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Academic librarian : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
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Case studies

  • Range of typical starting salaries for paraprofessional: £19,000 - £24,000 (salary data collected Nov 09).
  • Range of typical starting salaries for newly qualified (0-2 years experience): £21,000 - £24,000 (salary data collected Nov 09).
  • Range of typical starting salaries for chartered librarians (2-5 years experience): £24,000 - £32,000 (salary data collected Nov 09).
  • Range of typical starting salaries for information director/head of service: £55,000+ (salary data collected Nov 09).
  • Professional salaries have traditionally been set on national academic-related scales, but this is currently being reviewed as a result of wider changes within the higher education sector. A list of recommended salaries is published by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) , along with regular surveys of members' salaries. CILIP recommends that chartered librarians should be paid a salary of at least £24,000.
  • Some universities have merged their library services with information technology departments and/or learning support, which may offer further opportunities for progression at the highest levels.
  • Working hours have traditionally been nine to five but, increasingly, duties include evening, weekend and bank holiday work. There is a growing trend for libraries to provide 24/7 services.
  • Academic librarians can work in a variety of locations and environments within an academic institution. Increasingly, they assist learners in the use of electronic data resources and, therefore, frequently utilise teaching or seminar rooms. Social contact varies from dealing with academic enquiries to behind-the-scenes computer work, although most roles include substantial contact with people.
  • Job sharing and flexible working patterns are commonplace. Many employers have family-friendly policies, and sabbaticals and secondments are also often possible. Self-employment and freelance work are unusual, but there is an increasing amount of fixed-term contract work available funded by external sources. Literature searching, indexing, research and consultancy are options for those who want the flexibility of self-employment after a number of years of professional practice.
  • At present, women outnumber men in the profession as a whole, but there are more men in senior posts. The number of women in senior roles is increasing.
  • Jobs are widely available in areas where there are further education or higher education institutions, which includes most large towns and cities in the UK.
  • The dress code is smart casual and appropriate for the environment.
  • This area of work is said to have become more stressful in recent years due to financial cutbacks, fewer staff and greater numbers of learners using libraries.
  • Travel between sites is sometimes required as institutions may have more than one library on different campuses. Overseas travel is relatively uncommon.
 
AGCAS
Written by June Kay, Durham University
Date: 
November 2009
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