Top Slower than average employment growth, coupled with an increasing number of MLS graduates, will result in more applicants competing for fewer jobs. However, because MLS programs increasingly focus on computer skills, graduates will be qualified for other, computer-related occupations. Some job openings for librarians will stem from projected slower than average employment growth through 2008. Replacement needs will account for more job openings over the next decade, as some librarians reach retirement age. The increasing use of computerized information storage and retrieval systems could contribute to slow growth in the demand for librarians.
Computerized systems make cataloguing easier, which library technicians now handle.
In addition, many libraries are equipped for users to access library computers directly from their homes or offices. These systems allow users to bypass librarians and conduct research on their own. However, librarians are needed to manage staff, help users develop database searching techniques, address complicated reference requests, and define users' needs. Opportunities will be best for librarians outside traditional settings. Nontraditional library settings include information brokers, private corporations, and consulting firms.