Librarians

(NOC 5111)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Librarians select, develop, organize and maintain library collections and provide advice for users. They work in libraries or other organizations with library services throughout the public and private sectors.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Decline employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 35 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Provincial library services have been affected by several years of public funding restraint, leading to consolidation and changes in services and staffing. The Halifax area has a fair number of potential employers, such as education institutions and public libraries, but turnover is fairly low and competition may be strong for a limited number of openings. New graduates are more likely to find work in a term or casual position, and may need to be open to relocating to find employment.

Hourly Pay

$22.00

Minimum

$28.02

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$20,470

Minimum

$62,824

Median

$102,411

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Librarians select, develop, organize and maintain library collections and provide advice for users. They work in libraries or other organizations with library services throughout the public and private sectors.

Job duties

Librarians:

  • Recommend addition of books, periodicals and audio-visual, interactive media and other materials for inclusion in library collection.
  • Provide reference services.
  • Select, classify, catalogue and weed library materials.
  • Prepare bibliographies, indexes, reading lists, guides and other finding aids.
  • Develop systems to access library collections.
  • Perform manual, on-line and interactive media reference searches to assist users in accessing library materials and arrange for interlibrary loans.
  • Develop taxonomies using various information and data sources.
  • Provide specialized programs for children, seniors and other groups.
  • Give library information and orientation training programs and tours.
  • Do related administrative duties and supervise library technicians, assistants and clerks.

Sample job titles

  • associate librarian
  • bibliographer
  • cataloguer - library
  • classifier - library
  • cybrarian
  • liaison librarian
  • librarian
  • library coordinator
  • library consultant
  • library supervisor

Skills

  • You need excellent administrative, research, organizational, writing, and planning skills, as well as intellectual curiosity. You should have supervisory skills and the ability to work with people of all ages, including other staff. A knowledge of computer systems, literature, and current information sources is also important. Being able to speak and write French would be an asset in some positions.

Job requirements

  • A master's degree in library science or a master's degree in library and information studies or a master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association is required.

Other considerations

  • Movement to library management positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

295

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

86.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
13.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.8

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

63.3%

Halifax

$65,835 median annual income
13.3%

North Shore

$52,651 median annual income
13.3%

Cape Breton

$55,564 median annual income
6.7%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
3.3%

Southern

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

100.0%

Information and cultural industries

What is the age of Employment?

31.0%

45-54

24.0%

55-64

24.0%

35-44

14.0%

25-34

3.0%

65+

3.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

78.0%

Master

$70,605 median annual income
10.2%

Bachelor

N/A
5.1%

High school

N/A
3.4%

College Diploma

N/A
3.4%

Doctorate

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Library Science/Librarianship

University Program

These programs focus on the knowledge and skills required to develop, organize, store, retrieve, administer, and facilitate the use of local, remote, and networked collections of information in print, audiovisual, and electronic formats and that prepares individuals for professional service as librarians and information consultants.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Library Association
Nova Scotia, Canada
American Library Association
Chicago, IL - USA

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.