Academic Librarianship & Foreign Languages Recruitment Page

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Do you know a foreign language? Come work for an academic library!


Contents

What do academic librarians do, anyway?

Most librarian positions combine a number of the traditional functions listed below. For example, collection services + public services (e.g., Classics selector who also works at a reference desk); or cataloging + collection services (e.g., Slavic cataloger who also orders Slavic Studies materials).

Large institutions typically require a greater degree and variety of staff specializations than smaller ones. In smaller institutions, however, librarians frequently have duties that blend many of these traditional functions.

Collection services librarians are often called bibliographers, selectors, subject specialists, or curators.

  • Build collections in various formats, such as books, journals, DVDs, and databases.
  • Evaluate student and faculty title requests.
  • Manage subjects/title criteria for automatic shipment programs with book vendors.
  • Review titles for preservation, replacement, or deselection.
  • Keep abreast of users' needs and changes in academic disciplines.

Public services librarians

  • Answer faculty and student research questions in-person, by email, by phone, or through IM/chat.
  • Offer in-depth or specialized research consultation.
  • Provide library tours and instruction in the use of library resources to users.
  • Liaise with faculty and students in academic departments.
  • Promote library services to users.

Catalog librarians

  • Analyze and describe library materials according to established standards.
  • Work in many languages and subjects, handling materials such as, books, journals, databases, DVDs, maps, and other formats.
  • Manage library catalogs to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
  • Supervise paraprofessional cataloging staff.

Acquisitions librarians

  • Supervise the ordering of materials.
  • Negotiate with domestic and foreign publishers and vendors.
  • Manage allocation of library funds.
  • Manage receipt of items purchased.

Other functions

  • Electronic Resources/System librarians implement information technology (IT) to improve service and oversee a library's subscriptions to Internet resources.
  • Metadata/Digital Services librarians manage library digitization projects and institutional repositories.
  • Circulation/Inter-Library Loan librarians oversee circulation units and borrowing from and lending to other libraries.
  • Library Administators (library deans, library directors, department heads) supervise staff and oversee library functions.

I want more information about what librarians do.

How do foreign language skills fit in?

Foreign languages play a significant role in most of the major functions of academic librarians. Librarians may be asked to:

Find and evaluate resources in foreign languages
Examples:

  • Evaluate a German database for purchase.
  • Locate digital copies of 16th-century books in Italian.
  • Decide on whether to purchase a certain book in Spanish.

Analyze, describe, and provide access to items in foreign languages
Examples:

  • Catalog a collection of Middle French books.
  • Plan and implement a digitization project of Latin texts.
  • Determine the correct subject terms for a book in Greek.

Help faculty and students use foreign language materials
Examples:

  • Create a web guide or teach a class on using a database which is only in French and German.
  • Instruct students on using Spanish print indexes and bibliographies.
  • Assist a faculty member in getting materials from the Netherlands.

Communicate with foreign vendor and librarians
Examples:

Assist other library staff with language issues
Examples:

  • Assist with giving library orientation to students with limited English skills.
  • Assist cataloging staff with interpreting texts in Catalan.
  • Assist with translating a licensee agreement from French.

A 2007 survey of academic librarians found that foreign languages are used mainly for:

  • Selecting and evaluating materials (47.8%)
  • Cataloging materials (38.2%)
  • Communicating with patrons (e.g. answering reference questions) (32.8%)

How fluent do I need to be?

  • For the majority of positions requiring foreign language skills, only reading knowledge is necessary.
  • In the 2007 survey of academic librarians, reading a foreign language was rated as a skill used frequently by 42.2% of respondents, compared to speaking (11.1%) , and writing (8.7%).

Will it be worth my while?

In addition to the personal satisfaction academic librarians derive from their work, they often receive salaries and benefits comparable to teaching faculty.

Salaries

Other Benefits offered by many universities and colleges often include:

  • Health/dental insurance
  • Vacation and sick time
  • Pension/retirement plans
  • Tuition remission for self and dependents
  • Release time and financial support for conferences and/or research
  • ALA Report on Benefits for Library Staff

What's the job outlook for academic librarians?

Expected retirements of academic librarians will create opportunities for the next generation of librarians, especially in leadership positions.

Are foreign language skills important for academic librarians?

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