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Author: Saskia Hoving

Editor-in-Chief

The library is at the very heart of an institution, fulfilling the vital information needs of its users. As the previous blog highlights, libraries are also becoming strategic partners in research and innovation, requiring librarians to develop new skills in data management, digital tools, and open science. With these changes come new demands on skills and career development.

This post takes a closer look at what it means to build a career in academic librarianship today. Two early-career librarians—Eilish Purton, Research and Open Scholarship Librarian at the University of Sussex, UK, and Mary Blomley, Open Research Librarian at the University of West London (UWL)—share their experiences and advice on navigating the profession and growing within it.

Starting a career in academic libraries

The way to enter a career as an academic librarian might seem quite established and straightforward. However, Eilish feels this is changing according to developments in the industry. “The information environment is getting more complex,” she says, “and libraries are trying to stay one step ahead.”

Librarians are a well-qualified bunch. Not only do they need to have a first degree, many also have a master’s degree in librarianship or information science/management, and maybe even a further bachelor’s degree in their specialist area. Over the years this has more or less become the “gold standard” – the definitive route created by the industry.

Mary feels that librarians need a solid foundation. “It’s a good basis for starting your library career as it allows you to gain experience before you specialise in a specific library position. The library sector is constantly changing, at the mercy of things like technology, funding and government, so you have to be very flexible. That means the more skills a librarian has, the better equipped they are to cope with the constant changes.” Eilish agrees. “Most young people don’t enter librarianship knowing that they want to work in an academic library, but end up doing so as they learn more about the sector.”

But this amount of study requires a huge investment in time and money, which is increasingly difficult for many aspiring librarians. Some institutions are removing the requirement to have a library degree but it’s the subject of quite some debate.

Library careers and equal opportunities

Entering the industry as an apprentice or graduate trainee is an alternative option, and this is seen by many as a more equitable selection process. “In the shorter term,” says Eilish, “a masters’ will still notionally be seen as compulsory as candidates will distinguish themselves by having one. But traineeships are a great thing,” she adds. “Libraries should be focused on equality of access.”

In general, starting as an apprentice or trainee leads to entry-level, more functional positions in the library rather than more senior, specialised roles in academic libraries. Once you’re in, it’s possible to work your way up to a full librarian position, but it’s necessary to gain extra qualifications and undertake further training along the way. The opportunities to do so are many and varied – they’re also often easily accessible which enables librarians to absorb them in their daily routine.

CPD and digital skills for librarians

Accessible continuing professional development (CPD) is crucial for library professionals. Despite having an accredited masters’ degree, Mary is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to gain new skills and stay up-to-date, and she’s encouraged to do so by library management. “I tend to go for webinars, in areas such as open research and AI. I find it’s essential in order to for me to progress within academic libraries.”

Mary’s focus on open research and AI aligns with broader trends in the profession. As noted in the previous blog, librarians are increasingly expected to support research data management, digital scholarship, and open access initiatives—skills that are becoming essential for career progression.

, and offer a wide range of online courses and webinars suitable for early career librarians, which are free and easy to access. It’s essential for librarians to tap into resources like these to enhance their professional careers, which in turn benefits the institutions they’re a part of.

Mary finds the leadership programme she takes part in very useful, especially focusing on teamwork and how to resolve conflict. “Communication in general is often taken for granted but in academic libraries we deal with very different stakeholders such as lecturers and students, so it’s really important.”

Mentoring and peer learning in libraries

With many budgets and staff counts suffering under the strain of cuts, learning from within and from your peers is more important than ever. There are useful early career librarian organisations who provide support and career opportunities such as and the in the UK. In the US, the runs a range of mentoring programmes for all career stages in the academic library.

Mentoring supports both personal growth and professional development, while also helping library staff stay aligned with broader research goals. It’s an effective way to build skills, share experience, and strengthen the role of librarians in today’s research environment. According to Shin Freedman, head of Scholarly Resources and Collections at Framingham State University Library, mentoring capitalises on an institution’s intellectual resources to develop its professionals, with long-lasting beneficial effects for mentees, mentors and library organisations.

It’s mentoring that Eilish finds most important of all for staff development. “This is a sector that thrives off good mentorship. It’s the best kind of training you can have, growing and developing alongside someone with more experience.”

Lifelong learning for library professionals

Although every library is different in their approach to how they build and nurture their teams, it’s clear that there’s a strong emphasis on learning, both as a team and individually. Librarians are highly adaptable and excel at managing change - they’re also exceptionally proactive in seeking out ways to enrich their professional growth and enhance their careers.

As Eilish says, the library sector attracts clever people with a love of learning. “Librarians are highly educated in acquiring information, whether for their users or for themselves,” she says. “After all, when you’re working in information, can you ever be done gathering information or training in it?”

Looking to learn more about how librarians are growing into leadership roles and supporting change in their institutions? This white paper and recorded session on Leadership in the Library offers helpful insights and real-world examples that build on the themes explored in this blog.

Related content

• Future-proofing academic librarians with essential skills and leadership
• Evolving roles of academic librarians adapting to change and new technologies
• Practical tips for librarians to support early career researchers’ success
• Inclusive libraries and supporting disabled users in science
• How to support inclusive practice among students and researchers
• Making policy a reality – practical steps to open access workflows
• Publishing without barriers: Essential advocates for OA
• ECR Program: Bridging the gap between librarians and researchers
• Insights into researcher training needs and expected librarian support
• Virtual versus in-person seminars: Which training support is most beneficial?
• How can institutions help researchers navigate the publication process?    

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