Librarian?!?

     Contrary to popular belief, not all librarians are old, wear spectacles and read all day. Librarians are very diverse and are given little credit for the amount they do. In Trinidad and Tobago the field of Library studies is expanding, as more and more people are becoming interested in becoming a librarian or having a job in a library setting.

    So you may ask...What do librarians actually do? I start by saying "no they do not pack shelves and read all day". Librarians organize, promote and disseminate a wide range of resources to meet the diverse needs of the many people who may require information. They support independent learning and encourage reader development. This can be seen in any library throughout the country. Challenge your self to enter a public library and speak to a librarian, you'll see for yourself.

    Public librarians can also be seen running events in the library for the local community and work with local schools and colleges. This is seen around public holidays.

    Yes yes I know you all are intrigued by all this information on librarians, so here's the easiest way to join the field. If you are within the ages of 18-25 you can enter through the government's On the Job program (OJT) and you are paid a stipend based on your level of education.

     So this could be a way into the field and then you can pursue a degree in Library studies to become more advanced. According to Erica Beache, a fellow blogger and librarian working in Trinidad, "Promotional opportunities are grim without a degree in Library and Information Science or a Masters degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) so if you are serious about this field, get your stuff together. 

    Here are some basic duties of a librarian: 

• keeping up to date with newly released publications in order to select library resources;
• managing budgets;
• organising resources in an accessible way;
• stock maintenance, including the weeding out of old resources;
• anticipating community needs and trends to ensure library services are used as much as possible;
• promoting the use of the library through displays, talks and community events, which may involve work in the library or going out into the community;
• providing reader, advisory and information services to the public and local businesses;
• organising library provision for specific community groups, such as minority ethnic groups, schools, youth organisations, adult learners and pre-school groups;
• developing the use of ICT to improve service delivery;
• dealing with enquiries and assisting library users in accessing ICT and other resources;
• undertaking reader development activities, which may or may not be directed at specific groups;
• providing services to socially excluded groups;
• working with other agencies and bodies, such as museums and educational services, to develop services and initiatives in the community.

Ending this blog with a quote: 

“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” - Neil Gaiman