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Digital librarian vs cataloger

The differences between digital 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 digital librarian and a cataloger. Additionally, a digital librarian has an average salary of $57,957, which is higher than the $34,943 average annual salary of a cataloger.

The top three skills for a digital librarian include metadata, digital collections and digital assets. The most important skills for a cataloger are library catalog, RDA, and cataloging.

Digital librarian vs cataloger overview

Digital LibrarianCataloger
Yearly salary$57,957$34,943
Hourly rate$27.86$16.80
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs17,01693
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Digital librarian vs cataloger salary

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

Digital LibrarianCataloger
Average salary$57,957$34,943
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $82,000Between $23,000 And $52,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew Haven, CT
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyYale UniversityHarvard University
Best paying industryMediaEducation

Differences between digital librarian and cataloger education

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

Digital LibrarianCataloger
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorLibrary Science And AdministrationHistory
Most common collegeNew York UniversityUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Digital librarian vs cataloger demographics

Here are the differences between digital librarians' and catalogers' demographics:

Digital LibrarianCataloger
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 44.4% Female, 55.6%Male, 37.9% Female, 62.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 76.6% 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 digital librarian and cataloger duties and responsibilities

Digital librarian example responsibilities.

  • Manage and customize Sharepoint sites, design Sharepoint forms and workflows.
  • Manage document delivery via Docline and consortia memberships.
  • Manage integrated library system including OPAC, serials control, cataloging and acquisitions.
  • Edit various XML and MARC metadata standards.
  • Customize various web design templates using HTML, CSS, Javascript, and XSLT.
  • Load PDF and XML files.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Digital librarian vs cataloger skills

Common digital librarian skills
  • Metadata, 17%
  • Digital Collections, 11%
  • Digital Assets, 10%
  • Digital Content, 10%
  • Technical Support, 9%
  • SharePoint, 4%
Common cataloger skills
  • Library Catalog, 13%
  • RDA, 11%
  • Cataloging, 11%
  • OCLC, 8%
  • Online Database, 8%
  • Lcsh, 6%

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