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The differences between electronic resources librarians and reference librarians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an electronic resources librarian and a reference librarian. Additionally, an electronic resources librarian has an average salary of $51,325, which is higher than the $50,409 average annual salary of a reference librarian.
The top three skills for an electronic resources librarian include electronic resources, library services and collection development. The most important skills for a reference librarian are reference services, library patrons, and collection development.
| Electronic Resources Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $51,325 | $50,409 |
| Hourly rate | $24.68 | $24.24 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 38,502 | 1,058 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As technology becomes widespread nowadays, schools also enhance their services by using electronics in libraries. Thus, they need an electronic resource librarian who acquired enough knowledge to carry on the responsibility. They are to use electronics to provide students with book catalogs and digital copies of books while also monitoring for orders and the return of books. They also must ensure that every book donated is appropriately licensed. Any alterations of the digital operating system used, the electronic librarian can troubleshoot and report it to the administration.
Being a reference librarian requires good people skills, knowledge in their respective fields, and good teaching ability to handle the varied responsibilities. Job duties include the interpretation, recommendation, evaluation, and use of information resources in order to assist library patrons with their respective information requirements. These are tasks that will just as often be conducted through phone chat and email as in person.
Electronic resources librarians and reference librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronic Resources Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Average salary | $51,325 | $50,409 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $75,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Yale University |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between an electronic resources librarian and a reference librarian in terms of educational background:
| Electronic Resources Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Library Science |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between electronic resources librarians' and reference librarians' demographics:
| Electronic Resources Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 6.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |