What does a digital librarian do?
Digital Librarians are professionals who are responsible for organizing and preserving a digital library so that it is accessible by the public through the internet. These librarians must maintain records of their digital collections by cataloging them accurately. They collaborate with other IT professionals to ensure that all information shared over the web is properly licensed, especially those donated or loaned to the library. Digital Librarians must also monitor the collection budgets and expenditures while maintaining relationships with all vendors associated with the digital library.
Digital librarian responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real digital librarian resumes:
- 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.
- Design a html email newsletter through mailchimp.com.
- Learned Solaris (already familiar with Unix).
- Administer and maintain networks, users and groups in UNIX environment.
- Work directly with site manager and support staff to extract and convert all data over to Polaris ILS.
- Develop and implement strategy to expose Primo repository to external search engines (Google, et al).
- Revamp and regularly update the library Drupal website.
- Supervise new hires in digital archiving and cataloging practices.
- Develop manual detailing digitizing procedures for all in-house hardware and software.
- Provide metadata expertise in the development of metadata schema to describe biological images.
Digital librarian skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Digital Librarians are proficient in Metadata, Digital Collections, and Digital Assets. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Digital Librarians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Metadata, 17%
Created file naming structures and insured and maintained metadata consistency using qualified Dublin Core.
- Digital Collections, 11%
Assisted with development and implementation of policy and practices for access to, back up and recovery of digital collections.
- Digital Assets, 10%
Selected digital asset management (DAM) system along with committee; built thesaurus for proposed DAM; analyzed vendor qualifications.
- Digital Content, 10%
Qualify technology, multimedia, and digital content opportunities at the highest institutional level.
- Technical Support, 9%
Provide technical support and first-tier technical troubleshooting for clients' internal micro-sites and reports.
- SharePoint, 4%
Created and maintained the department SharePoint site.
"metadata," "digital collections," and "digital assets" are among the most common skills that digital librarians use at work. You can find even more digital librarian responsibilities below, including:
Initiative. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a digital librarian to have is initiative. Their role and responsibilities require that "new information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do." Digital librarians often use initiative in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "assisted in the implementation of the ipad initiative with the student body and assists in instruction regarding e-books and electronic resources. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling digital librarian duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "librarians must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers." According to a digital librarian resume, here's how digital librarians can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "demonstrated strong customer service and interpersonal skills by providing reference services to nasa/gsfc staff and one-on-one training on using online searching. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for digital librarians to perform their duties. For an example of how digital librarian responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "librarians conduct and assist with research." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a digital librarian: "analyzed, investigated and resolved application issues reported by customers or identified internally. ".
Reading skills. For certain digital librarian responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "reading skills." The day-to-day duties of a digital librarian rely on this skill, as "librarians must be excellent readers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what digital librarians do: "use library systems and specialist computer applications* develop and assist with summer reading program. "
Technology skills. Another common skill required for digital librarian responsibilities is "technology skills." This skill comes up in the duties of digital librarians all the time, as "librarians use technology to help patrons research topics." An excerpt from a real digital librarian resume shows how this skill is central to what a digital librarian does: "collaborated with arrowhead library system to host an adaptive technology workshop for library system member libraries. "
Communication skills. Lastly, "communication skills" is an important element of what a digital librarian does. Digital librarian responsibilities require this skill because "librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand." This resume example highlights how digital librarian duties rely on this skill: "integrated telecommunications research into the curriculum. "
The three companies that hire the most digital librarians are:
- Binghamton University2 digital librarians jobs
- Autodesk1 digital librarians jobs
- Leggett & Platt1 digital librarians jobs
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Compare different digital librarians
Digital librarian vs. Circulation director
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, digital librarian responsibilities require skills like "metadata," "digital collections," "ala," and "digital assets." Meanwhile a typical circulation director has skills in areas such as "audience development," "newspapers," "independent contractors," and "expense budget." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that circulation directors earn slightly differ from digital librarians. In particular, circulation directors are 24.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a digital librarian. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital librarian vs. Circulation supervisor
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that digital librarian responsibilities requires skills like "metadata," "digital collections," "ala," and "digital assets." But a circulation supervisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "library policies," "student assistants," "library patrons," and "circulation services."
In general, circulation supervisors achieve lower levels of education than digital librarians. They're 18.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital librarian vs. Cataloger
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a digital librarian is likely to be skilled in "metadata," "ala," "digital assets," and "digital content," while a typical cataloger is skilled in "library catalog," "rda," "oclc," and "online database."
Catalogers earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $40,571. Comparatively, digital librarians have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $70,716.catalogers typically earn lower educational levels compared to digital librarians. Specifically, they're 11.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital librarian vs. Library supervisor
Types of digital librarian
Updated January 8, 2025
