Shortage of librarians predicted in New Jersey

Shortage of librarians
predicted in New Jersey

According to Norma Blake, state librarian, "New Jersey is facing a critical shortage in librarians. It’s a great job both for women starting out, and also for women making a mid-life career change.

"In the next 15 years, it is anticipated that 68 percent of librarians will retire and many public and school library jobs may go unfilled. There is already a shortage of children’s librarians in the state, and we are beginning to see shortages in reference, administration and other specialties as well. In addition, academic and special libraries, such as corporate libraries, are looking for librarians, particularly those who are very familiar with the Internet and information technology."

Professional librarians in New Jersey must have a master’s degree from an American Library Association-accredited library school, or from a state-accredited program offered by a college such as Rowan University, Glassboro.

Rutgers and Drexel offer master of library science (MLS) programs, and the State Library is now discussing with Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, the creation of a distance-learning MLS degree program.

Anyone with a four-year college degree can work as a library associate. Library associates assist librarians in many areas such as story hours, exhibits, tours and programs, and also with basic reader advisories and information retrieval for customers. This position offers a career ladder for those who may be working in libraries but only have a high school or two-year degree, and who would like a chance for advancement.

This past year, the State Library gave a grant to the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative to conduct a state-wide recruitment program to produce brochures and design a Web site, www.becomealibrarian.org, promoting librarianship.

Last year, career open houses were held at several libraries. The public is invited to attend these open houses to learn more about librarianship as a career.

Many libraries offer flexible schedules and benefits. Librarians frequently enjoy the same benefits as other municipal, county or state employees, or the same benefits as teachers in the public school system.

Women direct many of New Jersey’s public libraries. The Princeton Public Library is directed by Leslie Burger, who is serving during a major capital construction project — the building of a new $18 million library facility. In addition to her skills in librarianship, Leslie is an administrator who is involved in management, budgeting, fund-raising, marketing, public relations and supervision of all aspects of the library’s services. Today’s library directors, particularly directors of large libraries and county library systems, need myriad business skills to draw upon as they lead their libraries into the future.

To learn more about librarianship as a career, contact the State Library at (609) 292-8151, the New Jersey Library Assoc-iation at (609) 394-8032, or the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative at (732) 409-6484.