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Library media specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Mike Dillon,
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical library media specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for library media specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.2% of library media specialist resumes contained professional development as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a library media specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 library media specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how library media specialists use professional development:
  • Provided professional development opportunities to school and district staff in the areas of curriculum planning and emerging educational technologies.
  • Designed and delivered professional development opportunities in the areas of reading language arts and implementation of technology.

2. Library Materials

Here's how library media specialists use library materials:
  • Provided technical services support in a variety of functions: basic/copy cataloging, ordering/receiving/processing and requisitioning of library materials.
  • Worked with vendors to order library materials and technology equipment.

3. K-12

K12 is a term that incldues all 12 years of education in the US education system. It includes the education offered at the primary stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. It includes children of ages as young as 5 to 18 years. The grades included in K12 are Kindergarten, the initial 5 stages, grades 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. This system is followed specifically followed in the US and may vary in other countries.

Here's how library media specialists use k-12:
  • Managed K-12 Library Automated Catalog Managed Budget and Purchases
  • Directed a library for grades K-12 and implemented story programming, early research skills, or basic technology assistance.

4. Library Resources

Here's how library media specialists use library resources:
  • Serve students and faculty maintaining and increasing awareness of library resources.
  • Managed library resources and databases.

5. Instructional Materials

Here's how library media specialists use instructional materials:
  • Gather instructional materials for classroom instruction.
  • Collaborate with teachers in the selection and purchasing of instructional materials, and in the use of information resources.

6. Instructional Technology

Here's how library media specialists use instructional technology:
  • Establish an environment that encouraged creative and independent use of instructional technology.
  • Developed and managed the use of instructional technology.

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7. Library Collection

Here's how library media specialists use library collection:
  • Streamlined the collection development process including evaluating and weeding current materials and adding new materials to the library collection.
  • Maintained and developed Library collection resources and participated in the recommendation/approval of other digital and technology resources.

8. Public Schools

Public schools are available for everyone. They are funded and controlled by the government. With state guidance, each school board determines the curricula, finances, and jobs for schools within its borders. The government also decides on academic standards and standardised tests.

Here's how library media specialists use public schools:
  • Plan and implement information and technology literacy standards and skills for three public schools.
  • Volunteer Project Mentor Librarian-University of Maryland-1 year (District of Columbia Public Schools Librarian)

9. 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 media specialists use collection development:
  • Supervised collection development for materials, reference and reader's advisory.
  • Conducted thorough collection development analysis to CCSS.

10. Library Programs

Here's how library media specialists use library programs:
  • Implemented an after-school library program to encourage habitual homework completion for entire student population.
  • Managed four elementary school library programs and provided technology services to four schools.

11. 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 media specialists use library services:
  • Managed and organized library staff and resources to deliver efficient and effective library/media services to students and staff.
  • Marketed integration of library services into curriculum.

12. Research

Here's how library media specialists use research:
  • Created library curriculum and lessons for elementary school classes, Topics included basic research, evaluating websites, library organization.
  • Modeled lessons for classroom teachers using scientifically, research based instructional strategies, identified site staff development needs.

13. K-5

K-5 is a general term used in the United States of America for the education period beginning from kindergarten through the fifth grade of ages 5 -- 10.

Here's how library media specialists use k-5:
  • Prepared curriculum-related and information literacy instruction for 360 students, grades K-5.
  • Implemented various technology lessons for K-5 students during library times to become familiar with computers and use technology to enhance learning.

14. Library Catalog

Here's how library media specialists use library catalog:
  • Coordinated rebuilding the computerized library catalog destroyed in the fire and cataloged approximately 7,000 donated books.
  • Supervised the automation project where the library catalog and circulation system were computerized.

15. Library Website

Here's how library media specialists use library website:
  • Designed and maintained library website.
  • Design, develop, and maintain school library website (http://afchighschoollibrary.weebly.com/) and automated circulation software.
top-skills

What skills help Library Media Specialists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on library media specialist resumes?

Dr. Mike Dillon

Associate Professor/Internship Director, Duquesne University

Evidence (courses, internships, other experience) that demonstrates competence in communicating with a wide array of audiences across multiple platforms. Our journalism program, for instance, is multiplatform: students learn to write, edit, shoot video, create podcasts, adapt stories to fit the requirements of multiple platforms, etc. Basically, we want to send students out of here like Swiss Army Knives -- able to work in their area of proficiency, be that writing or videography, but also adept with a wide variety of other competencies.

What type of skills will young library media specialists need?

Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, American Public University System

The ability to examine all sides of an issue, to include long-term consequences and short-term consequences and unintended consequences and intended outcomes is vital. A focus on goals and objectives, instead of depending on an emotional response, will help lead to the best solutions. Public servants should be adaptable and able to work with people from various cultures. They need to have an understanding of how to work with and motivate individuals and groups. Those who can stay engaged and exercise good judgment will fare best in fluid and changing times.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about library media specialist

List of library media specialist skills to add to your resume

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

  • Professional Development
  • Library Materials
  • K-12
  • Library Resources
  • Instructional Materials
  • Instructional Technology
  • Library Collection
  • Public Schools
  • Collection Development
  • Library Programs
  • Library Services
  • Research
  • K-5
  • Library Catalog
  • Library Website
  • Kindergarten
  • Library Budget
  • Cataloging
  • K-8
  • Student Assistants
  • Computer Lab
  • Social Studies
  • Reference Materials
  • Research Projects
  • Pre-K
  • Library Policies
  • Technology Committee
  • K-6
  • Reference Services
  • Technology Integration
  • AV
  • Destiny
  • School Libraries
  • Mathematics
  • Classroom Curriculum
  • Circulation System
  • PowerPoint
  • Technology
  • Fiction
  • Circulation Desk
  • Google Apps
  • Electronic Resources
  • Library Assistants
  • Dewey Decimal System
  • Library Classes
  • Library Operations
  • Google Drive

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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