Unlocking Opportunities: Alternative Income Sources for Librarians

  In library schools, some life and research skills are taught, and these skills are only taught in library schools. However, later in life, we tend to forget, underrate, and neglect these skills, focusing solely on the library's official routines.

 

Beyond the official library work, librarians can earn extra income by engaging in profitable activities such as indexing and abstracting, consultancy services, operating a bookshop, printing, photocopying, lamination services, and running a general business center. Other opportunities include publishing, proofreading, research assistance, organizing workshops and seminars on research writing skills, establishing private libraries, blogging, vlogging, and more.

 

As a librarian, you are a certified indexer and abstractor, having learned these skills in library school. Sharpen your skills and commercialize them. Leverage information and communication technology (ICT) to work smarter and produce excellent results within a few hours, utilizing your meticulous library skills.

 

Consultancy services are suitable for librarians with years of professional experience. There is a significant number of clients, including individuals, private organizations, and government institutions, seeking guidance on organizing functional libraries, purchasing library equipment, bibliotherapy counseling, and fostering reading habits, among other needs. As an experienced professional librarian, you can establish a consulting firm to meet these demands.

 

Publishing is another profitable alternative source of income for librarians. Many people in the publishing industry are non-certified publishers and artisans who produce books for public consumption, earning a steady income. As a trained librarian who has taken courses in book publishing, you should step out of the library, stop complaining about financial constraints, and explore this avenue to make some cool cash.

 

Librarians are polymaths who read extensively, and the purpose of all this reading is to share knowledge. Let the world discover the treasure within you. Start a blog, vlog, YouTube channel, and create content on other social media platforms. Drive traffic to your page, run advertisements, and generate additional income.

 

For young and early-career librarians, establishing a business center can be highly lucrative. By offering services such as printing, photocopying, laminating, and typesetting, you can earn money. Many individuals involved in these trades are non-graduates who mishandle information and lack information management etiquette. As a trained librarian, this presents an opportunity to earn money while bringing a professional touch to document production. You might be surprised by how much money you can make within a weekend or a month.

 

Proofreading services and research assistantship are avenues for librarians to earn extra income. Librarianship is a meticulous profession that requires paying extra attention to minute details, which is precisely what proofreading and research assistance services entail. It's important to note that you are not helping people write their research work, as that would be unethical. Instead, you are reading their work and providing guidance. So, never sit back and complain about having no cash as a librarian. Step out of your shell and be productive.

 

Similarly, there is a wide range of software applications for research writing, and many students and faculty members need tutorials, lectures, training, and workshops on how to access and use these applications. Some individuals are willing to pay for these skills. Be the solution they seek. You don't need a physical location; social media platforms offer a viable space to arrange and host these training sessions and generate income. Some areas people need training on include literature search skills, grammar and paraphrasing software, citation management applications, data analysis applications, visualization tools, productivity tips, and more.

 

Also, there is a growing number of online journal websites owned by professional associations, departments, research institutions, and tertiary institutions that require online visibility. They aim to increase traffic on their sites, increase downloads, citations, and get indexed on platforms such as AJOR, Google Scholar, Scopus, and more. These journal outlets are in need of social media managers who can help elevate their journals to international standards, accelerate SEO, and enhance their reputation among their contemporaries. As a trained librarian, this task should be a piece of cake for you. Bill your clients and join them in achieving their goals.

 

Information repackaging is another alternative source of income for librarians. With information overload, people seek concise and graphical forms of information comprehension. This is where librarians excel, as they are trained to handle such tasks. Indigenous knowledge can be modified to appeal to Gen Z users, and mediums like animation and infographics can be ventured into to generate income.

 

While we advocate for a paperless society, the concept has been discussed in literature for decades, yet we still heavily rely on paper. Operating a bookshop is a lucrative business that librarians can conveniently fit into. Non-librarians are reaping significant profits from this venture. Imagine the level of professionalism you could bring to the table by getting involved and effortlessly making a living. Pupils and students in nursery, elementary, primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions still rely on printed books. Find a suitable location and sell books. This is your birthright as a librarian.

 

Enough of being passive librarians who only complain about a lack of cash. New library school graduates don't have to wait for years expecting federal appointments. Put your brain to work, upgrade your skills, and start making money for yourself. Entrepreneurship in librarianship is not just a course you took to pass; it requires practice and the goal of financial freedom.

 

In conclusion, make sure to register your business with the CAC (Nigeria) or the appropriate government agency. This will pave the way for securing lucrative contracts from corporate organizations. Many people miss out on opportunities because they operate on a local scale. As a gatekeeper of knowledge, be prepared when opportunity beckons. Lastly, open a corporate bank account for your venture. This is a professional practice followed by business professionals, and as librarians, let us get involved.

 

Azeez ADEOYE

Wizard Librarian.

+234 703 0292959

adeoyeazeez144076@gmail.com

 

Please share your perspective on the write-up and any additional alternative sources of income for librarians in the comments.