Skip to Main Content

Cerro Coso Library Blog

What Do Library Employees Do All Day?

by Cerro Coso Library on 2022-03-01T08:05:00-08:00 in Cerro Coso, Library | 0 Comments

Many people who work in libraries have, at one point or another, heard the phrase “It must be nice to sit around and read books all day.” If only that were the case! Most library employees have a steadily growing to-read book pile at home and an even longer task list at work - we enjoy what we do, but it doesn't leave much time for relaxation.

So what DO library employees do all day?

To begin with, not everyone who works at the library is a librarian, in much the same way that not everyone who works in a doctor’s office is a doctor. We all have different areas of expertise and often do many different things throughout the day. Curious? Here is a general breakdown:

Librarians have a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLS or MLIS). They teach library classes, lead orientations and workshops, post on research assignment discussion boards in Canvas classes, and directly assist students with finding resources and citing sources. If you make an appointment or drop into a chat session or Zoom Research Lab to get help on a research paper, you will be talking to a librarian! Librarians also work with instructors to develop the library collections so that plenty of good books to support class research topics are available - librarians can even help faculty find free educational resources to teach from, instead of expensive textbooks!

Library technicians are working hard behind the circulation desk to keep the library running on a day-to-day basis, answering general questions by email, phone, and in person. They also check books in and out, ship Interlibrary Loans to and from libraries all over the country, and order and process new materials like reserve textbooks so they’re available to students as soon as possible. They put the "tech" in "technician" by keeping the library catalog, databases, and website functional and up to date. When possible, they plan out activities and makerspace crafts, and get the word out about library news and events through social media and newsletters.

The library can't do all of this without its student workers, who help out with projects like shelving books, doing inventory, and creating new displays and library activities. We rely on student perspectives to make sure we are providing the best services we can.

While we may be too busy to kick back and crack open a book during work hours, we do consider ourselves pretty lucky to have first dibs on borrowing new titles!

Coffee, book & reading glasses

If one of these sounds like the perfect job for you, keep an eye on our college district’s Careers Page. Cerro Coso is currently recruiting adjunct librarians for several of its sites, as well as a new full-time librarian in Tehachapi. We will also begin advertising for a full-time Library Technician I at the IWV/Ridgecrest campus soon, so start polishing that resume! 


 Add a Comment

0 Comments.

  Subscribe



Enter your e-mail address to receive notifications of new posts by e-mail.


  Archive



  Follow Us



  Facebook
  Instagram
  Return to Blog
This post is closed for further discussion.

title
Loading...