Library-keeper, Library worker

The knowledge society and the digital revolution have turned information into a key resource that needs to be properly ordered and managed according to its purpose. This management has become more complex as society has evolved, and these professionals are responsible for organising all the information, both physical and digital, that can be found in libraries.

This occupation requires skills that include searching for relevant information on the web, digital skills, programming activities, project management skills, critical thinking, data analysis and communication skills for customer service.
Today, librarians work in a wide range of fields: public libraries, university libraries, archives, specialised documentation centres, document service companies, content management companies, corporate archives, among others. They also work with all types of documents, media and formats: books, archival documents, sound and audio-visual recordings (both analogue and digital), images (photographs, posters, etc.), digital archives (data, image, sound, etc.), among others.

• Catalogue and classify the materials and facilitate the location of the references required by the user and make them available through the loan service.
• Manage the organised collection of books, periodicals, engravings, maps, sound recordings, graphic documentation and other bibliographic materials, manuscripts, printed or reproduced in any medium, in order to collect and conserve these documents and facilitate their use through the appropriate technical and personal means for information, research, education or leisure.
• Maintain the library's organisation system and ensure that its resources are always available and up to date.
• Carry out activities to make the library more dynamic: choose titles, visit bookshops, organise reading clubs, generate interest in the library and manage to increase cultural consumption.
• Maintain the public access information systems in person through the territorial network of libraries and online through generalist or specialised portals.
• Program and maintain an agenda of activities related to the promotion of reading and culture (exhibitions, talks, small theatre plays, workshops, among others) and open to the public, in collaboration with other entities in the territory.
• Adapt to the demands of the public by selecting information to overcome the effects of information noise, as professionals who know to choose the most relevant information for each user, ensuring that the information is truthful and reliable.
• Develop strategies for anticipating demand, in the identification and supply of information resources to adapt to the strong demand for information services that society generates exponentially.
• Select and disseminate documentary resources to support learning and research.
• Plan the organisation of libraries, managing information and documentation.
• Manage collections.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Informació i documentació

Complementary training

There is a range of postgraduate courses that meet the needs of lifelong learning, for example:

• Master's degree in libraries and heritage collections

• Master's degree in archive and library management

• Master's degree in library service provision

• Master's degree in School Libraries and Reading Promotion
  

Other specific skills

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 1

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Customer orientation: Level 1

Analytical thought: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Humanities

The key interests of people who are interested in the field of humanities are studying the activity of human beings over time as well as their cultural and artistic expressions. Activities that represent this field are the creation of cultural products and the organisation of exhibitions and events, in addition to the promotion of actions for the preservation and dissemination of an artistic group. Significant knowledge of cultural, historical and linguistic heritage is required to carry out these activities.

Logistics

The planning, organisation, control and carrying out of logistics and administrative tasks are the focus of people who work in the field of logistics. Activities in the field of logistics include the organisation and planning of supply, storage, production and distribution systems, taking inventories, controlling stock and estimating production, as well as the organisation and/or carrying out of the administrative tasks necessary for the implementation of these activities. Knowledge of organisation, control and management techniques is essential for carrying out these activities.

Digitisation technician specialised in collections

Information point officer

Health documentalist

Secretari/ària de direcció

Tourist and/or leisure guide

• Work hours

  Working hours vary between 30 and 40 hours per week, depending on the type of library these professionals work in. The opening hours of the libraries or documentation centres must be covered, normally in the mornings and afternoons and some weekends.
  
  

• Salary

  The average salary of these professionals is around 20,000 euros gross per year, which is about 1,300 to 1,400 euros net per month. However, the salary can vary considerably depending on the institution these professionals work in and their seniority.
  
  In short, the salary will depend on the type of centre and ownership (public or private) where the work is carried out.
  
  

• Professional category

  Technician