Career Overview
Teach courses in library science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also Known As
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Library Science Professor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Classification Instructor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Film and Media Program Instructor
- Information Science Professor
- Instructor
- Lecturer
- Library Instructor
- Library Professor
- Library Science Professor
- Library Technology Instructor
- Medical Record Librarians Teacher
- Medical Records Library Professor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and present findings in professional journals, books, electronic media, or at professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, giving presentations at conferences, and serving on committees in professional associations.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as collection development, archival methods, and indexing and abstracting.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Serve as a mentor.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Communications and Media
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Cooperation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
- C++
- Extensible markup language XML
- Google Docs
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
Tools & Equipment
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Sitting
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $53,590 |
| Median | $78,630 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $126,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 4,100
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $72,090
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $44,930
Instructional Coordinators
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $74,720
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $82,540
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $64,320
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.