Public librarian

Public librarians provide an information, reading and cultural hub for the local community

As a public librarian, you'll select, organise and provide a range of resources to meet the diverse needs of your local community, supporting independent learning and encouraging reader development. You'll also provide information on local businesses, careers, community services, learning and recreation.

You'll build relationships with library users and support community groups or individuals with specific learning needs. IT skills are essential, as you'll help the public use online resources, digital services and the internet.

Public librarians run events and activities in the library and work with local schools, colleges and universities to improve literacy, numeracy and digital skills. Increasingly, libraries act as community hubs, offering programmes that support wellbeing, inclusion and lifelong learning.

Job titles vary depending on the focus of your work and may be advertised as:

• children's librarian
• customer service librarian
• digital services librarian
• reference librarian
• stock librarian
• team librarian.

Responsibilities

As a public librarian, you'll need to:

• provide reader and local information services to the public
• help users access IT, online resources and government services
• deliver digital services, including e-books, online learning and digital literacy sessions
• run activities that support reading, literacy and lifelong learning
• support groups such as pre-school groups, schools, youth organisations and adult learners
• deliver inclusive services that promote accessibility and digital inclusion
• support reading initiatives such as The Reading Agency programmes, which runs the Summer Reading Challenge, for example
• select and manage stock, including digital resources, based on community needs
• organise and maintain collections, removing outdated material when necessary
• promote the library through events, displays, outreach work and social media
• work with partners such as schools, health services, museums and local councils
• collect and report data on library use to inform service planning and funding.

Senior librarians will also need to:

• manage staff and provide training and support
• manage library budgets
• purchase, promote and manage stock
• oversee library spaces, ensuring they meet local needs and function as community hubs
• lead on service development and community engagement strategies
• manage distribution of stock and resources across a network of libraries
• build partnerships with external organisations to extend library services.

Salary

• Starting salaries are typically in the region of £25,000 to £29,000, depending on your experience.
• With experience you can earn £30,000 to £40,000. Senior librarian roles and head or director of library and information services posts will be more.

Salaries vary depending on a range of factors, including your qualifications, experience, location, the size of the library you work at, team structure, the local authority you work for (many local authorities have their own pay scales), and whether you have chartership.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll typically work a 35-hour week and may be expected to do some evening and weekend work.

Part-time work and job share opportunities may be available.

What to expect

• Public librarians can work in a variety of settings, including large central libraries, smaller branch libraries and mobile libraries serving rural or outlying areas. City libraries, in particular, may be housed in large, old buildings with several floors.
• Libraries may comprise a wide range of services in addition to a lending library, including a reference library, research and study spaces, computer areas, café, business centre and meeting spaces.
• Jobs are available in most towns and cities across the UK, though availability can vary depending on local council budgets.
• The work is desk and office-based but involves frequent contact with the public, handling a wide range of enquiries. You may need to travel between library sites, and some roles may involve operating a mobile library.
• The role can be busy and occasionally challenging, especially when staffing levels are low, budgets are tight or demand from the public is high.

Qualifications

To work as public librarian, you'll usually need a degree in any subject plus a postgraduate diploma or Masters degree accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Accredited Masters courses are available in subjects such as library and information studies, librarianship, library and information management, and library and information science.

Search CILIP accredited qualifications.

If you don't have a degree, it may be possible to start out in a library assistant role and then work up to a full librarian position by gaining extra qualifications and undertaking further training. Library assistant posts are often filled by people gaining experience before taking a postgraduate qualification.

Some people begin with a Level 3 Library, Information and Archive Services (LIAS) Assistant apprenticeship, which provides a vocational route into the profession.

Competition is strong for graduate trainee posts, postgraduate courses and first professional posts, so be prepared to be flexible about geographical location.

Check with individual institutions about the availability of any postgraduate course funding. Early applications are advised, especially if you're applying for funding.

Search postgraduate courses in information science and librarianship.

You will also need to complete a criminal records check as you will be working with children and vulnerable adults.

There have been significant cuts to library spending in recent years and the closure of many public libraries. Public libraries are still vulnerable to spending cuts, so post-qualification positions can be difficult to get.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent customer service and interpersonal skills for supporting a range of service users from the local community
• strong IT skills and digital literacy
• effective written and verbal communication skills
• research and information-handling skills
• flexibility and the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
• the ability to find creative solutions to problems
• awareness of inclusivity, accessibility and the needs of different community groups
• teamwork and, for senior roles, leadership and motivational skills.

Knowledge of one or more community languages is also useful.

Work experience

To get a place on a CILIP-accredited postgraduate course, you'll usually need some relevant work experience. If you don't already have this, you'll need to arrange something within a library or information service, either paid or voluntary, to build up some experience. Look for internships on local authority websites or advertised locally.

If your degree is unrelated to information and library work, and you have little to no library and information work experience, you can find paid experience via CILIP's Graduate Training Opportunities scheme. Jobs are usually advertised near the end of the year and during spring and will introduce you to the information and library sector, giving you the experience needed to apply for a postgraduate course. Trainee jobs are usually available on a one-year, fixed-term basis.

These roles can also be used as a first (or second) job if you're new to the profession to help you build up experience.

Getting relevant experience as early as possible will show your motivation and enthusiasm for the work. Search for pre-course experience in a range of libraries, not just public ones.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Public libraries are usually run by local authorities, although some may be managed in partnership with charities or community groups. They provide a wide range of services, including book loans, e-resources, digital literacy support, homework clubs, reading groups and community events.

Large city libraries often have extensive collections, specialist reference materials, archives and sometimes music collections. They may act as a central hub for the distribution of stock and resources to a network of libraries in the surrounding area.

Smaller town and village libraries usually have much smaller libraries and act as community hubs. They may host services such as Citizens Advice, volunteer bureaux or cultural and literary programmes. Some local authorities also operate mobile libraries and prison libraries.

Due to funding pressures, full-time roles may be limited, especially in smaller towns, but part-time and flexible positions may be available.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Information Professional Jobs - the job board for CILIP, for librarian and graduate trainee jobs.
• LG Jobs
• LocalGov Jobs

Specialist recruitment agencies also handle vacancies. These include:

• TFPL
• Glen Recruitment

Professional development

CILIP offers three levels of professional registration: Certification (ACLIP), Chartership (MCLIP) and Fellowship (FCLIP). To achieve these, you must complete a range of continuing professional development (CPD) activities, reflecting on your personal performance, organisational performance and your knowledge of the wider profession. Registration requires a 1,000-word evaluative statement with supporting evidence, and it's recommended that you work with a mentor during the process.

CPD activities may include reviewing and contributing to professional literature, joining discussion lists, networking, attending courses and conferences, or engaging with CILIP's regional and specialist groups. Most members gain chartership two to three years after graduating. While not all librarians pursue it, chartership can enhance career opportunities and earning potential. For example, many employers look for candidates who are chartered or working towards chartership when recruiting for higher-grade roles.

Fellowship is the highest level of professional registration and recognises those who have made a significant contribution to the profession.

For full details, see CILIP - Professional Registration.

CPD opportunities are also offered through short courses, research degrees and training delivered by CILIP or employers. These may cover specialist areas such as cataloguing, copyright, information management, teaching, marketing, research, web and social media skills, or working with children and young people.

Career prospects

Competition for posts at all levels is strong, so perseverance and dedication are essential. You may need to move jobs in order to experience more than one type of work or setting, and promotion may involve a change of employer or location. There may be redundancies in some public libraries periodically due to funding cuts.

Large libraries often have a clear structure for promotion to management positions with responsibility for a specific subject, service or site. These positions usually require a number of years of professional experience. Managers can be responsible for particular areas of library service, such as services to minority groups or children, or take overall responsibility for a specific area, such as acquisitions, digital services or community engagement and inclusion projects.

In small libraries, promotion and development opportunities are limited unless you move to other libraries, areas or authorities. Very senior roles are rare and highly competitive. Achieving chartership or fellowship with CILIP can help with progression to senior roles.

It's also possible to move into other areas of work in an information management or related role. Relevant settings include local or central government, law courts, healthcare, professional practices, academic libraries, schools, voluntary or commercial organisations.