In 2023, why do people choose librarianship?

 

If you ask a room full of librarians why they chose their profession, you'll likely encounter a wide variety of motivations, but a common thread is their desire to make a positive community impact through facilitating access to knowledge and information and by sharing their passion for education and learning.

Passion for books, life-learning, and literature

Many librarians have a deep love for books, literature, and learning: they enjoy being surrounded by books and helping others access and appreciate literacy. Librarians often promote reading and literacy in their communities by hosting book clubs, reading programs, or educational workshops.  By providing recreational reading opportunities they assist people in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and others through diverse collections and well-rounded resources.  Librarians know that a democratic society needs educated individuals in order to thrive.

Information Literacy

Librarians know that information literacy skills must be taught and they are passionate in sharing those skills with others. While they recognize the internet has provided us with access to a great deal of information, they know that increased information literacy proficiency enables people to understand and evaluate the facts they find. School and academic librarians teach information literacy skills to their students, while public and special librarians help patrons to find and evaluate information.

Cultural and historical heritage

In other cases, librarians may serve in positions where they directly preserve valuable historical information and cultural heritage through archives and archival resources. They ensure that valuable information is not lost over time. Archivists often work to find new and more accessible digital formats so that historical information can continue to be used, shared, and preserved.

Libraries provide leadership

With the increasing role of technology in libraries, many librarians are drawn to the field because of their interest in digital resources, databases, and online information management. Libraries remain important institutions in society, and can provide leadership in a time of changing technologies. They organize events, workshops, and programs that bring people together and enrich their local community. 

In summary, we share the American Library Association's words, from Libraries: An American Value. 

 

Libraries in America are cornerstones of the communities they serve. Free access to the books, ideas, resources, and information in America’s libraries is imperative for education, employment, enjoyment, and self-government.

Libraries are a legacy to each generation, offering the heritage of the past and the promise of the future. To ensure that libraries flourish and have the freedom to promote and protect the public good in the 21st century, we believe certain principles must be guaranteed.

To that end, we affirm this contract with the people we serve:

• We defend the constitutional rights of all individuals, including children and teenagers, to use the library’s resources and services;
• We value our nation’s diversity and strive to reflect that diversity by providing a full spectrum of resources and services to the communities we serve;
• We affirm the responsibility and the right of all parents and guardians to guide their own children’s use of the library and its resources and services;
• We connect people and ideas by helping each person select from and effectively use the library’s resources;
• We protect each individual’s privacy and confidentiality in the use of library resources and services;
• We protect the rights of individuals to express their opinions about library resources and services;
• We celebrate and preserve our democratic society by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions and ideas, so that all individuals have the opportunity to become lifelong learners - informed, literate, educated, and culturally enriched.

Change is constant, but these principles transcend change and endure in a dynamic technological, social, and political environment.

By embracing these principles, libraries in the United States can contribute to a future that values and protects freedom of speech in a world that celebrates both our similarities and our differences, respects individuals and their beliefs, and holds all persons truly equal and free.

 

Adopted February 3, 1999, by the

Council of the American Library Association