What is a Librarian?

A librarian is a person who works in a library, and is responsible for acquiring, organizing, and maintaining the library's collection of books, periodicals, and other materials. Librarians also help patrons find information and resources, answer questions, and provide research assistance. They may work in public libraries, academic libraries, or specialized libraries such as law or medical libraries.

Librarians have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

* Selecting and purchasing books, periodicals, and other materials for the library's collection
* Organizing and cataloging materials to make them easily accessible to patrons
* Developing and maintaining the library's online catalog and database
* Providing research assistance and answering questions from patrons
* Leading children's storytime and other programming for the community
* Managing the library's budget and staff
* Staying up-to-date with new technologies and trends in librarianship.

Librarians may work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries, and specialized libraries such as law or medical libraries. They may also work in archives, museums, or other organizations that collect and preserve information.

To become a librarian, one typically needs to earn a master's degree in library science (MLS) or a related field. Coursework in library science programs typically includes classes on information technology, collection development, cataloging and classification, reference services, and library management. Many librarians also choose to specialize in a particular area, such as young adult literature, rare books, or digital libraries.