Preparing for Information Careers
In companies across the country, corporate library science specialists are integral parts of the management team, as they track and organize information on products, trends and markets. In hospitals, these information experts organize the barrage of material on medical developments. In law libraries, museums, research centers, universities and government agencies, library science experts handle the complicated and important job of managing the world's information.
At the local library information experts are a familiar face, a helping hand, and resident expert to patrons of all ages, helping others access and use information. Whether running a story-hour for preschoolers, helping senior citizens navigate the World Wide Web, or choosing books for a library's collections, library science specialists are the local authorities on information and access.
At Southern, the only school in Connecticut to offer an American Library Association accredited program (Master of Library Science), undergraduate majors gain many of the skills, knowledge, and professional perspective necessary to begin building careers in this exciting field.
The Department of Information and Library Science offers academic programs at the undergraduate level leading to the degree of Bachelor and Science, and at the graduate level leading to the degree of Master of Library Science, a professional diploma in Library Information Studies, and coursework leading to Connecticut certification as a School Media Specialist.
The Bachelor of Science program in Library-Information Service integrates coursework in information science, library science, instructional technology, and related fields and prepares graduates positions in a variety of information-based fields and for support positions in cultural institutions: libraries, museums, archives, and art galleries.
The graduate programs include Master in Library Science (MLS), School Media Certification program, and the Professional Diploma in Library Information Studies (Sixth-Year Certificate program). The department also offers a number of continuing educational programs.
The following is quoted from Occupational Outlook Handbook
"Library assistants held about 109,000 jobs in 2004. More than half of these workers were employed by local governments in public libraries; most of the remaining employees worked in school, college, and university libraries. Opportunities for flexible schedules are abundant; nearly half of these workers were on part-time schedules."
Job Outlook
"Employment of library assistants is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Efforts to contain costs in local governments and academic institutions of all types may result in more hiring of library support staff than librarians. Also, due to changing roles within libraries, library assistants are taking on more responsibility.
"Many library assistants leave this relatively low-paying occupation for other jobs that offer higher pay or full-time work, so job opportunities should be good for persons interested in jobs as library assistants. The work is often attractive to retirees, students, and others who want a part-time schedule, and there is a lot of movement into and out of the occupation. Some positions become available as library assistants move within the organization. Library assistants can be promoted to library technicians and, eventually, supervisory positions in public-service or technical-service areas. Advancement opportunities are greater in large libraries.
Because most are employed by public institutions, library assistants are not directly affected by the ups and downs of the business cycle. However, some of these workers may lose their jobs if there are cuts in government budgets."
