High School

If you are interested in becoming a music librarian, be sure to take a full college preparatory course load. Focus on classes in music, English, speech, history, and foreign languages. Learning how to use a computer and conduct basic research in a library is essential. Developing these skills will not only aid in your future library work, but will also help you in college and in any other career areas you decide to pursue.

Postsecondary Training

Most students interested in becoming music librarians pursue a bachelors degree in the arts or music in such majors as musicology, music education, music theory/composition, and vocal and instrumental performance.

In addition to music-related courses, be sure to take at least one foreign language since music and music literature are published in many languages. The Music Library Association reports that basic cataloguing and bibliographic research require knowledge of German and, at minimum, one Romance language. You should also take classes that strengthen your communication skills, research methods, collection organization, and customer service abilities. More than half of the accredited library schools do not require students to take introductory courses in library science while an undergraduate. It would be wise, though, to check with schools for specific requirements.

You will need to earn a masters degree to become a librarian. The degree is generally known as the master of library science (M.L.S.), but in some institutions it may be referred to by a different title, such as the master of library and information science. You should plan to attend a graduate school of library and information science that is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). Some libraries will not consider job applicants who attended a nonaccredited school.

A second masters degree in music is usually required for the best music librarianship positions. Some schools offer a dual degree in librarianship and music. Common combinations include an M.L.S. with either a master of arts in musicology, a master of music in music history, or a master of music in music theory. Other schools may allow students to take music courses that can be counted toward a library degree. Typical graduate courses include music librarianship, music bibliography, music cataloging, music libraries and information services, history of music printing, history of music documents, and special problems in music cataloging. Other graduate courses may feature sections that relate to music librarianship. Many graduate programs also offer internships or practicums in which students can gain hands-on experience working in a music library.

The Directory of Library School Offerings in Musical Librarianship, published by the Music Library Association, provides information on U.S. and Canadian library schools that offer a masters degree in library science with a concentration in music, specialized courses in music librarianship, or other music-related educational opportunities. A free, online version of the publication is available at the MLA Web site (https://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/LibSchoolDirectoryI).

A doctorate may be required for work in research libraries, university libraries, or special collections. A doctorate is commonly required for the top administrative posts of these types of libraries, as well as for faculty positions in graduate schools of library science.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education (CE) opportunities are provided by many library associations at the national, state, and local levels. For example, the Music Library Association (MLA) offers educational workshops on the basics of music librarianship such as sound recordings cataloging, music reference, and music collection development/acquisitions. Contact the MLA for more information.

Certification or Licensing

There is no specialized certification available for music librarians. If you plan to work outside of music librarianship as a school librarian, you are required to earn teachers certification in addition to preparation as a librarian. You may also be required to earn a masters degree in education. Various state, county, and local governments have set up other requirements for education and certification. Contact the school board in the area in which you are interested in working for specific requirements. Your public library system should also have information readily available.

Experience as a library volunteer or in a part-time job as a library assistant or technician will be helpful for aspiring music librarians.

Music librarians should have an excellent memory and a keen eye for detail, as they manage a wide variety of resources. They must love music and be willing to assist others with sometimes obscure or demanding requests.

Music librarians who deal with the public should have strong interpersonal skills, tact, and patience. An imaginative, highly motivated, and resourceful personality is very valuable. An affinity for problem solving is another desirable quality. Librarians are often expected to take part in community affairs, cooperating in the preparation of exhibits, presenting book reviews, and explaining library use to community organizations. As a music librarian, you will also need to be a leader in developing the cultural and musical tastes of library patrons.

Music librarians involved with technical services should be detail-oriented, have good planning skills, and be able to think analytically. They should have a love for information and be willing to master the techniques for obtaining and presenting knowledge. Librarians must also be prepared to master constantly changing technology.