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Librarian

Education

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

Education

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Check books in and out of the library.
  2. 2Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
  3. 3Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
  4. 4Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
  5. 5Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
  6. 6Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
  7. 7Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
  8. 8Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
  9. 9Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
  10. 10Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
  11. 11Respond to customer complaints, taking action as necessary.
  12. 12Explain use of library facilities, resources, equipment, and services, and provide information about library policies.
  13. 13Plan and deliver client-centered programs and services, such as special services for corporate clients, storytelling for children, newsletters, or programs for special groups.
  14. 14Locate unusual or unique information in response to specific requests.
  15. 15Troubleshoot problems with audio-visual equipment.
  16. 16Develop library policies and procedures.
  17. 17Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
  18. 18Evaluate materials to determine outdated or unused items to be discarded.
  19. 19Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot information access aids, such as databases, annotated bibliographies, Web pages, electronic pathfinders, software programs, and online tutorials.
  20. 20Engage in professional development activities, such as taking continuing education classes and attending or participating in conferences, workshops, professional meetings, and associations.
  21. 21Compile lists of books, periodicals, articles, and audio-visual materials on particular subjects.
  22. 22Confer with teachers to select course materials and to determine which training aids are best suited to particular grade levels.
  23. 23Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
  24. 24Maintain inventory of audio-visual equipment.
  25. 25Arrange for interlibrary loans of materials not available in a particular library.
  26. 26Represent library or institution on internal and external committees.
  27. 27Set up, adjust, and operate audio-visual equipment, such as cameras, film and slide projectors, and recording equipment, for meetings, events, classes, seminars, and video conferences.
  28. 28Assemble and arrange display materials.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Cataloger
  • Librarian
  • Cataloguer
  • Classifier
  • AV Aids Tech
  • AV Specialist
  • Bibliographer
  • Law Librarian
  • AV Coordinator
  • Film Librarian

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationMaster's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administrative — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Bahasa MelayuDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Customer and Personal Service92%
  • English Language88%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics81%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Education and Training79%
  • Administrative77%

    Business

  • Communications and Media65%

    EnglishBahasa Melayu

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsOften
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

26%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

3.30%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Teacher (DG41)

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

IPG (Teacher Training)

Become a school teacher: fully funded, with an allowance and a guaranteed posting. Apply separately through KPM after SPM.

~5 years

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue