Library Media Specialists

The Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that opportunities for librarians, including library media specialists, should be good in the next decade. Through 2028, about 14,700 job openings will be available for librarians 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 other organizations. As the use of computers continues to spread in classrooms and in library media centers, library media specialists who have developed excellent computer skills might move into such positions as computer coordinator for the entire school or school district.

Library media specialists who have worked in schools will also find opportunities to take their educational background into jobs with educational product companies as software producers or as researchers who help their firms determine the materials that schools need. They may also utilize their background in children's and young-adult literature by working for publishing companies.

In addition, there will be increasing opportunities for library media specialists who wish to take their skills from the school and library setting into the outside world of business, industry, medical establishments, and government organizations. These alternative settings will allow experienced specialists to use media materials to train workers and to spread their messages to the public. Media skills will prove valuable to those wishing to move into advertising and public relations. Some media specialists will find work with health and welfare services providers to develop materials that teach people how to maintain their health and spend money wisely.