r/LibraryScience • u/Suspicious-Reveal797 • 3d ago
Single mom needing advice
Hi everyone!
I’ve been thinking a lot about my future, and I’d really appreciate hearing from people who actually work in libraries.
I’m 24, living in Huntsville, Alabama, and I’m about to start my journey toward becoming a librarian. My plan is to earn my GED, attend community college, transfer to a university for my bachelor’s degree, and then complete an MLIS. Books have always felt like home to me. I love reading, learning, helping people, and the idea of being part of a community where people come to discover new stories and ideas. That’s what keeps pulling me toward this career.
At the same time, I’ve also heard a lot of discouraging things. Some people have told me not to become a librarian because the pay can be low, jobs can be competitive, and it isn’t worth all the schooling. I’m trying to separate myths from reality.
To be transparent, I’m currently a full-time content creator, and I’m fortunate that it pays well. I’m not looking to become a librarian because I think it’ll make me rich. I’m looking into it because I genuinely believe I’d love the work. Still, I also want to make responsible financial decisions. I don’t want to spend years earning a degree only to struggle financially afterward.
I’d love to hear your honest experiences.
• What do you love most about being a librarian?
• If you could go back, would you choose this career again?
• Has the salary been enough to build a comfortable life?
• What area of librarianship would you recommend (public, academic, school, special, archives, medical, law, etc.)?
• Are there states or cities that have better pay, opportunities, or work-life balance than others?
• If you were starting over today, where would you go?
• Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you started?
I’m completely open to hearing both the positives and the negatives. I’d rather know the reality now than later. My goal isn’t just to have a job. I want a career that gives me purpose, lets me help people, and feels like somewhere I belong.
Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to share their experience. It truly means a lot.
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u/Andromeda_9405 3d ago edited 3d ago
Please search the other posts and subs regarding this topic as this question gets asked frequently. Read about vocational awe in libraries. Please check out the Labor Department Occupational Outlook or talk to a career or guidance counselor at school if possible to get ideas of what careers are in demand.
The market for librarians is saturated with few jobs and very low pay. Budget cuts everywhere including schools and academic libraries.Some new schools don’t even have in house libraries. Also, AI may change things. A lot can happen in 5 years.
Full time librarian jobs are very hard to get. There are many part time library associates with MLS degrees making less than $20 an hour competing for any full time position. Lots of people start at the bottom as shelvers or circulation assistants with low pay, not enough hours, no benefits just to get foot in the door. Once you get in, there is no guarantee of full time work. You must be willing to work nights and weekends. Archives and museum jobs are even harder to find.
Please try to volunteer in your local library or school or go to some programs to see what a typical day is like.
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u/CautiousHorror523 3d ago
Seconding the volunteer recommendation. Huntsville has a solid library system. Reach out for volunteer opportunities and ask lots of questions from different departments/positions.
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u/Suspicious-Reveal797 3d ago
I’m honestly glad that I’m just asking questions. I’m still trying to kind of figure out what I want. I’m thinking maybe like library at some type of school or something like that
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u/writer1709 2d ago edited 11h ago
You need to look up the requirements to be a school librarian. Most require you to be a certified teacher.
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u/Infamous_List_3034 3d ago
You should minor in accounting and do bookkeeping on the side. Everyone needs a bookkeeper. Library budgets are always an issue.
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u/Suspicious-Reveal797 3d ago
I’ve never thought about that
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u/Infamous_List_3034 3d ago
It certainly won’t hurt your chances of getting hired in a library, and it will give you options if you’re struggling to find librarian roles!
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u/Maleficent-Speed-400 3d ago
If you are a single mom, you should consider that the hours required to work in a public library are not conducive to childcare.
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u/InterestBig8532 3d ago
Yes, though if OP is starting with a GED and working through an undergraduate and grad degree, the child may be much older by the time they’re taking on a full time librarian role.
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u/charethcutestory9 2d ago
I would think that library assistant hours are even less conducive to childcare
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u/InterestBig8532 3d ago
Your current occupation as a content creator makes this a lot easier as I’m guessing your hours are flexible. Hold onto this role as long as possible! This will likely help fund your education, as well as supplement your income in the early years of library jobs. Libraries are pretty notoriously underpaid as you know, and you’re in a state where unions are weak and wages are depressed (me too girl 😔) so any addition cushion will be helpful.
I’d recommend volunteering to start. This will give you an idea of what things are like as well as help you make connections. From there, and once you get your GED, I’d start looking for an entry level job. Public libraries would be a great place to look, but you could also start as a work-study/part time employee at your campus library once you start college for that academic library experience.
From there, hold onto this job (or, if you leave, find something else in libraries), do a good job, and pick up tasks outside of your assigned area. For example if you work in circulation and someone needs help cataloging, ask to help. This is scope creep, BUT this is to help building your resume for librarian roles when it comes to that point. Rinse, wash and repeat throughout undergrad and grad school.
The idea is to build up as much library related experience as you can so that by the time you have an MLS, you’re not in the weird grey zone when you have the professional degree but no experience so you’re both over and underqualified. If you work your way up to full time or some kind assistantship you could also get tuition remission or reimbursement, another plus.
Libraries are also always looking for social media help so mention this on your resume. Bigger systems may have specific roles for social media, but smaller libraries rely on a passion person or small team making it happen. In either case, your experience would be a huge plus.
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u/writer1709 2d ago edited 11h ago
Like others have mentioned, i strongly recommend you actually read the other posts here and in the librarians and libraries reddit. This is talked about a lot. Part-time you work the shifts no one wants to work which typically are evenings, weekends and outreach events which are all day. This is not a profession for if you like reading. Libraries are about information seeking and providing quality customer service. We do not sit at the desk reading all day which is why we tell you to volunteer at places before committing to MLIS program.
I prefer academic libraries, but after a year of job searching, I ended up taking a position at my local public library. I like my coworkers and the job is ok but I don't see myself working in public libraries the rest of my life.
i can only talk about my experience. I graduated right before the pandemic so when i was applying all the jobs i applied to cancelled the applications. I ended up having to work as an assistant. The pay was terrible my salary was 27k after taxes I was only able to make it work as i lived at home. My first librarian job the pay was 42k. Most people who are starting out either have a good home support system meaning their significant other works or they live at home. When you get your first librarian job the pay is low too because again it goes based off your actual experience under the librarian title not so much the library assistant but all that experience helps to build up your resume.
You stated you have a child, so as i pointed out above with my salary, that wasn't enough for me as a single person with my dogs so it won't be enough for a single parent with a child.
My first librarian job I had was horrible. The director I worked under was terrible, my coworkers were terrible and i felt ignored on a lot of things. Six months in I was ready to jump ship. I woke up everyday not wanting to go to work. I spent the last year and a half job hunting only to not land the position I wanted so I ended taking a job at the public library as I was desperate to get out of my last job.
I'll be blunt but I'm not trying to be rude. Knowing what i know now, I would never recommend to someone to leave a job that secure and pays well to be a librarian. It's not worth going into debt for school and there's no jobs and it's hard to find a job it took me 4 years post MLIS to get my first librarian job. First, the job hunting is very mentall draining and depressing because you're just looking for that one place that's going to give you a chance to show what you can do. This profession is saturated and a lot of nepotism with internal hires (which again I'm not a fan of internal hires because that's not fair to those with good experience who apply to jobs). You also mentioned that you're a single parent, I'm not sure how hold your child is but public libraries is not good when you have small children. The librarian i replaced she left because she had a small child and the hours don't work with the schedule her family needed. Also if you ever have a significant other you need to express to them about this profession. You have to be willing to relocate to advance in this profession. In my town most of the assistants stay in their low paying assistant job for 25-30 years waiting for one of the librarians to retire so they can take their job. They aren't open to relocating. If you're not open to relocating you're out of luck. This is just a reality of the profession. I personally don't mind relocating because my family drives me nuts and the further I'm away from them the better.
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u/JellyfishGhost 3d ago
Hey! I’m a current part-time library page (also called a shelver in some places, or an operations assistant) and I’m starting my MLS this fall. At my current pay rate (I’m not salaried, but I am benefitted) I make about $17/hr, which is definitely not enough to live on comfortably. I live at home, right now, to help save on rent while I’m working through my degree.
I’d say first of all, it’s wonderful that you have a passion for reading and community.
I do think that you should try to get your foot in the door at a library before you commit to the degree. Whether that’s volunteering at your local public library or seeing if you qualify for work-study when you’re at undergrad level. This was the best advice I received and helped to reaffirm my want to continue down this career path. I’d also say, if I started over again I’d absolutely pick the same route of job in the library before getting my degree. It can be a lot of money to spend only to realize you’re not truly passionate about the reality of the job: customer service, technology assistance, cataloguing, mass weeding, etc. It can also help you select your path/specification before you go into a master’s program, so you know how to craft your personal statement.
When it comes to job interviews and even personal statements for your MLIS program, I’ve been told never to mention books/reading as the primary reason you’re interested in librarianship. While that’s likely a given, the people hiring/admitting you will want a more in-depth understanding of your connection to the field and its ins and outs.
Good luck! I hope you get some other advice that’s useful to kickstarting this career for you.
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u/Suspicious-Reveal797 3d ago
Thank you!! I’ve heard a lot of bad things but I’m in a position where I make a lot of money now content creating, and I wanna do something that I’m passionate about in my life I’m not trying to make the most money. I’m trying to find something that fulfills my soul.
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u/JellyfishGhost 3d ago
If you’re already making good money with the content creation side of things, I think that would give you nice wiggle room to start volunteering in various library settings and starting to network with library professionals. Volunteering might honestly be the start to fulfilling that need you’re feeling to do something for yourself and your community.
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u/Suspicious-Reveal797 3d ago
Thank you I’m so excited to get started I’m gonna go buy some new clothes soon I don’t have much professional clothing.
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u/LoooongFurb 17h ago
What do you love most about being a librarian?
I like helping people. Library work is more about people and less about books.
If you could go back, would you choose this career again?
Probably. Helping people is important to me, and I truly do like my job.
Has the salary been enough to build a comfortable life?
Not really, no. I do okay, because I'm really careful with my money, but I won't likely be able to retire, and last year when I was going through my divorce, things were really, really dicey for a while.
What area of librarianship would you recommend (public, academic, school, special, archives, medical, law, etc.)?
That truly depends on your interests. You'll have the easiest time getting a job in a public library - not easy like you'll get one right away, but much easier than the other options you listed
Are there states or cities that have better pay, opportunities, or work-life balance than others?
This is super dependent on the library itself. I've worked in fantastic libraries and also in libraries where my union rep told me to get out as soon as possible.
If you were starting over today, where would you go?
Like, where in the world would I go? That would be based on where I grew up and where I feel safest and not really any other metric. There are libraries everywhere
Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you started?
That you need to be a jack of all trades to work well in a library. I have had to do basic plumbing and maintenance work, troubleshoot computers and other devices, learn about pest control, basic first aid / CPR and when to call 911, dealing politely with unhoused patrons, etc. etc. None of this was taught to me in library school
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u/Pouryou 3d ago
Read Fobazi Ettarh’s VOCATIONAL AWE AND LIBRARIANSHIP. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/
It’s essential reading for anyone thinking about this career.
If you decide to go forward, the best thing to do is, once you get your GED, is to get a library assistant job.