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Children's Librarians


Overview

Introduction

Children's librarians oversee the daily operations of the children's department of public and private libraries and school libraries. They purchase books, periodicals, music and films, and other informational material, and prepare them for circulation. Children's librarians also serve as instructors and mentors to students. In addition, they conduct activities to introduce children to different types of literature. These activities include story time, reading challenges, book discussions, and outreach projects. Children’s librarians...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$60,000

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Employment Prospects

Fair

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Minimum Education Level

Master's Degree


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Experience

Teaching experience helpful


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Skills

Information Management
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Personality Traits

Helpful
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Earnings

Salaries for children's librarians depend on such factors as the size, location, and type of library; the responsibilities of the position; and the amount of experience the librarian has. Mean annual earnings for librarians who worked at elementary and secondary schools were $63,720 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Librarians working in local government-f...

Work Environment

Most children's librarians work a 40-hour week, with hours scheduled depending on the operational time of the main library or school. Some librarians prefer to work part time. The work environment, whether at a library or school, is comfortable and pleasant. Libraries, especially those designated for children, are usually colorfully decorated with many workspaces and cozy reading nooks. Most li...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for librarians who work in public elementary and secondary schools will grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2028. Job opportunities for librarians who work at private elementary and secondary schools will grow much faster than the average for all careers, but it's important to remember that there are far fewer openi...