What does an adult services librarian do?
Adult services librarian responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real adult services librarian resumes:
- Manage integrated library system including OPAC, serials control, cataloging and acquisitions.
- Assist with general collection management including materials in science fiction, fantasy, health/fitness and history.
- Train new hire employees with new EMR system
- Form the young adult (teen) serves department, collection, and programs.
- Evaluate, select, weed and replace materials in the adult and teen collection.
- Cataloge new books, find and correct cataloging errors; classify and re-cataloge older non-fiction.
- Design new displays each month to proactively promote the use of the main library's fiction collection.
- Participate in new branch openings, system wide implementation of new ILS systems and implementation of emerging technologies like Libanswers.
- Develop, organize, cataloge and maintain library's serials collection.
- Open new patron accounts, provide customer support regarding account status and work with Polaris systems.
Adult services librarian skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Adult Services Librarians are proficient in Adult Services, Collection Development, and Adult Programs. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Initiative, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Adult Services Librarians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Adult Services, 14%
Attended Young Adult Services meetings, staff meetings, in-service training sessions, and other workshops.
- Collection Development, 10%
Provided general reference services; collection development for History and Social Sciences and Audio Recordings ; oversaw the inter-library loan program
- Adult Programs, 7%
Maintain Adult Media collection while providing positive public reference service and organizing adult programming.
- Library Services, 7%
Demonstrated interest and actively sought knowledge relating to current public library services trends.
- Reference Services, 5%
Participate in AskAcademic, providing reference service to academic institutions across the state of Colorado.
- Library Patrons, 5%
Provided readers' and viewers' advisory for library patrons of all ages.
"adult services," "collection development," and "adult programs" are among the most common skills that adult services librarians use at work. You can find even more adult services librarian responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an adult services librarian to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand." Additionally, an adult services librarian resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "provide excellent customer service to library patrons in person, over the phone and through electronic communication. "
Initiative. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling adult services librarian duties is initiative. The role rewards competence in this skill because "new information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do." According to an adult services librarian resume, here's how adult services librarians can utilize initiative in their job responsibilities: "develop and implement knowledge management initiatives including research project planning, execution, and tracking. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for adult services librarians to perform their duties. For an example of how adult services librarian responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "librarians must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an adult services librarian: "leveraged superior interpersonal skill to provide reference services to up to 50 clients each day. ".
Problem-solving skills. For certain adult services librarian responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of an adult services librarian rely on this skill, as "librarians conduct and assist with research." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what adult services librarians do: "resolved collection holdings issues, especially regarding serials. "
Reading skills. Another crucial skill for an adult services librarian to carry out their responsibilities is "reading skills." A big part of what adult services librarians relies on this skill, since "librarians must be excellent readers." How this skill relates to adult services librarian duties can be seen in an example from an adult services librarian resume snippet: "planned and implemented adult and teen summer reading programs for four branches. "
Technology skills. Lastly, "technology skills" is an important element of what an adult services librarian does. Adult services librarian responsibilities require this skill because "librarians use technology to help patrons research topics." This resume example highlights how adult services librarian duties rely on this skill: "provided in person and virtual real-time reference services, inter-library loans, non-fiction collection development, database and technology instruction. "
The three companies that hire the most adult services librarians are:
- Riverside Community Care11 adult services librarians jobs
- CommunityHealthlink9 adult services librarians jobs
- WCCA - Wright County Community Action
7 adult services librarians jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable adult services librarian resume templates
Build a professional adult services librarian resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your adult services librarian resume.
Compare different adult services librarians
Adult services librarian vs. Cataloger
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an adult services librarian are more likely to require skills like "adult services," "adult programs," "library services," and "library patrons." On the other hand, a job as a cataloger requires skills like "rda," "oclc," "online database," and "lcsh." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Catalogers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $40,571. Comparatively, adult services librarians tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $52,195.On average, catalogers reach lower levels of education than adult services librarians. Catalogers are 15.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Adult services librarian vs. Circulation director
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that adult services librarian responsibilities requires skills like "adult services," "collection development," "adult programs," and "library services." But a circulation director might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "audience development," "newspapers," "independent contractors," and "expense budget."
Circulation directors earn lower levels of education than adult services librarians in general. They're 28.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Adult services librarian vs. Library supervisor
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an adult services librarian is likely to be skilled in "adult services," "adult programs," "public library," and "technology," while a typical library supervisor is skilled in "library operations," "library policies," "student assistants," and "library equipment."
When it comes to education, library supervisors tend to earn lower degree levels compared to adult services librarians. In fact, they're 23.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Adult services librarian vs. Library director
Types of adult services librarian
Updated January 8, 2025
