Libraries and Information Science
‘Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul’. (Inscription over the door of the library at Thebes, in Ancient Egypt)
Materials which record the past, as well as books (both old and new), are the items that link people working in this sector.
Ever since the TV programme ‘Who do you think you are?’ told us that Jeremy Paxman had a Scottish granny, we have become more interested in genealogy. You could try to trace your own family tree, or you could employ a genealogist to do it for you.
The genealogist would search old records. An archivist would probably look after some of these records. Archivists look after old documents and other items. Many archivists look after local authority records.
You might start tracing your own family tree in a library, where you could look at books and find census records on the internet. Libraries stock much more than books!
Librarians or information professionals, helped by library or information assistants, run libraries. They do still lend books and other items, but they also help people use computers and often run special sessions for children, young people and adult learners.
If you would like to work in this sector, you should get on well with people. You should be methodical, patient and prepared to pay attention to detail. A good memory helps, and you might have to work alone much of the time.
Ways of getting into these jobs vary.
To be a library or information assistant or a genealogist you do not need any particular qualifications, although Standard grades and a good education help.
But to be a library or information professional or an archivist, you need a degree and perhaps a specialist postgraduate qualification.
These are competitive jobs to get into. For library staff, there is keen competition at all levels. There are not many jobs in archive work. You might have to move around the country to find a job. Jobs in genealogy are hard to come by and very few people make their living entirely from this work. Some genealogists have another job to provide a second income.