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Library manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical library manager skills. We ranked the top skills for library managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.4% of library manager resumes contained library services as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a library manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 library manager skills for your resume and career

1. Library Services

Library Services are those resources, products, and events provided and held by a library or a similar entity to an individual. Users of the library may make use of these tools, which often differ from one institution to the next but amongst which may be things like online information and phone services, literary and other classes, book clubs, referencing services, and a number of other things.

Here's how library managers use library services:

Managed Houston office library services and initiated library resource changes which have enhanced and increased productivity.
Supervised day-to day operations of the Library Services Department; Reference Services responsibilities are outlined below.

2. Library Policies

Here's how library managers use library policies:

Interpreted and recommended library policies to support excellent customer relations and library education.
Chair the Policy Vetting Committee which meets quarterly to vet new and revised library policies.

3. Collection Development

Collection development is the systematic and economical creation and evaluation of a library's inventory to meet the information needs of library users in a timely and cost-effective manner, using local information resources as well as resources from other organizations. Its purpose is to aid the mission of the library and involves both selecting and deselecting library resources. The library collection also includes general information resources to assist in a learning environment in subjects not covered in the classroom.

Here's how library managers use collection development:

Managed large technical library encompassing collection development in adult reference including audio-visual, periodicals, documentation control, and database selection.
Collaborate with Collection Development Department and Branch Coordinators to develop and maintain collection of over 180,000 materials.

4. Local Community

Here's how library managers use local community:

Provided reference, research, technical instruction & support to the local community.

5. Electronic Resources

The term â€˜electronic resources' refers to reading or visual materials stored in digital format, and they only get accessed electronically. Examples include e-books, e-journals and online databases.

Here's how library managers use electronic resources:

Developed successful training program introducing users to electronic resources.
Selected, acquired, and implemented new print and electronic resources.

6. Library Materials

Here's how library managers use library materials:

Evaluated, selected and purchased library materials for chemists, engineers and product development personnel.
Supervised receiving, sorting, cataloging, circulation and distribution of library materials.

7. Library Operations

Here's how library managers use library operations:

Devised strategic plan to align library operations according to university guidelines.
Directed library operations and supervised / mentored librarian staff.

8. Library Resources

Here's how library managers use library resources:

Prepared monthly statistical reports pertaining to library resources and services.
Market Library resources to the local neighborhood - schools, businesses and residents; coordinate visits from local schools.

9. Public Library

Here's how library managers use public library:

Provided professional reference librarian services for busy, suburban public library.
Served as temporary librarian at public library, handling reference questions, checking in/out books, and weeding book collection.

10. Library System

Here's how library managers use library system:

Managed key account relationships with educational institutions, library systems, and corporations for a publisher of academic journal databases.
Participated in leadership team for library system.

11. Research Services

Here's how library managers use research services:

Provided reference and research services and bibliographic instruction to patrons.
Managed both physical library and online information research services with a staff of five and a budget of $300K.

12. Library Programs

Here's how library managers use library programs:

Conduct library programs and events as required by the college.
Plan an develop library programs.

13. Reference Services

A reference service іѕ an іntеgrаl раrt of any lіbrаrу, the аіm of whісh іѕ tо educate users on hоw tо uѕе reference mаtеrіаlѕ to hеlр thеm gеt factual іnfоrmаtіоn іn the best роѕѕіblе way аnd аt the right tіmе. Thе rеfеrrаl ѕеrvісе hаndlеѕ rеԛuеѕtѕ аnd аѕѕіѕtѕ uѕеrѕ fіnd, ассеѕѕ, аnd uѕе thе rеԛuіrеd information to mееt thеіr nееdѕ.

Here's how library managers use reference services:

Provided reference assistance to patrons by utilizing branch's collection of reference works and automated reference services.
Provide library instruction and reference services as appropriate.

14. Interlibrary Loan

Here's how library managers use interlibrary loan:

Provided interlibrary loan services to staff using OCLC and other resource sharing systems.
Performed administrative functions including check-in and coding of new materials, order processing, and management of interlibrary loans.

15. Public Service

Here's how library managers use public service:

Administered public services at a municipal library.
Engaged in public service and customer service assistance with solving customer's complaints and problems.

What skills help Library Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

List of library manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a library manager resume and required skills for a library manager to have include:

Library Services
Library Policies
Collection Development
Local Community
Electronic Resources
Library Materials
Library Operations
Library Resources
Public Library
Library System
Research Services
Library Programs
Reference Services
Interlibrary Loan
Public Service

Library Collection
Technical Service
Library Budget
University Libraries
Statistical Reports
Cataloging
Intranet
Staff Training
Circulation Desk
Library Administration
Oversight
Troubleshoot
Reference Assistance
Legal Research
Library Catalog

Research Assistance
ILS
Law Library
School Libraries
Print Resources
Tape Library
Business Research
Library Website
HR
Library Assistants
Strategic Plan
Dialog
Library Books
Lexis

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Library Manager Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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