How To Become A Library Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a library manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Kerol Harrod

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a library manager. For example, did you know that they make an average of $28.17 an hour? That's $58,586 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 8,500 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a library manager?

Kerol Harrod

Lecturer, School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s University, Texas Woman's University

Much of what I would advise involves just sticking to the basics. Show up to work on time. Have a good attitude and a growth mindset. Don't complain about menial tasks, and always be looking to learn the skills of the next position above you. I started out as the transit driver in my library system, loading and unloading boxes of books that circulated among the different library branches. I worked my way up, and now I am teaching graduate students how to become librarians. Put in the time and do the work. Networking is a huge part of success, so it's important to maintain good connections with co-workers, former professors, and fellow librarians. Finally, consider establishing a mentorship with a successful, trusted colleague who has experience in the position you want to attain. Personal connections go a long way.

ScoreLibrary ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.6

Avg. Salary $58,586

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.33%

Asian 4.83%

Black or African American 6.31%

Hispanic or Latino 7.68%

Unknown 3.58%

White 77.27%

Gender

female 61.87%

male 38.13%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.6

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a library manager

Explore library manager education requirements

Most common library manager degrees

Bachelor's

64.6 %

Master's

19.9 %

Associate

7.4 %

Start to develop specific library manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Library Services	18.35%
Library Policies	10.98%
Collection Development	9.46%
Local Community	7.65%
Electronic Resources	6.97%

Complete relevant library manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New library managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a library manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real library manager resumes.

Research library manager duties and responsibilities

Provide continuous cataloging training for library staff.
Operate library cataloging system efficiently by providing unique identification code to the newly purchase books.
Provide safety and security oversight of the library, training and updating evacuation/plot plans and extinguishment methods.
Research using LEXIS-NEXIS and WestLaw databases for legal, business, and newspaper research.

Apply for library manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a library manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams