Library Education

In Canada, a Librarian holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from a program accredited by the American Library Association. They work mostly in public, post-secondary, corporate, and K-12 school libraries, and sometimes in other information organizations such as archives, museums, and galleries. Their primary responsibilities are to assess the needs of the diverse communities they serve and to curate and develop inclusive collections, programs, and services to meet those needs. They lead and manage libraries and are instrumental in setting strategic directions. They also recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff, and their roles often include budgeting and assessing collections, services, and technologies. In some organizations, librarians might be responsible for conducting research, instructing users about accessing and evaluating information, records and data management, or developing policies and procedures.

A Library Technician typically holds a two-year diploma in Library and Information Technology from a college, polytechnic, or university. They work in many types of libraries and information organizations where they are key members of people-focused teams performing essential day-to-day work such as helping users access information and resources; supervising lending and circulation of physical materials; cataloging, classifying, and maintaining collections; and assisting users with current technology. They may also contribute to public programs offered by the organization, provide community outreach, and perform administrative tasks such as ordering resources for collections. In smaller organizations, a Library Technician is sometimes responsible for all daily operations, including managing people.