Degree in Web Design or Computer Science, usually at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Information Science.
Skills: Extensive knowledge and experience with web languages, standards and programming frameworks.
Salary: The median annual wage for web developers was $62,500 in May 2012.
Outlook: Employment of web developers is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and ecommerce. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data Analysis & Research
Universities are increasingly becoming interested in quantifying the impact that their research has. With their traditional interest in bibliometrics, librarians are a perfect fit for analyzing research impact and to train faculty members and graduate students to use tools to measure their own research impact.
Bibliometrics and Research Impact Librarian have strong foundations in numeracy, statistics, and bibliometrics, which is the science of measuring scholarly output. skills. They are familiar with issues surrounding scholarly communication and research impact, have excellent communication and instruction skills These individuals often serve as the point person in the library and a key person on campus for bibliometrics and research impact and likely will be training faculty and students to use bibliometrics tools and how to interpret metrics.
Education: Requires an ALA accredited Master’s of Library Science (U.S. and Canada) or a CILIP accredited library science program or training course (UK).
Skills: Requires excellent research skills. Requires excellent knowledge of copyright and scholarly communication. Requires excellent knowledge of issues surrounding bibliometrics and analyzing research impact. Requires strong data analyzing and bibliometrics skills using tools such SciVal, Google Scholar Citations, Publish or Perish, Symplectic, ORCID, Researcher ID.
Average Salary: Librarians average $26.62/Hr. This is a hot specialty in 2015, so well-qualified candidates will command a higher salary.
Outlook: Employment of librarians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. However retirements are anticipated. Technological skills improve employment prospects as well as provide entry into faster growing professions. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price. They conduct research using secondary and primary sources to confirm that the facts presented in media resources are correct before being published and/or aired. They need to be able to work under a deadline and sometimes need to confirm facts by telephoning a source directly.
Market research analysts have good familiarity with statistical methods and measurement, very good writing skills and knowledge of economic business and market trends. Also important are excellent research skills and a good knowledge of resources for research. You also need to be able to work quickly and efficiently on a deadline.
Education: Most market research analysts need at least a bachelor’s degree. Top research positions often require a master’s degree. Strong math and analytical skills are essential.
Average salary: The median annual wage for market research analysts was $60,300 in May 2012.
Outlook: Employment of market research analysts is projected to grow 32 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by an increased use of data and market research across all industries, to understand the needs and wants of customers, and to measure the effectiveness of marketing and business strategies. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Organizations rely on the collection, analysis and reporting of statistical data in order to quantify their successes and failures and to create a snap shot of how the organization is fulfilling its goals and objectives. The information professionals who carry out these duties are called Operations Research Analysts. Operations research analysts create surveys, collect data, use statistical software packages to interpret data and write reports on their findings for their organization.
To be a good operations research analyst you need to have good mathematical skills, especially skills in statistics. You should have an excellent grasp of the concepts involved in collecting and analyzing statistical data. You should have taken a number of educational courses in statistics. A good operations research analyst should be able to use statistical software packages to interpret and analyze data. You should also have good writing skills and be able to write reports on your findings that can be read by different people in the organization who would benefit from reading the findings in your report, and can make better decisions based on your research.
Education: at least a Bachelor’s degree and usually a Master’s degree, often in Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics.
Skills: mathematics, strong knowledge of statistical concepts, ability to use statistical software to analyze data.
Average Salary: The median annual wage for operations research analysts was $72,100 in May 2012.
Outlook: Employment of operations research analysts is projected to grow 27 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. As technology advances and companies seek efficiency and cost savings, demand for operations research analysis should continue to grow. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Jana Carson, Jo Nelson, Nancy Fried Foster
As institutions compete against an increasingly crowded field for fundraising dollars, many now need information professionals to assist in their fundraising efforts by researching new donors or prospects.
As institutions compete for fundraising dollars, many now see the need for information professionals to assist in their fundraising efforts by researching new donors or “prospects”. These information professionals are called Prospect Researchers. Prospect research require excellent research skills to find new prospects, and to evaluate and prioritize prospects. They also need excellent analytical skills to search through data and news sources to find information and clues that would suggest that a particular prospect represents a viable lead for fundraisers within an organization. Also important for Prospect Researchers are excellent writing skills which are needed in order to present findings on various prospects in clear and concise reports for other fundraising professionals within an organization.
Education: Fundraisers need excellent communication and organizational skills. Most positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. sometimes a Master’s degree in Library Science is required as well.
Skills: Excellent research skills. Good writing skills (able to create guides to prospects). Experience with searching databases including business databases. Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheets Experience with fundraising databases including Raiser’s Edge and Tessetura.
Outlook: Employment of fundraisers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Strong employment growth driven by the continued need to raise money should result in good job opportunities. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Nicole Fonsh
Informatics & Information Science
Indiana University’s School of Informatics and Computing defines informatics as “putting technology to work to solve complex problems. If that sounds like computer science to you, the two fields are indeed related. Informaticians deal with utilizing information technology within the contexts of other disciplines: healthcare, biology, music, and environmental science, to name just a few. As computers have spread from laboratories to our workplaces, homes, and nearly every aspect of modern life, a corresponding need to adapt and optimize both hardware and software to these various areas has similarly developed.
Informatics is a particularly lucrative field for those with strong interdisciplinary interests. Geoinformatics is a good field for anyone who has excellent computer skills as well as a strong interest in Geography. Geomaticians may work with Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing data, Global Positioning systems and more. Geomaticians gather, store, process or deliver geographic or spatially referenced information. Geomaticians work in a variety of fields including health care, marketing, urban planning, environmental science, meteorology and others.
Education: Usually a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics, GIS, Geography, or related discipline (e.i. Urban Planning, Environmental Studies.
Skills: Excellent Computer Skills including advanced knowledge of ArcGIS software and components. Some programing such as Python, PHP, Visual Basic or Javascript may be required.
Indiana University’s School of Informatics and Computing defines informatics as “putting technology to work to solve complex problems. If that sounds like computer science to you, the two fields are indeed related. Informaticians deal with utilizing information technology within the contexts of other disciplines: healthcare, biology, music, and environmental science, to name just a few. As computers have spread from laboratories to our workplaces, homes, and nearly every aspect of modern life, a corresponding need to adapt and optimize both hardware and software to these various areas has also developed.
Informatics is a particularly lucrative field for those with strong interdisciplinary interests. One of the most common types of informaticians are Medical Informaticians. This is a good field for anyone who is interested in both health care and computing. Physicians who have good computing skills might be interested in medical informatics. A related field, nursing informatics, brings informatics into the nursing field. Also health care informatics might appeal to those who are interested in auxiliary health care fields, such as public health, pharmacy or consumer health to name just a few.
Education: To be a medical or nursing informaticist you generally would need to be trained as either a physician (for medical informatics) or a registered nurse (for nursing informatics) and take training to become board certified as an informaticist. This is especially true for informaticians in a clinical setting. Other health informatics positions may require a degree in the field being studied and additional informatics training, for example in pharmacy or public health and other may require a bachelor’s or graduate degree in Health Informatics.
Skills: As above. Medical or Nursing training with appropriate board certification for clinical informaticists or other appropriate health care degree or Degree in Health Informatics with certification by AMIA.
Outlook: Employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 18 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Job growth will occur because of the continued expansion of healthcare-related industries.Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Omolola Ogunyemi
Information Architecture, User Experience & Web Design
Information Architecture, Web Developer/Webmaster
While there are a number of self-publishing tools that allow anyone with a computer and an internet connection to create a basic website, there is still a demand for expert web development and management. As long as companies want dynamic sites that stand out from the crowd, there will be no shortage of work for web developers. These information professionals need solid programming backgrounds, allowing them to build sites and site components to cater to each client’s unique situation and needs. Webmasters may be charged with maintaining a site over time, adding current content and features, and troubleshooting any problems that arise. They might also provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) advice and be in charge of any advertisements that the site hosts to generate revenue. Overall, web professionals help ensure their clients’ sites are user-friendly, look nice, and do what they’re supposed to do.
Education: At a minimum an Associate Degree in Web Design or Computer Science, usually at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Information Science.
Skills: Extensive knowledge and experience with web languages, standards and programming frameworks.
Salary: The median annual wage for web developers was $62,500 in May 2012.
Outlook: Employment of web developers is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and ecommerce. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Information architects work with traditional databases as well as Web 2.0 sites, responsible for design, testing and implementation of usable web sites and interfaces based on well-established standards and best practices. Typical IA tasks include creating site maps, developing taxonomies, and conducting user analysis evaluations to determine a project’s successes and/or failures.
Education: Usually at least a Bachelor’s degree, sometimes in Computer Science, Information Science or related field, sometimes in a design field such as graphic design, depending on the focus of a given position. Some positions will also accept a comparable combination of experience, education and skills.
Skills: Experience building site maps and taxonomies. Web programming languages and technologies expertise is foundational, along with design talent and knowledge of human-computer interaction standards. May require skills in graphic design software.
Interviews: Abby Covert, Peter Morville, Jorge Arango
Information Management
A content manager is to a website what a production manager or editor is to a print periodical. Just as in the magazine and newspaper world, these managers must possess finely tuned writing and proofing skills to ensure content added to the site is both well-crafted and representative of the site’s “voice.” Whether or not a strict publishing calendar is heeded, content managers see to it that new items are added on a regular and timely basis. While these individuals aren’t necessarily the people designing and maintaining the sites from a technical perspective having some web and graphic design knowledge is always useful.
Interview: Kim Dority
Growing out of the combination of archival science and information technology, the digital asset manager (DAM) or digital archivist deals primarily with the preservation and storage of born-digital materials, and digitized copies of analog materials. While physical repositories are still alive and well, archives of born-digital and digitized materials are becoming common, ranging from small private collections to large scale initiatives like Project Gutenberg and Google Books.
The most exciting aspect of working in digital asset management is the newness of the field. While paper-based records have been around for decades, the history of their electronic equivalents spans mere decades. These technologies are constantly evolving, which means DAMs need to stay up date with technologies and materials need to be migrated to the newest file and storage formats to ensure future access. While a physical book can’t “crash” or be “erased” per se, these are legitimate concerns for information in electronic form. Thus backup copies in other locations help ensure that the data remains safe. Perhaps the biggest problem is the youth of digital: History has shown us that paper can last for hundreds of years, while digital data hasn’t existed long enough to prove similar longevity. Thus digital asset management is very much an evolving field, and those involved in it must be adaptable to new technologies and meticulous with regards to data organization and migration.
Education: Usually at least a Bachelor’s degree, sometimes a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Library Science, or Archival Science. Corporations are more likely to ask for a Computer Science or Information Science backgrounds. Educational and heritage institutions might also specify Library or Archival Science backgrounds.
Skills: Knowledge of digital asset management and/or media asset management systems. Some examples might include Islandora, ContentDM (libraries) and Cortex or NetXposure. Knowledge of Metadata Standards. Some knowledge of programming and database technologies. Knowledge and familiarity of different file formats and their uses and characteristics. Knowledge and experience with digital capture technologies (hardware and software) for a variety of formats (depending on industry or institution)
Outlook: Digital Asset Managers do not fit cleanly into a standard occupational category, with some skills from Archives, Database Administrators, and Web Developers. Employment of this area is likely projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations, due to the growing demand of managing digital content.
Interviews: Yves Maurer
Libraries
Growing out of the combination of archival science and information technology, the digital asset manager (DAM) or digital archivist deals primarily with the preservation and storage of born-digital materials, and digitized copies of analog materials. While physical repositories are still alive and well, archives of born-digital and digitized materials are becoming common, ranging from small private collections to large scale initiatives like Project Gutenberg and Google Books.
The most exciting aspect of working in digital asset management is the newness of the field. While paper-based records have been around for decades, the history of their electronic equivalents spans mere decades. These technologies are constantly evolving, which means DAMs need to stay up date with technologies and materials need to be migrated to the newest file and storage formats to ensure future access. While a physical book can’t “crash” or be “erased” per se, these are legitimate concerns for information in electronic form. Thus backup copies in other locations help ensure that the data remains safe. Perhaps the biggest problem is the youth of digital: History has shown us that paper can last for hundreds of years, while digital data hasn’t existed long enough to prove similar longevity. Thus digital asset management is very much an evolving field, and those involved in it must be adaptable to new technologies and meticulous with regards to data organization and migration.
Education: Usually at least a Bachelor’s degree, sometimes a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Library Science, or Archival Science. Corporations are more likely to ask for a Computer Science or Information Science backgrounds. Educational and heritage institutions might also specify Library or Archival Science backgrounds.
Skills: Knowledge of digital asset management and/or media asset management systems. Some examples might include Islandora, ContentDM (libraries) and Cortex or NetXposure. Knowledge of Metadata Standards. Some knowledge of programming and database technologies. Knowledge and familiarity of different file formats and their uses and characteristics. Knowledge and experience with digital capture technologies (hardware and software) for a variety of formats (depending on industry or institution)
Outlook: Digital Asset Managers do not fit cleanly into a standard occupational category, with some skills from Archives, Database Administrators, and Web Developers. Employment of this area is likely projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations, due to the growing demand of managing digital content.
Interviews: Yves Maurer
While most libraries still house books, libraries increasingly subscribe to electronic content which is available to their users 24/7 and provide digital services available to their users wherever they finds themselves. In addition, with the development of new technologies, libraries are also finding themselves taking on new roles such as creators of digital content, content publishers and curators of digital content as well as distributors of digital content and services.
The role of digital librarian has evolved into a role that overseas all of the many digital services that a library can provide and in larger libraries often now serves as the head of a large departments which overseas everything from acquiring and providing access to digital content, managing the creation of the libraries website, managing digital services such as virtual reference and creation of digital information literacy courses, digitizing library and archival collections and much more.
Digital Initiatives Librarians have excellent communication skills as they will often need to communicate closely with a diverse number of stakeholders. They should have excellent technological skills including a knowledge of Web development and programming, a knowledge of Digital Asset Management Systems and Digital Repository administration, and a good knowledge of metadata standards. They should have a good overall knowledge of the types of digital services provided in libraries as well as a good knowledge of the issues surrounding the provision of digital content. For example a good knowledge of copyright and licensing issues is always helpful!
Education: Requires an ALA accredited Masters of Library Science (U.S. and Canada) or a CILIP accredited library science program or training course (UK).
Skills: Requires excellent research skills. Requires excellent knowledge of copyright and scholarly communication issues. Requires excellent knowledge of archival procedures. Requires strong technical skills such as programming languages (XML, CSS, Javascript, SQL, MySQL) metadata standards (DublinCore, EAD, OAI, Premis etc.), Digital Asset Management Sytems (Islandora, ContentDM) Digital Repository Software (Dspace), and/or Database Storage and Distribution systems (Hadoop), Familiarity with digital publishing technologies and digitization technologies. Good project management skills.
Average Salary: Librarians average $26.62/Hr. Digital Librarians make somewhat higher than average.
Outlook: Employment of librarians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. However retirements are anticipated. Technological skills improve employment prospects as well as provide entry into faster growing professions. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Yves Maurer, Pascal Calarco
As always libraries require professionals to manage the integrated library system. With more users becoming used to the search features found in eCommerce sites such as Amazon, users have demanded a seamless and faceted search interface similar to the search interface they have come to expect from these sites. This has led to the development of Discovery Systems. Discovery Systems work on top of Integrated Library Systems to create user friendly search systems and integrate a libraries electronic resources. To manage these systems a new library role has been created, that of Discovery Services Librarian.
To be a Discovery Services Librarian you need excellent technical skills especially in XML and metadata standards such as Dublincore, METS,and MODS. You should also have good web programming skills and knowledge of development tools, especially APIs. You should also have experience administering discovery systems (Primo, Summon, Encore) and link resolvers (Sfx, LinkSource) and proxy servers. A knowledge of cataloging and acquisitions workflows, and issues surrounding copyright and licensing are also useful.
Skills: XML, metadata standards such as DublinCore. Knowledge of web based programming languages and development tools. Familiarity with Integrated Library Systems, proxy servers, link resolvers and electronic resources management systems. Knowledge of content management systems such as Drupal is helpful. Knowledge of non-Marc metadata is also helpful.
Average Salary (OOH): Librarians average $26.62/Hr. Discovery positions tend to be higher than average.
Outlook (OOH): Outlook for librarians as a whole is slower than average. However retirements are anticipated. Technological skills improve employment prospects as well as provide entry into faster growing professions (for example Webmaster) (OOQ -Winter 2000/2001)
These days patrons prefer to have access to library resources wherever and whenever they want and this includes information literacy resources as well.
E-learning Librarians require excellent communication skills and excellent information literacy and pedagogical skills. You should have teaching experience usually from working as a teaching and learning librarian or as a teacher librarian. You should have good technical skills especially with developing e-learning content using course or learning management systems and with using web development tools such as Camtasia. Knowledge of web development languages such as Javascript is also useful.
Education: Requires an ALA accredited Masters of Library Science (U.S. and Canada) or a CILIP accredited library science program or training course (UK).
Skills: Requires excellent teaching and pedagogical skills. Requires experience or training in teaching. Requires knowledge of copyright, licensing and scholarly communication issues (especially in academic libraries). Requires strong technical skills such as programming languages CSS, Javascript, SQL, MySQL) web development tools (especially Camtasia or Captivate) and course management or learning management systems.
Average Salary: Librarians average $26.62/Hr. (U.S.)
Outlook: Employment of librarians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. However retirements are anticipated. Technological skills improve employment prospects as well as provide entry into faster growing professions. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Michael Rodriquez
Metadata/Indexing/Taxonomy
Libraries and businesses require professionals to organize and classify information resources to provide easy and accurate access to information, and professional librarians with excellent technical skills are in demand as metadata librarians.
Metadata librarians use standards to describe a wide variety of items in their work. Fluency and experience in Extensible Markup Language (XML), which is now employed on the web, is critical, as well as being able to think abstractly in defining new ways to describe collections of things, using taxonomies or standard vocabularies. This is detail-oriented work, and metadata librarians who develop complementary technical skills in programming, user experience are able to grow their careers more broadly into technology work in the libraries and businesses in which they work.
Skills: Experience with a range of metadata standards, vocabularies and web technologies . Familiarity with integrated library systems. Some positions might require experience with linked data and semantic web applications. Some positions may require experience with digital repositories.
Average Salary: Librarians average $26.62/Hr. Certain metadata librarian positions may be higher than average, especially positions requiring stronger technical skills.
Outlook: Employment of librarians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. However retirements are anticipated. Technological skills improve employment prospects as well as provide entry into faster growing professions. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interviews: Jacob Shelby, Soraya Assar