Some leadership qualities will also come in handy as being a librarian can involve project management work

So, you're thinking of being a librarian…

This is a vocation that people sometimes like to make gentle fun of - usually with references to dusty old books, brown cardigans and sensible shoes. But modern libraries are awesome information, learning and technology hubs, so the modern librarian is more likely to be a multi-skilled technical expert with strong network administration and project management skills.

There are certain personal qualities that will stand you in good stead if you want to become a librarian. One of the most important is having an ordered, tabular, methodical mind with good attention to detail. Being technically savvy will also help you, including an interest in or knowledge of different curating and cataloguing programs, and knowledge of HTML. Some leadership qualities will also come in handy as being a librarian can involve project management work.

Formal qualifications

TAFE NSW's Diploma of Library and Information Services will qualify you for a range of library and information-related positions such as document delivery officer, information services officer, education assistant and library technician. A qualified librarian can also find roles in other curating establishments as well, like museums and galleries. The Diploma is also a good starting point as it has no entry requirements.

As modern libraries continue to embrace new and emerging technologies, a librarian's more traditional skills like indexing, classification, cataloguing, information storage and retrieval will be put to use across an ever broadening host of platforms and electronic media. Even the good old Dewey Decimal System has its place in the modern-day library, in the form of the online WebDewey. A career as a librarian means your duties and responsibilities will also constantly be evolving too. So what are you waiting for?