Librarian can work in public library or academic library according to the degree you earned. Lots of people view librarian as boring job. However, it is not a boring as it looks especially for academic librarian. Your job is more than book stamping. Academic librarian has more complex yet wider range of job to do in the workspace.
Of course, most of the responsibilities and duties is cyclical but it doesn’t mean you won’t have any fun from doing it. Lots of librarians think that this job is indeed rewarding and stimulating. Here are reasons why becoming academic librarian is worth it:
- Academic librarian works at the heart of an institution’s research activities. Thus, if you become academic librarian, there are many things you can do. The broader the skills you improve, the more opportunities to do more. You can be involved in academic process such as prepping for teaching materials, curriculum, etc. You can also help research conducted by students. Being academic librarian requires more complex and wider skills because your job is not only sitting on the front desk.
- There is always an opportunity to expand your skills while working as academic library. Remember that academic is dynamic. There is always change which requires you to keep adapting. You can develop useful skills from time to time such as organization, administration, accuracy, information and database management, research, communications technologies, more specialized knowledge, etc. The skills you improved won’t be a waste. It helps to level up your career instead.
- Being academic librarian means you are constantly learning. When you love knowledge, you will be more open to learn new things. In academic library, you will not only learn about theoretical knowledge but also the practical ones. For example, you will learn technical sides such as how to store and access information using technology. You will be able to keep up with the latest information technologies to help your work.
- Academic librarian is more of people-person. Thus, you will interact with people more aside with the books. There are many types of research conducted in which requires your help. Thu, you will develop your customer service skill by helping or assisting the research. You can help collecting necessary information and sources to support the research. Or, you will be required to have a chat with the researchers to discuss about the topic. There is self-satisfaction resulted from helping people that needs your skills and knowledge.