Medical Librarian Career
Explore how you can use library and health science to make a positive impact in the world of health care
There are a lot of exciting careers in health care that combine medicine with another discipline. Medical librarian is one such field. If you are interested in pursing library science and want to specialize, or if you are looking for a promising career in the booming health care sector that is outside of direct patient care, this might be a great fit for you.
Become a Medical Librarian
- Career Plan: How to Become a Medical Librarian
Medical Librarian Resources…
- Medical Librarian Certification
- Job Description & Stats: Medical Librarian
- Related Support Services Careers
Where do medical librarians work?
Medical librarians work in libraries or resource centers located in hospitals, research centers, or medical schools.. They do much of the work a typical librarian would do, such acquiring and cataloging books and assisting those who are using the library for research or educational purposes , but they work with health-related materials. Many provide information to families, working with medical staff to approve educational resources, or to collect data and manage newsletters. They also maintain day-to-day operations of the library, covering some basic administrative duties.
What type of education and training is needed?
How do you become a medical librarian? You will need a bachelor’s of science degree in Library Science or Health Science. Many medical librarians have a master’s degree in Library Science, which you can also pursue if you have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Some programs offer combined degrees in library science and health informatics or health science. If you only have a library science degree, you will likely need some educational training in health sciences, as medical librarians need to understand medical references and be familiar with online medical databases.
Find a program that is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). Coursework will cover health science information resources, special libraries, cataloging and classification, managing collections, and information systems.
The average salary for a medical librarian is $52,759. Because medical research is always being done, the amount of information being published both online and in journals, this job will continue to be in demand. Consider joining the Medical Library Association (MLA) for information on conferences, career development, and local chapters.
To learn more about becoming a medical librarian, you can contact schools that offer library science or related programs. Another option is to take some time to explore additional careers in health care that may peak your interest.