A Profession in Demand
Librarianship is a rapidly changing field that prepares you to
serve new kinds of library and information users with new
expectations. Technology has changed the way librarians
retrieve information for their users, and yet traditional services
remain the same – whether in person or online. Librarians must be
information experts in the information age, and our program helps
prepare you to become just that. As more people attempt to
navigate digital information, libraries and librarians will be
needed more than ever to provide relevant and meaningful services
to library users. In 2007, U.S. News & World Report named
librarianship among the top professions in the country based on
potential for growth, earnings, opportunity for meaningful work,
and quality of life.
St. John’s MLS program prepares graduates for careers within a
traditional library setting as well as in new and emerging
positions in various areas such as communications, marketing,
business, technology services, and research.
The Division of Library and Information Science hosts
career-focused events for our students. Resume and
Cover Letter Workshops, and interviewing workshops are designed to
help students develop a wealth of practical skills needed to secure
good, professional positions. The school also works closely with
University Career Services and draws from its abundant placement
resources.
DLIS maintains a listing of positions in libraries and
information centers that become available. Job postings are
available for viewing electronically on the intranet (St. John’s
Central ).
Be Prepared – Before beginning your job search, it’s important
to be prepared. Students who take the time to identify their goals,
put together a resume, practice interviews, and seek out potential
mentors will find the process is much easier. Below are some
suggestions for job sites and career advice.
Visit the Career Center – Before applying for any
position, you should consider consulting St. John’s Career
Center for tips on resume building and cover-letter writing.
For more library-focused guidance, please consult ALA’s Get a Job
Toolkit . These tools will help get the students on the right track
toward a successful career.
If you are looking to pursue a library-track position, there are
a number of job sites to explore. Below is a list of career sites
which you may find useful:
Because of the diverse nature of the field, there are fewer
job-specific sites for careers in information science. If you are
looking for positions in information science it is important to be
creative in your job search. A few sites that might prove
helpful include:
