Archive for November, 2011

What Job Tasks Do Librarians Perform Today?

If your idea of a librarian is an older woman with a bun in her hair shushing anyone who tries to talk at the library couldn’t be less accurate today. In fact, the occupation has profoundly shifted from one dealing only with books, to a dynamic job which requires advanced research, instruction and technological skills in order to make diverse types of resources available to people of all types.

Different Types of Libraries

There are several different types of librarians, because there are different types of libraries. The most common are public libraries, academic (university) libraries and school libraries. But these aren’t the only places librarians work! In addition, librarians and information professionals work for companies, government entities, museums and law firms. This group of librarians who work in less-traditional venues are called special librarians.

Because there are so many different places for librarians to work, the job tasks can also be very different.

Major Categories of Librarian Jobs

1. User Services Librarians

The type of librarian that you think about most often is a reference librarian, who is concerned primarily with user services. User services simply means that they help patrons articulate their information needs and find that information.

What these user services librarians actually do will vary depending on the type of library. Public librarians often recommend good books based on the user’s favorite titles and authors. In addition, they give a lot of computer and software instruction, including how to surf the internet, use library databases, research family or local history, and much more.

Academic librarians, who work for universities and colleges, primarily assist researchers at the institution. They show them how to use the library catalog to locate books, how to borrow from other libraries if that one does not hold an item, and how to use the various subject databases that the library subscribes to. They will also teach classroom sessions for students. Finally, many academic librarians research information and library science and publish articles in various journals and magazines. Read the rest of this entry »

Five Reasons to Use Your Local Library

Do you like to read? Do you need to do research for a project? Do you want to explore new musical genres or catch up on your favorite TV series? Do you lack a computer but still want to explore the Internet? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, there’s one place where you can do all of this: your local public library. While libraries all over North America are facing steep budget cuts, many of them still offer excellent resources that can both enrich and entertain. If you haven’t visited your library lately, so you consider doing so. Here are five reasons why….

  1. It’s free! Perhaps the best thing about public libraries is that they’re usually free to access. If you want to check out materials, you can typically just show your I.D. to a librarian and he/she will get you set up with a card. You can then check out books, DVD’s, CD’s, and so on. Just be sure to return your items on time so you don’t get hit with overdue fees.
  2. To enjoy a large variety of books. If you’re a bookworm, a library can be a sort of heaven. Most of the branches in large metropolitan areas have full collections of books that encompass everything from contemporary fiction to poetry collections to children’s picture books. Since books are so expensive these days (a new hardcover usually costs about $25.00), a library can help you get your reading fix without wreaking havoc on your bank account. And if you can’t get into the book you just took out, just return it and get something else. After all, variety is the spice of life. Read the rest of this entry »

Using Libraries to Help With Your Dissertation Research

Ah the library! It is generally the biggest building on campus, and yet potentially the least popular building and certainly not a place that students are queuing up to use. Unless it’s the week before final examinations however! All libraries are a fantastic resource to students; if they are used properly. Libraries can be used by students as a place to find some peace and quiet to revise or to write essays, dissertations and theses. They also hold copious amounts of research resource.

University libraries are often referred to as ‘research libraries’ because of the scope of information held within the building and often also because of the level of expertise and knowledge the library staff have in these establishments. Students studying at the University will automatically be granted access to these research libraries, as long as proof of identity can be shown.

Part of the trauma of using libraries effectively as a research tool comes from the fact that it can seem overwhelmingly complicated to identify resources that will help you with your dissertation. However, most libraries have now created online public access catalogues, which means that you can search for resourceful material either on a computer within the library or via the internet from the comfort of your own house or halls of residence. Nowadays you’ll probably find that you can browse your Universities online catalogue from anywhere that grants you wifi access! You may also find that electronic resources such as journals, magazines and newspaper articles can be searched for via an online database. This should help narrow down your research search significantly. Read the rest of this entry »