A business librarian is a person who works for an academic institution’s business library. A two-year master’s degree in library science is typically required, as well as prior experience working with computer software programs. A business librarian’s responsibilities include assisting students and members of the public in locating business data, teaching newcomers to the library how to use the system, and planning for the library’s long-term success.
A business librarian’s primary responsibility is to assist students and the general public in locating information. A librarian responds to patrons’ inquiries about where to find specific business books or journals, as well as how to access business databases in areas such as accounting, economics, and marketing. This professional must also assist faculty members in locating business materials for use in teaching classes or facilitating tutoring sessions. Business librarians must be willing to work one-on-one with instructors and students, which necessitates excellent interpersonal skills.
Professionals who work in a business library are also in charge of conducting training sessions on how to use the library. This is especially important for each year’s new class of business students who enter the university’s business department. The librarian walks students through the library’s layout, explaining where to find reference materials and who to ask for assistance. Preparing training sessions for business library students also includes developing literacy information goals and library-based assignments. As a result, a business librarian’s success depends on strong organizational and public speaking skills, as well as teaching experience.
Following a business library budget and developing relationships with outside organizations are also important aspects of a librarian’s job. The individual must be able to read a budget and choose library resources that allow the library to stay on budget. He or she must also maintain contact with outside business centers and institutes in order to stay current on important field resources that the business library must make available.
A librarian who manages information in the business world must always set goals for how to improve the organization’s information storage. Business librarians, for example, are in charge of determining the effectiveness of the library’s electronic equipment, which includes patron computers. A business librarian must also evaluate the library’s electronic business databases on a regular basis to ensure that they meet the needs of students and instructors.