Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
36%aged 55 or over
80%hold a degree
65%women
Age of librarians
Age profile of librarians
n/p
17%!
19%!
29%!
30%!
5.9%!
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
Not published
25–34
17% (small sample)
35–44
19% (small sample)
45–54
29% (small sample)
55–64
30% (small sample)
65+
5.9% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by librarians
Degree or equivalent80%
Higher education below degree!7.3%
A levels or equivalent!7.4%
GCSEs or equivalent!7.8%
Other qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
80%
Higher education below degree
7.3% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
7.4% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent
7.8% (small sample)
Other qualifications
Not published
Main employers: tertiary education (33%), library and archive activities (24%), general secondary education (15%), primary education (6%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
80%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
None
none leads directly into this work
Routes in
Librarian
You can get into this job through:
University
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
Subjects include:
library and information management
information science
library studies
You may need some practical experience to do a postgraduate course. You can get this through an internship during your first degree or by volunteering in a library or archive collection.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
Work your way up
You could start as a library assistant or data officer with an information service.
With experience, you could apply for Certification through the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and study for further qualifications while you work.
Other routes
If you have a first degree, you could join an employer's graduate training scheme in librarianship and information management.
What you’ll need
pass enhanced background checks
Registration and professional bodies
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals for training and development opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a librarian from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for librarian. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Information scientist
You can get into this job through:
University
You could do a degree or postgraduate course to become an information scientist.
You can see approved courses and qualifications on the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).
Courses include:
information studies
information management
informatics
data asset management
library studies
Entry to postgraduate courses is very competitive. Before you apply for a course, you should try to get up to a year's work experience in a library or information services setting.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
College
You could do a T Level in Management and Administration to get some of the skills and knowledge you'll need as an assistant information officer or information manager apprentice.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could do an apprenticeship relevant to this role such as:
Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant Level 3 Intermediate Apprenticeship
Information Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Archivist and Records Manager Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship
There might be opportunities to do an apprenticeship in different sectors like education, construction, engineering, health, transport or local government.
Entry requirements
To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could start as an assistant information officer or library assistant and work your way up by training on the job.
Other routes
If you're already working in information science or management, you could get your skills and knowledge certified with professional registration from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).
Registration and professional bodies
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) to help with your career development.
Further information
You can find out more about working in information science from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for information scientist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The work
ONS · ESCO · O*NET
Typical tasks
selects and arranges for the acquisition of books, periodicals, audio-visual and other material
collects, classifies and catalogues information, books and other material
prepares and circulates abstracts, bibliographies, book lists, etc.
identifies the information needs of clients, seeks out and evaluates information sources
establishes information storage systems to deal with queries and to maintain up to date records
manages library borrowing and inter-library loan facilities
promotes library services through displays and talks
provides learning and cultural experiences through events such as author talks, reading groups, formal and informal teaching
Skills
assess informational needs
develop solutions to information issues
manage digital libraries
perform customer management
create semantic trees
digitise documents
hire new personnel
use software for data preservation
analyse information systems
analyse library users' queries
buy new library items
carry out internet research
classify library materials
conduct scholarly research
Knowledge
copyright legislation
collection management
data quality assessment
information governance compliance
scientific research methodology
Suits people who like
Organising and following procedures
Working with ideas and solving problems
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business, media and public service professionals, a group of 32 jobs that includes librarians.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 26%about 670,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20352.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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