Library Media Specialists
Overview
Introduction
Library media specialists manage their organizations media center. They are school staff members who help teachers and students find and use the information available to them through print and audiovisual sources. They acquire and maintain their schools resources, which may include cameras, slide and film projectors, overhead and opaque projectors, television and video equipment, augmented and virtual reality headgear and other equipment, recording equipment, computers, and compact disc, DVD, and MP3 players. They also acquire and m...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Librarians and library media specialists had median annual earnings of $64,370 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Ten percent earned less than $38,690, and 10 percent earned more than $101,970. Librarians and library media specialists who worked at elementary and secondary schools earned average salaries of $68,450. Media specialists who act as a faculty adviser to student ...
Work Environment
Most library media specialists work in grade schools or high schools, and they usually work in library media centers that have facilities for previewing software, making audiovisual aids, and storing equipment. Specialists deal with students and teachers every day and often face frequent interruptions to answer questions or to provide instruction. Teachers often visit them to discuss materials ...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that opportunities for librarians, including library media specialists, should be good in the next decade. Through 2033, about 13,300 job openings will be available for librarians and library media specialists on an annual basis, according to the DOL. Openings will exist in school library media centers, as well as media centers in public libraries and...