Librarians

Keepers of Lore & History

Old tomes are moved from carts to shelves, each placed back in its spot, organized so that it may be found again in this labyrinth of books. As the cart empties, more books begin to fill it back up, a small woman with half-moon glasses searching from floor to ceiling for the books that had been asked for. Her search will require knowledge of the obscure and the willingness to climb the rickety ladder to the very top shelves, but she will continue, answering the questions that her patrons had posed early that morning.
The hush of turned pages and quills on parchment is all that can be heard, even as the tables are full of all sorts. Every once in a while, the rattling of the ladder wheels will echo out, or a whispered conversation will be had, but the silence lies heavy on those who are there. One may think that only this type of reverence can be found in temples and shrines, but that is far from the truth. Libraries hold people's respect just as well as the gods, but even those who do not believe still end up at the library at one point or another.
While libraries are often reserved for larger cities, those who work in them are a resource all their own. Some will travel days just to ask a single question, to have one of the Librarians find the perfect book, tome, or scroll to bring their searching to an end. Here in the stacks, questions are answered, dreams are formed, and paths are drawn. Librarians may simply be keepers of the lore, but they serve the masses, answering all that they can.

Career

Qualifications

It may seem that there are probably a number of qualifications needed to become a Librarian, but this is not truly the case. Many become Librarians because they grew up using the library and chose to turn their love of the space and its knowledge into a profession. Most people gain experience and knowledge by just being a Librarian and serving in a variety of positions in the library. While the ability to read and write at least Common and the area's most common language is required, little else is needed to become a Librarian.

Career Progression

Because of the many possible jobs in a library, there is ample career progression. Many Librarians start as shelvers, returning books to their proper locations after they are used by patrons. From there, one may become a cataloger, someone who makes records for incoming items so that others know where the item is as well as information about it. Depending on one's schooling, they may become a specialized Librarian, focusing on specific topics as a subject matter expert. For many, the goal is to eventually become the Head Librarian, but these positions are highly coveted and often given to those who have been Librarians for decades.

Perception

Social Status

Much like many of the other academic professions, Librarians are respected, but the general population is often confused about what they truly do. Professions such as Scholars, Librarians, and Archivists are often confused, and many believe that all these people do is keep history. Because of this, those in these professions are given a great amount of respect, but they are often not held to the same esteem as professions such as Blacksmiths, Paladins, or even Miners.

Type

Education

Other Associated professions

• Archivists
• Scholars
• Storytellers

Related Languages

Dwarven Subject Headings

Similar Professions

Librarians are only one of the many academic professions that have ties and are often used interchangeably, even though these professions are very different. Scholars are those who study things and most likely write tomes, books, and scrolls on a topic. Archivists are those who catalog and preserve the original media, such as handwritten notes, recorded audio, or other documents from the original time period. Librarians organize, teach, and share the information that has been compiled in complete works. Average people will often only interact with Librarians in their pursuit of knowledge.