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Collection development librarian vs cataloger

The differences between collection development librarians and catalogers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a collection development librarian and a cataloger. Additionally, a collection development librarian has an average salary of $54,249, which is higher than the $34,943 average annual salary of a cataloger.

The top three skills for a collection development librarian include library materials, library system and literature. The most important skills for a cataloger are library catalog, RDA, and cataloging.

Collection development librarian vs cataloger overview

Collection Development LibrarianCataloger
Yearly salary$54,249$34,943
Hourly rate$26.08$16.80
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs46,92293
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Collection development librarian vs cataloger salary

Collection development librarians and catalogers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Collection Development LibrarianCataloger
Average salary$54,249$34,943
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $77,000Between $23,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City-New Haven, CT
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Harvard University
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between collection development librarian and cataloger education

There are a few differences between a collection development librarian and a cataloger in terms of educational background:

Collection Development LibrarianCataloger
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorLibrary Science And AdministrationHistory
Most common collegeNew York UniversityUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Collection development librarian vs cataloger demographics

Here are the differences between collection development librarians' and catalogers' demographics:

Collection Development LibrarianCataloger
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 39.5% Female, 60.5%Male, 37.9% Female, 62.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 4.9% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between collection development librarian and cataloger duties and responsibilities

Collection development librarian example responsibilities.

  • Recruit, train, and manage volunteers, teen ambassadors, book buddies, elderly volunteers, and teen tech assistants.
  • Review fiction and nonfiction books for children and young adults.
  • Perform original cataloging and supervise copy cataloging.
  • Perform copy and original cataloging of print and non-print materials.
  • Select popular and recommend materials for various public and academic collections, particularly in the areas of adult fiction and nonfiction.
  • Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.
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Cataloger example responsibilities.

  • Manage category of materials: including books, CDs, films and other documents.
  • Assign subject headings using LCSH.
  • Cataloge books and serials for all the school district libraries.
  • Master the use of cataloguing resources such as WorldCat and HomeBase.
  • Assist librarians in other EPA libraries with the conversion of their serials list.
  • Assign LCSH and LCC, as well as a local classification system for legal treatises.
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Collection development librarian vs cataloger skills

Common collection development librarian skills
  • Library Materials, 16%
  • Library System, 14%
  • Literature, 12%
  • Library Collection, 9%
  • HTML, 7%
  • CSS, 6%
Common cataloger skills
  • Library Catalog, 13%
  • RDA, 11%
  • Cataloging, 11%
  • OCLC, 8%
  • Online Database, 8%
  • Lcsh, 6%

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