How to become a Librarian

Delivers quality information services for the benefit of users by using unique technical skills to develop, acquire, organise, manage and preserve information resources, and to research, design and deliver customised services in a networked environment.

Main tasks

• Examines publications and materials, interviews publishers' representatives, and consults with others to select library materials
• Provides assistance to clients in accessing library resources and undertakes information research activities on behalf of clients
• Manages library systems for recording and organising library holdings, acquisitions and purchases, and reader registrations and loan transactions
• Supervises indexing, filing and retrieval activities
• Manages interlibrary loan systems and information networks
• Selects, orders, classifies and catalogues library and information resources
• Monitors collection development and culling programs
• Sources, manages and preserves information resources and collections throughout their lifecycle, including digital preservation
• Designs, directs and delivers customised library services, programs and products that are responsive to community needs
• Develops and delivers information literacy education for users

Ways in

• University: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $95,732 a year
• About 11,300 people work in this job group now, and about 14,200 are projected by 2035. (+25.9%)
• Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Librarian?

Ways in include: Arts & Humanities degrees.

How much does a Librarian earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $95,732 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Librarian a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 26% by 2035, from about 11,300 to about 14,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Librarian?

Usually. 79% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Librarian?

Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04