Career Overview
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.
Also Known As
- Librarian
- Library Media Specialist
- Media Specialist
- Reference Librarian
Alternate Job Titles
- Access Services Librarian
- Acquisitions Librarian
- Audio Visual Aids Technician (AV Aids Tech)
- Audio Visual Collections Coordinator (AV Collections Coordinator)
- Audio Visual Commissioning Specialist (AV Commissioning Specialist)
- Audio Visual Coordinator (AV Coordinator)
- Audio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist)
- Bibliographer
- Bookmobile Librarian
- Catalog Librarian
- Cataloger
- Catalogue Librarian
- Cataloguer
- Chemical Librarian
- Children's Librarian
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Check books in and out of the library.
- Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
- Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
- Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
- Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Administrative
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Category Flexibility
- Speech Clarity
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Cascading style sheets CSS
- Extensible markup language XML
Tools & Equipment
- Audio or video editing systems
- Audio presentation systems
- Audio tape players
- Barcode scanners
- Bookmobiles
- Cash registers
- Claw hammers
- Compact disk CD players
- Desktop computers
- Digital camcorders
- Digital cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Film projectors
- High speed video duplicators
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $38,920 |
| Median | $64,320 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $100,880 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 131,830
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Library Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $39,970
Library Assistants, Clerical
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,010
Archivists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $61,570
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $78,630
Instructional Coordinators
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $74,720
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.