Many think that the job of a Librarian is boring and without money; that there is no scope for improvement and all you do is arrange and catalog books.
Well, we cannot help with such parochial mindset which people have towards the profession of a Librarian, but we can tell them that one of the most competitive environments of all time—the freelance industry—offers amazing opportunities to these stereo typically boring professionals.
The freelance community, as you already know, is a huge one indeed, which has expanded to great lengths and breadths in recent times, particularly due to the domination of the Internet.
There are greater flexibility and easier access in finding short-time or long-time employees for projects. Since there are many websites, all it is needed is a profile account and you are connected to the professional community at large.
Freelance Librarians have increased in number lately and the rise is attributed to increased demand and better-paying opportunities. However, despite the rise in numbers, one should not assume that becoming a freelance librarian is a no-brainer.
You need to take care of a number of things before you actually start out as a freelancer, and in this article, we are going to talk about precisely that.
It is to be noted that educational requirements for a librarian differ from one country to another. Some countries are okay with a Bachelor’s degree, but there are many which require Master’s degree as a prerequisite.
In America, for instance, you are required to have a Master’s degree in the area of library and information studies from a university accredited by American Library Association (known by its abbreviated form ALA).
Language requirements are often imposed. In many countries, English is a mandatory requirement for librarians; however, in countries where English is not as prevalent as in others, the requirement is usually waived off.
While Librarians need not specialize in any particular area, universities across the world offer specialized courses to librarians. These courses are dedicated to social sciences, Economics, History, Law, etc. In case you are applying to a Law university, Law-related major may be incorporated as a requirement.
An internship helps a great deal too. Get yourself enrolled in an internship program in a Library; this will greatly help you understand various aspects of maintaining a library and being a librarian.
The certificate you earn at the end of the programme will be a star addition to your resume and will highlight your accomplishments greatly.
In this freelance community, people are willing to hire librarians possessing certain skills. These skills are really important in determining the success of a librarian in his profession; so here is a look at some of those skills.
There are many opportunities available for freelance librarians. In order to ensure greater and better access to work opportunities, it is highly recommended that you create a profile on popular freelance websites functioning in the virtual space.
The online freelance community is the biggest professional community and offers amazing work opportunities. There are a few websites that allow qualitative exchange between clients and freelancers: there are options for customised profiling, background checks, secure payment portal and what not.
Examples of these websites include freelance.com, worknhire.com, upwork.com, LinkedIn.comand others.
All you need to do is to create an informative and formal profile account on these websites, carefully identify your skills and apply to positions. Regular follow-up is mandatory. While submitting applications, make sure you pay attention to proposals.
A proposal is a statement of purpose you send along with the application. The content of the proposal covers why you wish to work with and what you can offer to the organization you are applying. A well-written proposal may land you with a job.
Another way to increase work opportunities is by undergoing training. In case you are starting fresh, we recommend you to undergo an internship under the guidance of a well-established librarian. Gather work experience and add the same to your portfolio.
Now that we have talked about portfolios, we strongly ask you to pay the best of your attention to it. Tailor your portfolio according to the profile of the organization you are applying to; highlight the most relevant skills you have adopt-out from adding achievements which have no connection whatsoever with the job applied for.
With the rise in the number of librarians, there are many opportunities available. You can work as a full-time librarian and also work as a freelancer. The main concern is you should continue looking for opportunities and not wait for them to come to you on their own—the world does not work that way.
If you wish to increase your chances, you should take an active part in various forums and meet-ups organized regularly for freelancers. Go there, talk to people, build up connections and you will notice marked increased in available opportunities.
The pay scale varies depends upon many factors: experience, educational qualifications, connections, and whatnot. If you are starting afresh, you will have a hard time finding a well-paying job; but with strong connections or good experience, you will be able to work in a well-paying organization.