Hi,

I'm looking for a change in carrer. My wife will probably, once her studies have finished, want to go back to being a lecturer. I have decided that it would make sense to get a qualification/job that that would enable me to work at the university too.

I've been looking at becoming a librarian, but I'm unsure which studies I should undertake?

Is there any librarians out there who can give me some advice?

here ya go

Librarian - How to get into this job
Entry Requirements
To get a job as a librarian, you usually need to have or be working toward one of these qualifications:
a Diploma in Library and Information Studies (Level 5)
an undergraduate library qualification
an undergraduate degree in any subject, and a postgraduate degree in library and information studies.
Some librarian positions require particular subject knowledge. For example:
law studies are useful for law librarians
New Zealand or Māori history courses are useful for librarians working with specialised collections in these areas
expertise in information technology is needed to be a systems librarian.

http://www.victoria.ac.nz/sim/study/mis/default.aspx
http://www.lianza.org.nz/career/qualifications

libraries do employ unqualified people at lesser salary - think some experience is required for qualifications too

Is the diploma regarded as a lesser qualication? What I'm worried about is that I do the diploma and then find that employers don't rate it. Will it limit the scope /advancement compared with, if I had a degree? And is it recognised in other parts of the world, say Australia or the UK?

That stuff came from the careers service website so i'd have thought it was
all fairly relevant.
easiest way is to contact a library and ask what they would expect.

Uniform seems to be comfy shoes and a cardigan!!!

The best all round well recognized qualification is the MSc, however usually to do this you either need an undergraduate qualification in a related library area or if not related then an undergrad degree and at least some experience of libraries.
The Msc is a three year thing first year Diploma second certificate and third MSc (or is it certificate - diploma?) I can never remember.
Best to look for work as an assistant working towards you qualifications to gain experience in all areas of librarianship and then decide on what to specialise in.
I have been a systems librarian for years and I do not wear comfy shoes and a cardigan!!
More like jeans and a t shirt.
Good luck

Can you not get a book out on the subject?



Sorry I just had to say it. Gill

I think you need to invest in tweed...

I would contact a university library directly and ask for advice. I work in a public library in the UK and they are stripping out professional staff (i.e. the expensive qualified ones) and just using library assistants (low paid) and volunteers. I would not advise anyone to take up a career in this sector right now. However academic libraries might be different.

What I do know is that professional librarians are information professionals and these days that means a good knowledge of IT and research.

Wise words - however the university that I work for is actively trying to get professionally qualified teams so much so that we seem to going the NZ way in fact that all our professional staff work 9-5 M - F and we are getting in non qualified staff to work evenings and weekends! but then this is way to gain experience in the sector as well,