Libraries are important community hubs that provide a variety of services. They lend out many more resources than just books, including DVDs, CDs, magazines, comics, music scores, instruments, toys, game consoles, and even digital files like e-books, audiobooks, music, and videos. They also provide free and low-cost education and entertainment for communities through workshops, classes, and short courses. Libraries can also offer access to computers, internet, printers, photocopiers, and other technology people need that they may not have access to at home.
While every library is different, they tend to have a few things in common:
- Accessible to everyone – you will be talking to and interacting with people from all walks of life, so good people skills are key.
- They’re not always quiet – libraries often host events, workshops, and classes, so there’s always lots of variety.
- Lots of indoor work – most of the work in libraries is done inside, though they can also have some outdoor spaces too.
Key Outcome – providing access to books and other resources
The main purpose of libraries is to provide public access to a wide variety of knowledge, resources, and support.
Key Tasks –
- Answer questions and help people find what they need
- Sort, maintain, and grow collections
- Design and run workshops and classes
- Keep spaces clean and accessible to all
Industry
You can find libraries in the education and community services industry
There are lots of different kinds of libraries, including ones attached to schools and universities, public libraries, government libraries, and even specialised academic and research libraries.
Work Environment
You can expect regular hours and on-site work in a range of locations
Regular hours | Work on-site | Jobs in all locations, including metro, regional, and rural | Moderate job growth
Libraries can have different opening hours depending on the services they offer – some are open from the usual 9 to 5, some are open in the evenings, and some are open 24/7. Combined with a high share of part-time work availability, this means there is lots of flexibility with your working hours.
A lot of the work in libraries needs to be done hands-on, but there are some roles that can be done from home, mainly in admin.
You’ll find libraries across the country, including in regional and rural areas. Most towns and cities have a public library, and there are often libraries attached to schools and other educational institutions.
The Career Clusters you’ll find in a library
People from all the Clusters are needed for a library to run successfully, and many workers will find themselves doing jobs across more than one Cluster.