What does an instruction librarian do?
The primary role of an instruction librarian is to create educational experiences. Instruction librarians design instructional materials and develop learning objects, assessment tools, and learning outcomes in different learning environments. These librarians serve as liaisons as they meet with students and faculty for research and teaching purposes. They promote and offer training for information literacy opportunities such as database access, computer literacy, and research. It is also their responsibility to maintain awareness of library and information technologies.
Instruction librarian responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real instruction librarian resumes:
- Manage integrated library system including OPAC, serials control, cataloging and acquisitions.
- Perform collection management for adult non-fiction.
- Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.
- Conduct copy/original cataloging of all resources.
- Maintain all records update and create original cataloging as necessary.
- Create an inventory of all materials locate in the corporate HQ's attic.
- Collaborate with other IRC staff on special projects, publications and research for members, leaders or HQ staff.
Instruction librarian skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Instruction Librarians are proficient in Collection Development, Library Services, and Reference Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Initiative, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Instruction Librarians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Collection Development, 11%
Served as a library liaison to academic departments which included collection development responsibilities in those areas.
- Library Services, 10%
Complete assessments of library services and provide interpretation and evaluation of assessment data.
- Reference Services, 8%
Performed daily services including research assistance, circulation reserves and delivery of reference services.
- Research Assistance, 8%
Provide research assistance to students, faculty, staff and community patrons.
- Professional Development, 7%
Facilitate professional development workshops that assist educators in improving teaching strategies, academic growth, and engagement in the classroom.
- Library Resources, 7%
Designed educational and informational displays featuring a variety of library resources.
Common skills that an instruction librarian uses to do their job include "collection development," "library services," and "reference services." You can find details on the most important instruction librarian responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an instruction librarian to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand." Additionally, an instruction librarian resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "conferred with teachers, parents and community organizations to develop, plan and conduct programs in reading viewing and communication skills. "
Initiative. Another essential skill to perform instruction librarian duties is initiative. Instruction librarians responsibilities require that "new information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do." Instruction librarians also use initiative in their role according to a real resume snippet: "lead digital literacy initiatives and assessment of learning outcomes. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for instruction librarians to perform their duties. For an example of how instruction librarian responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "librarians must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an instruction librarian: "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. For certain instruction librarian responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of an instruction librarian rely on this skill, as "librarians conduct and assist with research." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what instruction librarians do: "resolved problems at both reference and circulation desk both by phone and in person. "
Reading skills. Another common skill required for instruction librarian responsibilities is "reading skills." This skill comes up in the duties of instruction librarians all the time, as "librarians must be excellent readers." An excerpt from a real instruction librarian resume shows how this skill is central to what an instruction librarian does: "develop programs to stimulate student interests in reading and the use of library resources. "
Technology skills. While "technology skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to instruction librarian responsibilities. Much of what an instruction librarian does relies on this skill, seeing as "librarians use technology to help patrons research topics." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of instruction librarians: "reference and research instruction, collection development, technology assistance for the natural sciences. "
The three companies that hire the most instruction librarians are:
- The City University of New York2 instruction librarians jobs
- Mercy College2 instruction librarians jobs
- New England Conservatory2 instruction librarians jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable instruction librarian resume templates
Build a professional instruction librarian resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your instruction librarian resume.
Compare different instruction librarians
Instruction librarian vs. Cataloger
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an instruction librarian are more likely to require skills like "library services," "research assistance," "professional development," and "library resources." On the other hand, a job as a cataloger requires skills like "rda," "oclc," "online database," and "lcsh." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Catalogers earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $40,571. On the other hand, instruction librarians are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $55,560.On average, catalogers reach lower levels of education than instruction librarians. Catalogers are 17.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Instruction librarian vs. Library supervisor
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that instruction librarian responsibilities requires skills like "research assistance," "professional development," "research services," and "instructional materials." But a library supervisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "library patrons," "library operations," "library policies," and "student assistants."
In general, library supervisors achieve lower levels of education than instruction librarians. They're 25.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Instruction librarian vs. Library director
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from instruction librarian resumes include skills like "instructional materials," "philosophy," "reference desk," and "library instruction sessions," whereas a library director is more likely to list skills in "library operations," "academic library," "library budget," and "library policies. "
Library directors make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $53,860. On the other hand, instruction librarians are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $55,560.When it comes to education, library directors tend to earn lower degree levels compared to instruction librarians. In fact, they're 9.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Instruction librarian vs. Circulation supervisor
Even though a few skill sets overlap between instruction librarians and circulation supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an instruction librarian might have more use for skills like "professional development," "library resources," "research services," and "instructional materials." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of circulation supervisors require skills like "library policies," "student assistants," "library patrons," and "library circulation. "
In general, circulation supervisors hold lower degree levels compared to instruction librarians. Circulation supervisors are 25.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of instruction librarian
Updated January 8, 2025
