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Career Yatra
Education and Training

Librarian

Information science professional who manages and organises a library's books and digital resources.

After Class 12GraduationPostgraduateDegreeDiplomaCertificateGovernmentPrivate Sector

Overview

A Librarian is an information science professional who works at a school/local library/college/university/government-funded library/private institutes and corporates with libraries. A Librarian ensure ease of accessing the vast amount of information contained in books, periodicals and modern-day tools such as e-books, audiobooks and video recordings and other digital sources. She/he is responsible for managing and organising a library to easily locate the study materials.

Where they work

  • Public and Private Libraries
  • Government and Private Schools
  • Government and Private Colleges/Universities
  • Community Libraries
  • NGO-run Libraries

Work environment

You will typically work indoors. You are expected to work for 8 hours per day.

Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.

Skills and interests

This career might suit you if…

  • You have an interest and knowledge about a diverse collection of books
  • You have strong communication skills
  • You are a good organiser
  • You like to read and instill the joy of reading in others
Any Streamhelping peopleresearching

Eligibility and education roadmap

Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.

Route 1

  1. 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
  2. 2Complete Bachelor's of Library Science (B.Lib.) degree and Bachelor's of Library Information Science (B.Lib.Sc.) followed by Master's degree in the same field

Alternative route 2

  1. 1Complete a Diploma or Certificate course in Library Science

Forms, exams and applications

Not applicable / varies by institution — check directly with your chosen institute.

Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.

Where to apply

This course is offered by the Department of Library and Information Science.

Government institutes

  • University of Delhi, New Delhi
  • Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  • Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab
  • Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
  • Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra
  • Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana
  • Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Private institutes

Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.

  • Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • Sri Krishna Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
  • Rajeev Gandhi College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
  • Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
  • Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Kerala
  • Jamshedpur Women's College, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
  • Anugrah Narayan College, Patna, Bihar
  • Shailabala Women's College, Cuttack, Odisha

Distance learning

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Check official institute rankings (NIRF)

These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.

Career outcomes

Growth path

  • 1Assistant Librarian
  • 2Deputy Librarian
  • 3Librarian
  • 4Chief Librarian
Government roles available

Expected income

₹50,000 – ₹1,50,000 per month or more

The figures are indicative and subject to change.

Source

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Student action plan

What you can do this month

  • Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
  • Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
  • Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
  • Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
  • Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.

Example from the field

Usha Mukunda — A Librarian who has been an ardent advocate of open libraries for children for over 35 years. She has an Honours Degree in English Literature from Presidency College Calcutta and a Masters' degree in Librarianship from Bangalore University. She co-founded the Centre for Learning (Bangalore) in 1990 and set up an open library there. She worked with several rural, government and community libraries across India.

Source

This profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.

Sources and update notice

  • Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 281 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
  • Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Librarian/Salary
  • Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21

Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.