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Children's librarian skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Kerol Harrod
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical children's librarian skills. We ranked the top skills for children's librarians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.0% of children's librarian resumes contained reference services as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a children's librarian needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 children's librarian skills for your resume and career

1. Reference Services

A reference service іѕ an іntеgrаl раrt of any lіbrаrу, the аіm of whісh іѕ tо educate users on hоw tо uѕе reference mаtеrіаlѕ to hеlр thеm gеt factual іnfоrmаtіоn іn the best роѕѕіblе way аnd аt the right tіmе. Thе rеfеrrаl ѕеrvісе hаndlеѕ rеԛuеѕtѕ аnd аѕѕіѕtѕ uѕеrѕ fіnd, ассеѕѕ, аnd uѕе thе rеԛuіrеd information to mееt thеіr nееdѕ.

Here's how children's librarians use reference services:
  • Assisted with circulation and reference services References Available upon request
  • Provided reference services, homework support, computer support and reading guidance to children, young adults and parents.

2. Collection Development

Collection development is the systematic and economical creation and evaluation of a library's inventory to meet the information needs of library users in a timely and cost-effective manner, using local information resources as well as resources from other organizations. Its purpose is to aid the mission of the library and involves both selecting and deselecting library resources. The library collection also includes general information resources to assist in a learning environment in subjects not covered in the classroom.

Here's how children's librarians use collection development:
  • Directed planning and improvement of media and collection development while overseeing broad range of research and administrative support functions.
  • Directed collection development and collection maintenance for children and young adults.

3. Youth Services

Here's how children's librarians use youth services:
  • Provided children and youth services programming for Middlesboro-BellCounty Public Library.
  • Provide technical support in a specialized area such as reference, cataloging, children/youth services, circulation, and computer education.

4. Library Services

Library Services are those resources, products, and events provided and held by a library or a similar entity to an individual. Users of the library may make use of these tools, which often differ from one institution to the next but amongst which may be things like online information and phone services, literary and other classes, book clubs, referencing services, and a number of other things.

Here's how children's librarians use library services:
  • Translated and interpreted library services to available to the Hispanic community.
  • Partner with community organizations to increase awareness of library services.

5. Teen

Here's how children's librarians use teen:
  • Maintained and supervised (9 employees and all teen volunteers 50+) in a busy urban setting Teen room.
  • Served on CML's Kids Web Team providing access to online resources for children and teens.

6. Public Library

Here's how children's librarians use public library:
  • Visited schools to talk about upcoming library programs and explain the rules and procedures of a public library.
  • Managed the children's department of a public library, including staff supervision.

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7. Community Outreach

Here's how children's librarians use community outreach:
  • Coordinated adult summer reading program and assisted Youth Services Librarian with community outreach.
  • Provided community outreach health information training services to the city of Cincinnati.

8. Literacy Program

Here's how children's librarians use literacy program:
  • Created literacy programs and activities for young adult patrons.
  • Provided various children services in three county libraries such as: story time programs, literacy programs and summer reading programs.

9. Readers Advisory

Here's how children's librarians use readers advisory:
  • Provided and assisted customers with general readers advisory, reference services and usage of libraries facilities and services.
  • Established Teen Readers Advisory Committee.

10. Library Materials

Here's how children's librarians use library materials:
  • Provided customer service by assisting with library materials and services, equipment, and community information.
  • Handled phone inquiries regarding upcoming programs and/or library materials.

11. Library Programs

Here's how children's librarians use library programs:
  • Prepared and presented library programs and supervised program presentation by subordinate staff.
  • Worked with community and city organizations to provide library programs for children.

12. Library Policies

Here's how children's librarians use library policies:
  • Communicated information about library policies to patrons as well as enforce them.
  • Responded to customer complaints, taking action as necessary and developed library policies and procedures.

13. Library Patrons

Here's how children's librarians use library patrons:
  • Assisted young library patrons with their library needs including homework, reports, research, general interests and reading for fun.
  • Minded the front desk and was in charge of providing exceptional service to all library patrons.

14. Community Organizations

Community organizations refers to a form of social or volunteer work that focuses on bettering a community. This may be a community defined by geographic boundaries or by a person's racial or sexual identity. These organizations are often nonprofits that help groups of people affected by natural disasters or hate crimes.

Here's how children's librarians use community organizations:
  • Provided outreach to all area schools, and civic and community organizations.
  • Engaged in outreach to schools and community organizations.

15. Circulation Desk

A circulation desk refers to a place in the library where one can check-in, borrow materials, pay fines, collect inquiries, and many more during library hours. It is usually located near the main entrance of each library.

Here's how children's librarians use circulation desk:
  • Functioned in overseeing circulation desk services, reference queries, children's story hour, and elementary book clubs.
  • Worked on circulation desk, checking out books & returning.
top-skills

What skills help Children's Librarians find jobs?

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What children's librarian skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kerol Harrod

Lecturer, School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s University, Texas Woman's University

Knowing how to navigate AI and the types of issues that arise therefrom (copyright, plagiarism, AI hallucinations, etc.) will become more important as the technology progresses. Generally keeping abreast of new technologies and ways to access information is also key to providing good service to library patrons. Understanding the basics of community librarianship, evidence-based practice, marketing, and community outreach will be crucial to libraries and librarians looking to maintain relevance in an increasingly connected world.

List of children's librarian skills to add to your resume

Children's librarian skills

The most important skills for a children's librarian resume and required skills for a children's librarian to have include:

  • Reference Services
  • Collection Development
  • Youth Services
  • Library Services
  • Teen
  • Public Library
  • Community Outreach
  • Literacy Program
  • Readers Advisory
  • Library Materials
  • Library Programs
  • Library Policies
  • Library Patrons
  • Community Organizations
  • Circulation Desk
  • Library Resources
  • Bulletin Boards
  • Toddler
  • Book Displays
  • Electronic Resources
  • Library System
  • Library Collection
  • Statistical Reports
  • Collection Maintenance
  • Fiction
  • Reference Interviews
  • Event Planning
  • Library Cards
  • Front Desk
  • Collection Management
  • Library Website
  • Non-Fiction
  • Children Ages
  • Reference Desk
  • Press Releases
  • Children S
  • DVDs
  • Computer Usage
  • Dewey Decimal System
  • Outreach Program
  • Library Events
  • Local Elementary Schools
  • Computer System
  • Youth Program
  • Book Club
  • Promotional Materials
  • YA
  • Private Schools

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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