By Guest Blogger Alexandria Lowery, San Jose State University
Let’s be honest. Many people’s idea of a “librarian” is a person working in a school, college, or public setting. However, my time enrolled in the Master’s program for Library and Information Science at San Jose State University has taught me otherwise. The information profession has tons of job titles I was not aware of, even for someone who worked in the field for a couple of years now. For example, there could be an “art librarian” or “technical services librarian”. Both of which require different qualifications for one to apply to them.
I interned remotely at National Rural and Tribal Assistance Program (National RTAP) and was supervised by a professional with a job title I never heard about: “Knowledge and Resource Manager.” She’s also a transportation librarian. Please, cue the confusion.
So, what does a transportation librarian do?
(Image credits: TRB, Montana Transportation Department, Washington DOT, VTI/Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute)
According to Cara Marcus—"what defines transportation librarians is their commitment to collections, research strategies, and knowledge that enhances mobility, equity, and sustainable infrastructure for all.”
In other words, she helps those working in the transportation industry obtain the relevant and accurate information easily. And here I thought it was another way of saying she was a “Traveling Librarian.” Alas, the latter means something else that is not my focus for this blog post.
As I work my way through my MLIS degree, I have no doubt that I will again encounter different jobs with unexpected titles for those on their way to becoming information professionals.
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