Entry-level positions for aspiring Outreach Librarians at State Library
Many entry-level library positions exist for undergraduate students, including "library assistant positions," and roles in archives, museums, or even the film industry, with titles varying depending on the institution. Opportunities also exist as student assistants in university libraries, often transitioning to "library assistants" or roles in digital labs focused on "preservation of materials" and digitization, a growing field within the library profession.
Entry-Level Positions, Library Science, Archives and Museums, Digitization and Technology, Information Science
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Clarisa Arguello
Outreach Librarian
State Library
Florida International University, 2008
University of Miami, 2014, Master of Arts in International Administration (MAIA)/ Florida State University, 2016, Master of Science in Library and Information
Education
Government & Public Sector
Communication and Marketing
HSI Grad, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Many entry-level library positions don't require a library degree, depending on community size and library needs.
2. Opportunities exist in diverse settings such as archives, museums, and even the film industry.
3. Undergraduate students can gain valuable experience through student assistant or library technician roles, potentially leading to full-time positions after graduation.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
There are many positions, and I haven't even scratched the surface. Some places have library assistant positions. In other places, you don't actually need a library degree to be a librarian.
This depends on the size of the community. Some libraries offer librarian positions that are entry-level. There are also opportunities in archives, museums, and the film industry.
There's a large film library in Los Angeles where you can find and apply for specific positions. These roles are called many different things in different places. When I worked at a university, we had student assistants.
After graduating, some of them stayed on as library assistants or library technicians. Others went on to work in digital labs, operating scanning equipment for preservation and archiving.
Right now, there's a lot of digitization happening in libraries. This helps disseminate information and put materials online. When you get a library degree, it's typically a Master's in Library and Information Studies or Information Science.
Often, these programs are housed within a School of Information. Many people don't realize this connection. If you want to work in the field, you can.
If you have an undergraduate degree in a related field, you can also work in a library. There are so many entry-level positions available. It just depends on what they are called, but there are positions for everyone.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/clarisa-arguello