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Pay: The 1,950 librarians employed in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area in 2007 earned a median wage of $30.09 an hour or $62,590 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The job: Librarians use the latest information technology to perform research, classify materials and help students and other patrons find information. Most work in school or academic libraries, others in public libraries or special libraries in government or business.
Demand: More than two out of three librarians are 45 or older, which will result in many job openings over the next decade as they retire.
Training: A master's degree in library science (MLS) is necessary at most public, academic and special libraries. School librarians do not typically need an MLS but must meet state education licensing requirements.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.stats.bls.gov/oco
Read more: What this Job Pays
By Unemployed Librarian on April 21, 2009 8:46 PM
Thats funny. I graduated with my MLIS in May 2008 and I still havent found a library job. Not to mention, King County has at least a six month backlog in the HR dept.
By nososure on April 22, 2009 6:53 PM
Bollocks. This prediction -- that mass retirements of librarians would open the job market wide for us Gen Xers -- has been in circulation since the mid-90s. Don't be fooled. The job market absolutely sucks. And $30/hr comes only in management jobs after years and years of experience.
By another librarian on April 24, 2009 12:53 PM
so over 60% of librarians are over 45. That's nice. How many of that 60% are over 60, which is the age you want to be looking at when discussing retirements. If these librarians over 45 are actually mostly 45-55, that's a good 10 to 20 years before they retire. Go to library school now, wait 17 years for the mass retirements? yeah, good plan.
What's the employment outlook for statisticians? Whoever wrote this sure could have used one.
By rl_everywhere on April 26, 2009 10:04 AM
This Seattle Times article is bogus. I applied to MILS programs and was admitted to all four that I applied to including the University of Illinois' program, which is ranked number 1. I decided against earning the degree because of a surplus of degree-holders, lack of entry-level jobs, low and stagnant salaries relative to education requirements, and little respect for the actual degree by the faculty who teach in the MILS programs, the people who hire librarians, and the actual librarians themselves. There are a lot of myths the American Library Association and library science programs perpetuate in order to get people into the programs to make money off of them. Higher education is not as ethical as we like to think or hope it is. I encourage anyone who is considering the degree and field to read a May 1, 2005 article about the so-called librarian shortage published on the Library Science Journal's website. There is also a follow-up October 1, 2007 short article addressing criticism of the original. Also check out the Annoyed Librarian's blog on the Library Science Journal's website as well to read comments by librarians. Many of them sound pretty jaded. Ask yourself if you really want to part of a disgruntled profession. Personally, I don’t.
By Kim on April 27, 2009 6:16 PM
I agree the schools are in it to make money, and won't come clean regarding the job market because it would effect the schools' bottom line. I disagree that most librarians are jaded, though some on Annoyed Librarian do seem pretty jaded. Most everyone I went to school with a couple years ago found jobs and are happy with what they are doing. It really is a great job, but you have to get significant experience before graduation, and then you have to be willing to move anywhere. Attending a national conference and networking can help too. It isn't easy to get a job in this field, but it is better in some parts of the country. Still in this market, I wouldn't want to be getting out of school right now, and wonder what the Library Journal stats will show regarding the library job market next year.
By theantibush on April 28, 2009 11:27 AM
"Demand: More than two out of three librarians are 45 or older, which will result in many job openings over the next decade as they retire."
55 and retire? what? Is that the new "Ive fallen and I cant get up" age? You better tell the FAA. They let people fly commercial jets until age 65.
And retire on what? Their devastated 401Ks? Their increasing property values?
"..U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics"
Hey, are they with the same gov that classifies an out of work professional thats forced to wash dishes as a dish washer, and not an out of work professional?