Whether you need the money or simply enjoy the camaraderie, working after retirement can be a smart decision. But continuing to work doesn't necessarily condemn you to the 9-to-5 grind.

A part-time job may fulfill your needs while leaving plenty of spare hours for friends, family, hobbies, travel or whatever else you like.

Take Sue Walbert. Last year, the 64-year-old retired from her position as head librarian at Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Va., but she wasn't ready to quit working. "I was OK with the idea of retiring, but I didn't want to not work at all," she says. "And I definitely wanted to keep my earnings going."

Part-time librarian Sue Walbert — Michael JN Bowles

Her solution: a part-time job at the library. Walbert arranged to clock in two days a week through a job-sharing arrangement with a colleague who also wanted to cut back on hours. The sweetener: She collects her pre-retirement hourly wage and is paid for sick and personal days.

"I like being with the kids," adds Walbert. "They laugh at my jokes. And I'm having fun learning how to do different things in the library that I didn't handle before, like online cataloging."

Whatever your motivation for working after retirement, here are five great part-time jobs to consider. Pay ranges, which will vary based on factors such as experience and where you live, are derived from U.S. Department of Labor data.

1. Librarian Assistant/Aide

The nitty-gritty: Duties might include fielding questions, shelving books, helping patrons check out, tracking overdue material and sending notices, as well as cataloging and keeping an eye out for lost and damaged items.
The hours: Schedules vary widely. Big libraries, or those on university campuses, tend to keep the doors open 24 hours a day, while small, local libraries might offer limited day and evening hours.
Median pay range: Small libraries can be cash-strapped and rely on volunteers, but at colleges, large city locations and specialty niche libraries, pay can range from $7.69 to $17.82 per hour. Those figures can more than double, depending on experience and where you live.             Qualifications: Experience working in libraries is desirable, as is an undergraduate or master's degree in library science. Larger libraries favor research skills using library resources, databases and other tools, along with the ability to get along with the various denizens of the library. Some skills that will help: Knowledge of word processing, data entry and online searching, ability to keep accurate records, understanding of library operations and general secretarial skills. Love of books is a given.

Handy with a calculator? You'll excel at this next job. >>