Employers
Library directors are employed at public, school, academic, and special libraries. Public, school, and academic libraries are located throughout the United States. Special libraries, such as an association library or medical library, tend to be located in large metropolitan areas, so you may have to relocate if you would like to become a special library director. Other library directors are employed in the armed forces.
Starting Out
The position of library director typically is not an entry-level career. Most employers require that director candidates have at least five years of library work experience at the administrative level to be eligible for a position. Aspiring library directors first obtain experience as librarians or in lower-level administrative positions such as chief librarian or associate director before seeking promotion to the position of library director. Chief librarians manage branch libraries or individual departments, such as the general reference, children's, circulation, or music departments; periodical reading room; or readers' advisory service. Associate directors assist the director in the library's daily operations. They are often assigned their own projects to manage or may be responsible for a small staff.
- Acquisitions Librarians
- Archivists
- Book Conservators
- Children's Librarians
- Corporate Librarians
- Database Specialists
- Exhibit Designers
- Film and Video Librarians
- Information Brokers
- Law Librarians
- Librarians
- Library and Information Science Instructors
- Library Assistants
- Library Media Specialists
- Library Technicians
- Medical Librarians
- Music Librarians