H.O.T. GUIDE
Health Occupations
& Technology

Medical Librarian

To be a successful Medical Librarian you should…

  • enjoy retrieving, selecting, organizing and disseminating health information
  • thrive in changing environments
  • be innovative and creative
  • have technological aptitude
  • be people and service oriented
  • have excellent communication skills

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What will my job be like?

Medical Librarians spend their time finding and organizing health information, assisting patrons, selecting and purchasing books from publishers, cataloguing new material, compiling bibliographies, maintaining databases, planning, managing and budgeting for programs, managing collections, facilities, and staff, publicizing library services, developing and designing digital access and content and evaluating advanced information technologies.


Where could I work?

Medical librarians work in a variety of settings: hospitals, academic medical centers, and clinics; consumer health libraries; research centers and foundations; industries such as biotechnology, insurance, medical equipment, pharmaceutical, and publishing; federal, state, and local government agencies.


What is the average annual salary?

$60,800


What is the future of this career?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not specify medical librarians, but it reported a 9 percent job growth for librarians between 2020-2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 15,200 openings for librarians and library media specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.


What type of education and/or training do I need?

A Master of library science degree from an American Library Association-accredited school is required.


Where can I get the education and/or training?

  • Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
  • Three Rivers Community College, Norwich

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is not needed in Connecticut.


Where can I get more information?

Medical Library Association
233 South Wacker Drive, 44th Floor
Chicago, IL    60601-7246
(312 ) 419-9094
www.mlanet.org

Connecticut Association of Health Sciences Librarians
cahslinfo@gmail.com
www.cahsl.org