You have to study for that?

I was talking to someone the other day about how I worked as a supply teacher while I was studying for my library qualifications.

For some reason he found it surprising that someone would have to study to be a librarian.

This from someone completing a Bachelor of Sports Science. I managed to refrain from asking him how long he had to study at a university level to throw a ball, but it was tempting.

Next time you feel compelled to think the person sitting at the reference desk just wandered off the street and got a job, you should keep in mind that most librarians have post-graduate qualifications. Not only do they have at least one degree in a different field of study (I have degrees in Education and English Literature), but they also have a Graduate Diploma, Masters or even a PhD in Information Management (or something similar).

And yet, in spite of the fact that we've spent about six years of our lives in some form of academic study and dedicated at least a year or two to learning how to find and organise information on a level you might never personally encounter, we are still more than happy to print out a copy of the street map and tell you how to get to the mall, or simply tell you where the toilets are located in the building.

Why? Because librarians are not only smart and well educated, we're also helpful.

That's why we do this job - we just love helping you find what you're looking for.