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Acquisitions Librarians

Advancement Prospects

Acquisitions librarians with experience and advanced degrees may become managers of acquisitions departments or library directors. Others advance laterally by seeking employment at libraries with larger collections or facilities. Some acquisition librarians become library science educators at the postsecondary level.

Academic qualifications often play a crucial role in advancing in this career. To unlock better employment opportunities, it is important to hold a master's degree. Specializing in law, business, medicine, science, engineering, or learning a foreign language can also be beneficial. Those aspiring to work in a college or university library may benefit from obtaining a doctorate. Advancing to senior administrative positions, such as department head, chief information officer, or library director, requires relevant experience.

Acquisition librarians are expected to have promising job prospects in the next decade. Most jobholders are over 45 and approaching retirement age, while nontraditional jobs are increasing. Many private companies are hiring acquisition librarians due to their skills and expertise. The overall job market for librarians is anticipated to grow by four percent in the coming years.