When researching is your game, a librarian schooling should be in your game plan.

A library school specializes in - you guessed it - the training of librarians. And not just any librarians, mind you. This would be librarians who are schooled in the latest electronic media as well as hard core print media, too.

Library Study Colleges Have a Rich History
Dating back to 1887, the first library school was established by Melvil Dewey (as in the Dewey decimal system) at Columbia University. After that, countless librarian schools emerged both here and abroad. Many were founded during World War II, and the University of Chicago became the first library school to bestow a master's degree in library science.

In fact, when searching for a library school, the first prerequisite is ensuring they confer a degree in library science, the standard professional degree. Next, you'll want to ensure the library school is accredited by the American Library Association and offers graduate programs.

Although a bachelor's degree in library science was phased out over the past few decades, a master's degree in library science from a librarian school will likely open career opportunities. Most librarian schooling typically includes a master's degree in library science or the master of library and information science degree. In addition to an MLS degree, librarians in a specific library (think law, for instance), supplement their education by earning a degree in the area they're specializing in. So, for instance, A librarian working perhaps in business may earn a degree in library science along with a degree in business.

Just like a valuable key, a degree from a library school opens many doors. This degree provides a wide variety of opportunities in public libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, as well as school library media centers. Once gainfully employed, librarians usually have three aspects of work ranging from user services, technical services, and administrative services.

Library School By the Book
Librarian schooling focuses on a hybrid of courses in both library science and information science. While students learn cataloging, referencing, and collection development, they're also exposed to information technology, management and history of the profession. Plus, elective courses taken during librarian schooling typically encompass children's literature, archives, and information management. Since many librarians interact with people such as at a children's desk, attaining people skills are paramount to success in the field.

After graduating from a library school, job opportunities are quite favorable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, job outlooks are favorable because a significant number of librarians are expected to retire soon.  Although a master's degree in library science is the main qualification for most librarian positions, school librarians are typically expected to have experience as teachers in order to meet licensing requirements for each particular state. The median salary for 2007 as reported by the U.S. News & World Report was $51,400 as library and information science ranked as one of the "Best Careers of 2008."

So what are you waiting for? Start researching a variety of library schools for a scintillating degree in library science and land your way into a library career!