Library science is a traditional and popular field of study that goes beyond acquiring, classifying, and managing books in a library. Librarians, who are specialized individuals with a desire to serve and engage their community, often carry a deep understanding of information architecture, cataloging systems, and digital databases. They also authenticate historical and legal documents. There are several jobs and online courses that can help one to get into this field.

What is library science?
Library science, also referred to as information studies, is a field of study that focuses on preserving data and objects that form an integral part of knowledge and literacy on all types of media.

Those with a degree in library science are called librarians, and their key responsibility is to connect users with information, acquire knowledge materials, organize, catalog, classify, and manage them using different systems, disseminate information resources, and much more. Apart from public or legal libraries, library science skills are also used in industries like publishing, music, and technology.

Types of library science degrees
1. Bachelor’s in library and information science
This is a four-year entry-level graduation course that allows students to pursue a career in library and information science. This is a mandatory course if one wants to pursue a master’s degree in the field.

The curriculum may vary slightly from school to school, but by the end of the bachelor’s course, students will be well versed with concepts like ethics of information use and international and domestic policies, research methods, record archiving, taxonomies, and technical process of indexing and acquiring physical records. In recent years, students are also prepared to work with digital records, like software, hardware, and networks used for their management. In some schools, this course may be optional, but it’s a good idea to opt for it since it will equip students with essential skills required for the digital era.

2. Master’s in library science
A master’s degree in library science, which is usually a two-year specialization course, is mandatory for most types of librarian jobs. But one can also have a teaching certificate along with a bachelor’s in library science to get attractive placements. For some jobs, one may have to graduate from a library school or university, particularly licensed by the American Library Association (ALA).

3. Doctorate library science programs
Those wanting to get a doctorate in library science can opt for a doctorate in Information Technology or a Ph.D. in library and information science. A doctorate can further train students in research-based dissertations, computer networking and operating systems, and systems analysis and design.

Online library science courses
Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees can be done either online or on-campus. However, a doctorate degree usually necessitates faculty and student interaction. Having said that, for the two basic library science degrees, there are hundreds of online courses offered by reputable institutions. These online courses offer flexibility and are usually more affordable than their traditional counterparts, but both are equally reputable in the job market. Many popular online master’s programs can help students to develop technical skills, including media utilization and principles and basics of web design and evaluation. Recently, many colleges have begun offering a hybrid mode of study, where students can take some coursework online and some on campus.

Specializations within library science
Some of the sought-after specializations within library science include studies in digital libraries, archives and records management, rare manuscripts, and school libraries. One can pursue these specializations in a master’s degree program, which also makes it a popular choice among students. Some colleges also offer a dual online degree (part-time or full-time), like Masters of Business Administration – Library and Information Science. These degrees and specializations can help students get placements not just in libraries and archives but also in government, business intelligence agencies, entertainment studies, corporations, museums, cultural organizations, and many information centers.

General cost of library science degrees online
The cost of online courses varies vastly depending on the colleges, the faculty, and the duration of the course. On average, though, an online master’s degree in library science can go up to $12,394 for a public institute. If one opts for a private institute, it can cost about $28,445.

Library science degree jobs
Apart from a librarian, there are several other career opportunities that a library science graduate or post-graduate can pursue. Some of them include the following:

Library technician
Those with a bachelor’s degree may be able to acquire a position as a library technician. This person usually assists the main librarian, catalogs files, and helps students locate records and use library resources. One can expect to get about $40,000 annual salary for the job of a technician.

Digital archivist
These candidates specialize in historical records and their collection, organization, classification, and overall management. They also create and maintain the metadata for these records for easy access and retrieval. One can expect nearly $60,000 annual income for an archivist job.

Outreach librarian
Also called outreach coordinators, they are mainly involved in organizing, promoting, and managing outreach programs that invite new and old patrons to the library and boost reading habits among the communities. As an outreach coordinator, one must have strong interpersonal skills, public reactions, and communication skills.

Apart from these, one can also be a digital asset manager, knowledge management specialist, metadata librarian, or a professor in library science.