Librarian
Also advertised as: Academic Librarian, Information Officer, Librarian, Library and Information Officer, Library Assistant, Senior Librarian
Manages library collections and helps the public or students find information and resources.
What the job involves
Librarians catalogue and manage collections, run reading and research support sessions, and help visitors find the information they need. Public librarians also organise community events, while academic librarians support students and researchers with literature searches. A postgraduate qualification in library and information science is common for career progression.
Typical responsibilities
- Catalogue and manage collections
- Support visitors with research and enquiries
- Run reading groups or information sessions
- Manage loans, budgets and stock
- Organise community or student events
Common employers
- Public libraries
- Universities
- Schools
- Specialist archives
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£21,000 – £25,000 a year
With experience
£28,000 – £36,000 a year
Typical hours
35 to 37 hours, may include weekends
Working environment
Library or reading room
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
competitive
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Information retrieval
- Customer service
- Cataloguing systems
- Organisation
- Digital literacy
Transferable skills you may already have
- Research skills
- Customer-facing experience
- Event coordination
Requirements employers ask for
- Information retrieval
- Customer service
- Cataloguing systems
- Organisation
- Digital literacy
- Enhanced DBS check where working with children
Useful but not essential
- Research skills
- Customer-facing experience
- Event coordination
- Postgraduate qualification in library and information science
- Chartership with CILIP
Helpful qualifications
- Postgraduate qualification in library and information science
- Chartership with CILIP
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Library and information science
- Related subject: English
- Related subject: History
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Librarian
next
Archives Manager
next
Library Services Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Calm, structured working environment
- Supports lifelong learning and literacy
- Broad range of specialisms available
What people find hard
- Public sector budgets limit pay growth
- Fewer full-time posts than in the past
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a librarian?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. preferred
- How much does a librarian earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £21,000 to £25,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Research skills, Customer-facing experience, Event coordination.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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