Librarians and media collections specialists organize, preserve, and help people access information and collections in libraries and media centers. You'll need a master's degree and strong skills in research, communication, and technology. It's intellectually demanding work that directly supports learning and community.
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You'll manage collections of books, digital materials, and media while helping patrons find and interpret information. Your day involves working with computers to catalog and organize resources, establishing relationships with community members and colleagues, and communicating with supervisors and peers about collection needs. You'll stay current with new technologies and information systems, answer reference questions, and guide people through research. This work requires you to understand both the technical side of library systems and the human side of helping people learn and discover.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn a median of $68,270 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 13,500 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a master's degree, which typically takes two years of full-time study after your bachelor's degree. During your preparation, you'll develop expertise in information organization, digital systems, and library management. The field requires extensive knowledge of computers and electronics, customer service, English language, and education principles. Before or during graduate school, consider internships or part-time work in libraries to build practical experience and clarify your specialization, whether that's academic libraries, public libraries, archives, or media collections.
Most librarians complete a master's degree after earning a bachelor's in any field. The path is straightforward but requires commitment to graduate study, so if you're exploring whether this timeline works for you, Pathly can map the librarian and media collection specialist path that fits you and work through it with your school counselor or academic advisor.
Many librarian and media collection specialists must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You're organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable with systems and procedures. You enjoy helping others and communicating clearly. You like working independently within structured environments and take pride in accuracy and order.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).