An estimated 500,000 people work in some 130,000 libraries across the country, according to the American Library Association. A library's primary purpose is to acquire, store, organize, disseminate, and provide access to the vast bodies of available knowledge and information. Most people are unaware, however, that an incredibly broad range of activities takes place behind the average library doors, including exhibitions of valuable prints, readings by authors, conferences of scholars, and collaborative brainstorming on information technologies and how best to use them for the benefit of the library community.
Providing comprehensive descriptions of more than 85 jobs, Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science offers clear, accessible information on careers in this exciting field. Sections include Librarians, Special Librarians, Library Assistants, Library Technicians, Information Managers, Information Scientists and Technicians, and Education. Invaluable appendixes list educational institutions, periodicals, professional associations, and useful Web sites, and a glossary and bibliography are also provided.Career profiles include:
- Business librarian
- Data miner
- Database administrator
- Government archivist
- Information architect
- Information broker
- Information services technician
- Knowledge engineer
- Library aide
- and more
