A Career In Librarianship

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 25

A Career In Librarianship

Librarianship is an expanding profession in New Zealand, offering a wide variety of work and good opportunities for those who make it a career. In general, it may be said that modern libraries exist for their users—whether they be scholars or housewives, scientists or tradesmen—and that librarians enable these people to use libraries efficiently and well. Libraries need people of good general education and intelligence who are not afraid of work. A feeling for books is essential, but the job does* not end et that, for libraries are much more than collections of books. A desire to give good service to the users of the library is equally important. Provided you possess these two characteristics, you should be able to do well in library work. There is room for those who like to work among groups of people and for those who can supervise and direct the work of others, as well as for those who prefer to work on their own. But no matter what kind of work he does; a good librarian finds a rich reward in being able to make the information or the pleasure which is contained in

books available to those who need it

As in most occupations, a beginner without special library qualifications will generally start by doing the chores, such as shelving and issuing books to borrowers or opening parcels of new books. Such a beginner is able, while advancing to relatively more responsible work, to study for library qualifications, or, in a university town, to work for a university degree before taking formal library training. There are many different kinds of libraries, and many different types of work in each separate library. Many persons will like to work directly with the public, as in-ttti* landing department of a public library, while others will prefer to be in a department away from the public, or in a library that has dealings with only a limited number of people. Salaries vary from library to library, but commencing rates tend to be similar to Public Service clerical rates. There is a steady demand for trained librarians, who may expect to rise automatically to about £765 a year. Professional positions open to trained librarians carry salaries up to about £l6OO a year, which is obtained by chief librarians in some larger public libraries, and in university libraries.