Complete Guide to Librarian Career

Your comprehensive roadmap to becoming a successful Information Professional and Knowledge Manager

What is Library Science?

Library Science, also known as Information Science, is the professional field concerned with the organization, preservation, and dissemination of information and knowledge resources. Modern librarians are information specialists who manage both physical and digital collections while helping users navigate the vast landscape of available information.

Today's librarians work with cutting-edge technology, manage digital databases, conduct research, and serve as vital links between information seekers and the resources they need across academic, public, corporate, and specialized library settings.

Core Functions

Information organization and cataloguing
Digital resource management
Research assistance and user education
Collection development and preservation
Technology integration and innovation

Entry Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree + Master's in Library Science (MLIS)

Certification

UGC-NET or equivalent professional qualification

Skills

Information management and digital literacy

Communication

Strong interpersonal and research guidance skills

Professional Requirements

MLIS Degree: Master's in Library and Information Science

UGC-NET: National Eligibility Test for library positions

Professional Training: Digital library and database management

Essential Skills

Information Management

Cataloguing Systems

Database Management

Digital Archives

Collection Development

Information Retrieval

Metadata Standards

Technology Skills

Library Management Systems

Digital Libraries

Online Databases

Web Technologies

E-resources

Automation Tools

Professional Skills

Research Assistance

User Education

Reference Services

Academic Writing

Information Literacy

Customer Service

Core Responsibilities

Organize and maintain library collections and resources

Assist users with research and information retrieval

Develop and manage digital library systems

Conduct information literacy training programs

Supervise library staff and operations

Implement cataloguing and classification systems

Manage library budgets and resource acquisition

Collaborate with academic departments and researchers

Maintain electronic databases and subscriptions

Preserve and archive historical documents and materials

Types of Libraries

Academic Libraries

University and college libraries supporting education and research

Focus Areas: Research support, academic collections, student services

Public Libraries

Community libraries serving general public

Focus Areas: Community programs, general collections, public access

Special Libraries

Corporate, medical, legal, and specialized institution libraries

Focus Areas: Specialized collections, professional research support

National Libraries

National repositories and archives

Focus Areas: Heritage preservation, national collections, research facilities

Digital Libraries

Online and virtual library services

Focus Areas: Digital resources, remote access, technology integration

School Libraries

₹70 LPA - 1 Cr

Level

Director Level

Educational Pathway

Bachelor's Degree

3-4 years

12th pass in any stream

Foundation in any subject area

Master's in Library Science (MLIS)

2 years

Graduate degree with 50% marks

Library science, information management, cataloguing

UGC-NET in Library Science

6 months prep

Master's in Library Science

Eligibility for assistant professor and library positions

Ph.D in Library Science

3-5 years

MLIS + UGC-NET

Research in library science, advanced positions

Professional Certifications

3-12 months

Relevant experience

Digital libraries, database management, specialized skills

Continuing Education

Ongoing

Professional practice

Technology updates, new methodologies, professional development

Library Specializations

Digital Library Management

Digital collections, online databases, virtual services

Career Paths: Digital librarian, systems librarian, web services manager

Academic Library Services

Research support, scholarly communication, institutional repositories

Career Paths: Academic librarian, research librarian, subject specialist

Information Architecture

Database design, metadata standards, information organization

Career Paths: Information architect, data librarian, systems analyst

Archives & Records Management

Historical preservation, document management, heritage collections

Career Paths: Archivist, records manager, preservation specialist

Health Sciences Libraries

Medical information, clinical support, health databases

Career Paths: Medical librarian, clinical informationist, health information specialist

Law Libraries

Legal research, court records, legal databases

Career Paths: Law librarian, legal researcher, court librarian

Government Opportunities

Central Government

National Library, Parliamentary Library, Ministry libraries

Selection: UGC-NET + Written exam + Interview

State Government

State libraries, university libraries, public libraries

Selection: State-level librarian recruitment exams

Universities

University librarian, assistant librarian positions

Selection: UGC-NET + Ph.D + Interview

Research Institutes

CSIR, DRDO, ISRO library positions

Selection: Institute-specific recruitment + NET qualification

Public Sector

PSU libraries, bank libraries, corporate libraries

Selection: Company-specific exams + professional qualification

Judiciary

Supreme Court, High Court libraries

Selection: Judicial service recruitment + library qualification

Top Library Institutions

National Library of India

Delhi Public Library

IIT Libraries

IIM Libraries

JNU Library

BHU Library

Indian Statistical Institute

TISS Library

AIIMS Libraries

Indian Institute of Science

State Central Libraries

University Libraries

Municipal Libraries

Corporate Libraries

Medical College Libraries

Law College Libraries

Engineering College Libraries

Management Institute Libraries

Modern Library Technologies

Library Management

Koha

LibSys

Evergreen

Symphony

Alma

Digital Collections

DSpace

Fedora

EPrints

Greenstone

Omeka

Discovery Systems

Primo

Summon

EBSCO Discovery

WorldCat Discovery

VuFind

Database Management

MySQL

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Oracle

Microsoft SQL

Digital Preservation

LOCKSS

Samvera

Archivematica

DuraSpace

APTrust

Research Databases & Resources

Academic Databases

JSTOR, ProQuest, EBSCO, Springer, Taylor & Francis

Access: Subscription-based academic resources

Open Access Repositories

arXiv, DOAJ, PubMed Central, IEEE Xplore

Access: Free scholarly and research content

Government Resources

National Digital Library, Shodhganga, e-PG Pathshala

Access: Government-funded educational resources

Specialized Collections

Medical databases, Legal databases, Technical standards

Access: Domain-specific professional resources

Digital Archives

Internet Archive, Google Books, HathiTrust

Access: Historical and cultural heritage materials

Institutional Repositories

University repositories, Research institute collections

Access: Institution-specific academic output

Keys to Library Science Success

Information Expertise

Master information organization, cataloguing, and retrieval systems

Technology Proficiency

Stay updated with digital library technologies and database management

User-Focused Service

Develop strong research assistance and user education capabilities

Continuous Learning

Adapt to evolving information landscapes and emerging technologies