Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Librarian

🎯 Role Definition

A Librarian is responsible for developing, managing, and promoting collections and services that meet the information, research, learning, and cultural needs of patrons. The role combines cataloging and collection development with user-centered reference services, information literacy instruction, digital resource stewardship, and administrative duties—often across physical and virtual environments. Librarians collaborate with faculty, community partners, and technical teams to ensure discoverability, accessibility, preservation, and compliance of library resources.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Library Assistant or Paraprofessional transitioning into professional librarianship
Archivist or Records Technician with emerging reference responsibilities
Research Support or Academic Support Specialist (e.g., research assistant)

Advancement To:

Head Librarian / Department Head
Library Director or Chief Librarian
Academic Liaison or Subject Specialist Lead
Digital Collections Manager / Repository Director

Lateral Moves:

Records Manager or Archivist
Instructional Designer or Information Literacy Coordinator
Research Data Management Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, curate, and manage print and digital collections by evaluating acquisitions, deselection (weeding), and preservation needs to align collections with institutional goals, curricular requirements, and community interests.
Catalog and classify new acquisitions using MARC21, RDA, Dewey Decimal Classification or Library of Congress Classification standards, ensuring metadata quality and consistent discoverability across catalog systems.
Provide high-quality reference and research assistance in-person, online, and via telephone — guiding patrons through literature searches, database techniques, primary source discovery, and citation management tools.
Design and deliver information literacy instruction, workshops, and one-on-one consultations that teach search strategies, critical evaluation of sources, academic integrity, and effective use of library resources for diverse user groups.
Manage the integrated library system (ILS) and electronic resource management (ERM) systems — configuring records, troubleshooting circulation workflows, and ensuring accurate holdings, licensing, and access.
Oversee digital collections and institutional repositories: ingest, describe, preserve, and provide access to born-digital and digitized assets using metadata schemas (MODS, Dublin Core), preservation best practices, and backup policies.
Negotiate, license, and manage subscriptions and vendor relationships for electronic journals, databases, e-books, and streaming services; monitor usage statistics and reconcile invoices against budgets.
Lead outreach and engagement programs (author talks, storytimes, community events) that promote collections, services, and literacy initiatives to expand patron access and usage.
Collaborate with faculty, departments, and stakeholders to develop course-integrated library instruction, tailored collection development, and support for curriculum and research needs.
Create, update, and enforce library policies and procedures related to circulation, access services, interlibrary loan, copyright compliance, and acceptable use to ensure equitable and lawful resource use.
Coordinate interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery services, processing requests, managing lending/borrowing workflows, and maintaining timely communication with patron and partner libraries.
Supervise, train, and schedule library staff, student employees, and volunteers—conducting performance evaluations, mentoring professional development, and promoting a customer-focused service culture.
Manage budgeting and fiscal responsibilities for assigned collections or service areas: prepare purchase requests, track expenditures, forecast needs, and report budget variances.
Conduct collection assessment and user needs analysis using circulation data, surveys, and analytics to inform acquisitions, weeding projects, and strategic planning.
Ensure accessibility and inclusion by implementing ADA-compliant services, offering assistive technologies, and creating outreach strategies that reduce barriers for diverse and underserved communities.
Plan and implement preservation and conservation projects for fragile or rare materials, including environmental monitoring, rehousing, and collaboration with conservation specialists.
Maintain and update online discovery tools, library website content, FAQs, and user guides; optimize information architecture and search engine visibility for the library’s web presence.
Administer patron account services, membership registration, fines and fee policies, and lost/damaged item processes while balancing customer service and institutional policy requirements.
Conduct original or collaborative research in librarianship, information science, or subject specialties; present findings at conferences, publish in professional outlets, and apply evidence-based practices to service improvements.
Implement and support emerging technologies and digital tools (e.g., discovery layers, linked data, APIs) to enhance metadata interoperability, discovery, and integration with campus systems.
Coordinate archives workflows: accessioning, arrangement and description, reference services for special collections, rights management, and outreach to researchers and donors.
Lead emergency preparedness and disaster recovery planning for collections and digital assets, including response protocols, salvage priorities, and coordination with facilities and IT teams.
Act as an advocate for the library inside and outside the organization: prepare reports, grant proposals, newsletters, and presentations to secure funding and community support.
Monitor copyright, licensing, and fair use policies; provide guidance to patrons and staff on legal and ethical resource use and implement takedown or permissions processes when required.

Secondary Functions

Support the evaluation and implementation of discovery and search optimization projects to improve resource findability and SEO for public-facing catalogs and guides.
Coordinate volunteer and internship programs, offering supervision and structured learning experiences for library science students and community volunteers.
Assist with marketing and communications—producing social media content, event promotions, and analytical reports to increase program attendance and resource utilization.
Participate in cross-departmental committees (IT, accessibility, academic affairs) to integrate library initiatives with institutional strategies and student success efforts.
Support donor relations by documenting gifts, preparing accession records, and coordinating donor agreements for special collections and endowments.
Maintain professional currency through continuing education, attending conferences, completing certifications, and participating in professional associations (e.g., ALA).
Facilitate makerspace or learning commons environments—supervising equipment usage, training patrons on tools, and integrating hands-on learning into library programming.
Conduct outreach to local schools, community organizations, and professional networks to build partnerships that enhance library services and resource sharing.
Draft and administer grant proposals and foundation requests to fund digitization projects, special collections preservation, and community programming.
Prepare regular reports and metrics for leadership—analyzing trends in circulation, electronic resource usage, program attendance, and user satisfaction to support strategic decisions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Cataloging and metadata creation (MARC21, RDA, Dublin Core, MODS) with attention to accuracy, authority control, and controlled vocabularies.
Classification expertise (Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Classification).
Integrated Library Systems (ILS) administration and troubleshooting (e.g., Sierra, Aleph, Koha, Alma, Evergreen).
Electronic resource management and licensing (ERM workflows, COUNTER statistics, OpenAthens/Proxy, EZproxy).
Reference database searching and discovery tools (EBSCOhost, ProQuest, JSTOR, Scopus, Web of Science).
Digital preservation and repository management (DSpace, Fedora, Archivematica, CONTENTdm).
Instructional design and learning outcome assessment for information literacy sessions and workshops.
Familiarity with linked data, metadata schemas, and basic XML/JSON for metadata exchange and APIs.
Copyright, licensing, and fair use policy interpretation with practical application for academic and public settings.
Interlibrary loan and resource sharing systems (OCLC, Relais, ILLiad) and delivery coordination.
Basic IT & AV troubleshooting, including digital signage, makerspace tools, and common library technologies.
Preservation/conservation knowledge for paper, photographic, and digital materials, including environmental controls.
Data analysis for library metrics (Excel, CSV handling, basic visualization tools) to drive collection decisions.
Grant writing and budget management skills for securing and administering project funds.

Soft Skills

Strong customer service orientation with the ability to communicate complex information in plain language to diverse user groups.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for instruction, reports, and stakeholder engagement.
Collaborative teamwork and partnership-building across departments and external organizations.
Problem-solving and critical thinking applied to reference questions, resource discovery, and operational challenges.
Project management and organizational skills to oversee multi-phase digitization, outreach, or collection development projects.
Adaptability and willingness to learn emerging technologies, trends in librarianship, and new pedagogical approaches.
Attention to detail paired with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Cultural competency and commitment to inclusive services that respect diversity and intellectual freedom.
Leadership and supervisory skills, including mentoring, performance feedback, and staff development.
Initiative and creativity in program design, outreach strategies, and patron engagement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master of Library Science (MLS) or Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an accredited institution (preferred for professional librarian roles).

Preferred Education:

ALA-accredited MLIS degree; additional certifications in archives management, digital curation, or instructional design are advantageous.
Advanced degree or coursework in a subject specialty (e.g., STEM, humanities) for liaison roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Library and Information Science
Archival Studies or Records Management
Information Science / Knowledge Management
Education, Humanities, or subject-specific disciplines for liaison roles

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of professional library experience for mid-level librarian positions; entry-level professional roles may accept 0–2 years with strong practicum or internship experience.

Preferred:

3+ years of specialized experience in academic, public, special, or school libraries with demonstrated competence in cataloging, reference services, electronic resource management, and supervisory responsibilities. Experience with digital repositories, grant-funded projects, or significant outreach programming is highly desirable.