Library and information management

Library

Library and information management professionals are responsible for managing, organising and making available information, from digital resources and media to the more traditional management of books, periodicals and audio and video recordings.

The usual route into the sector is through a postgraduate qualification.

Your next steps

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Explore the sector

Librarians and information management professionals work in every kind of organisation, from schools, colleges and universities, local authorities, central government and public agencies through to professional membership bodies, charities, prisons, healthcare organisations and a huge range of commercial organisations including banks, law firms and pharmaceutical companies.

Roles can vary from organisation to organisation, but the most common library and information management job titles are:

library manager
knowledge manager
management information systems officer
information advisor
digital librarian
cataloguer
information specialist
web projects manager
taxonomist
metadata officer

The variations may reflect the size, culture, and history of the organisation. Job titles may also be determined by who the head of the library or information management reports to (the head of IT, HR, finance).

You can find out more about the various job roles on The Library and Information Association (CILIP) website.

What skills do I need?

Effective librarians and information professionals must be adaptable, adjusting their skills to support different parts of the organisation, build key relationships to meet a range of customer and stakeholder requirements.

Employers tend to look for transferable skills. Communication and interpersonal skills are essential for just about every job in the information profession. Other key skills include;

strong IT skills and understanding of digital applications
analysis and interpretation of information and data
organisational and self-management skills
presentation skills
research skills
negotiation and problem-solving skills
customer service skills

How do I gain work experience?

Here are a few ways you can gain some work experience.

Shadow a professional. The New Library Professions Network (NLPN) has compiled a list of people who are able to offer job-shadowing opportunities in their organisations.
If you’re a recent graduate, it’s a good idea to start by looking for graduate trainee roles. You will undertake a 10 to 12 months paid position. More information can be found on the CILIP website and recruitment page Information Professional Jobs.
Specialist information recruitment agencies including CB Resourcing, Glen Recruitment, Sue Hill Recruitment and TPFL
The Information Management category on www.jobs.ac.uk is useful listing jobs for both pre and post qualification librarians, in private, university and public libraries.

What are the entry routes?

Library and information-specific qualifications are not essential to start your career, but formal qualifications will enhance your employability.

Some roles, such as a museum or gallery curator may require specialist knowledge, a post graduate qualification and extensive experience. For other roles you may require specific qualifications e.g. for finance, legal, indexing or database production.

Positions in Information Management may require a technical qualification.

The main entry routes to professional accreditation are;

Postgraduate qualification. Institutions can be found either on the CILIP or UCAS websites.

If you are under 25 years old, it is possible to get your first job through the government’s apprenticeship scheme. Details can be found either on the CILIP website or the IFATE website.

What are the entry routes?

Library and information-specific qualifications are not essential to start your career, but formal qualifications will enhance your employability.

Some roles, such as a museum or gallery curator may require specialist knowledge, a postgraduate qualification and extensive experience. For other roles you may require specific qualifications e.g. for finance, legal, indexing or database production.

Positions in information management may require a technical qualification.

The main entry routes to professional accreditation are;

Postgraduate qualification. Institutions can be found either on the CILIP or UCAS websites.
If you are under 25 years old, it is possible to get your first job through the government’s apprenticeship scheme. Details can be found either on the CILIP or the Institute of Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IFATE) websites.