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Library services assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

Kacy Lovelace,

Dr. Rene Burress Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical library services assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for library services assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.9% of library services assistant resumes contained library services as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a library services assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 library services assistant 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 services assistants use library services:

Instructed patrons on how to use library services, reference sources, card catalog, microfilm reader and photocopier.
Assisted students, faculty, staff, and the community with library services and equipment.

2. Library Policies

Here's how library services assistants use library policies:

Provided assistance to library users and visitors Applied library policies for closing and opening the facility
Maintained accuracy of customer account records by updating and maintaining the customer database in accordance with library policies.

3. Interlibrary Loan

Here's how library services assistants use interlibrary loan:

Ordered, received, cataloged, and processed library materials * Edited and maintained bibliographic database, including Interlibrary Loans
Received material for interlibrary loan, notified patrons when items arrived or advised not available.

4. Library Patrons

Here's how library services assistants use library patrons:

Provided administrative support and customer service to library patrons as well as faculty, university wide.
Assisted library patrons with specific requests regarding the digital sphere, stocked books and overhauled archaic shelving practices.

5. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how library services assistants use customer service:

Increased direct customer service and technical assistance in university commons.
Provided excellent customer service and was pursued for recommendations.

6. Library System

Here's how library services assistants use library system:

Resigned when the library system as a result of the municipalities broke away from the City of Memphis/Shelby County Library System.
Managed the circulation and access services department as evening and weekend supervisor at the main branch in the UT Library system.

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7. Readers Advisory

Here's how library services assistants use readers advisory:

Respond to requests for reference information and readers advisory from customers 2.

8. Computer Software

Here's how library services assistants use computer software:

Process and participate in the selection of new library materials including books, audiovisual materials, and computer software.
Installed computer software and hardware for the Health Sciences Library.

9. Library Resources

Here's how library services assistants use library resources:

Performed digital conversion of library resources and computer maintenance.
Trained faculty, staff and students in the use of library resources and equipment.

10. Circulation Desk

A circulation desk refers to a place in the library where one can check-in, borrow materials, pay fines, collect inquiries, and many more during library hours. It is usually located near the main entrance of each library.

Here's how library services assistants use circulation desk:

Checked in and checked out books, periodicals, audiovisual and other materials at the circulation desk.
Oversee activities of the Circulation desk in the absence of the Senior Library Service Assistant.

11. Cataloging

Here's how library services assistants use cataloging:

Assisted the Technical Services Department with processing and provisional cataloging for items with no OCLC copy or class.
Assisted in the cataloging and inventory of books, to restock or reorder popular or pertinent publications.

12. Public Library

Here's how library services assistants use public library:

Deliver computer and equipment's technical supports for public library ITC information technology center and recurrent outreach workstations and media centers.
Supported access to Cleveland Public library computer services by instructing staff, patrons and community organizations in current technologies.

13. Library Materials

Here's how library services assistants use library materials:

Provided information assistance to students, faculty and staff by responding to reference questions and obtaining academic library materials.
Participated in library related projects while promoting and the circulation of library materials and other services.

14. 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 services assistants use reference services:

Provide reference services to students, faculty and staff using electronic print and Internet resources.
Provided reference services and research support to students, facility, and administrators.

15. Library Cards

Here's how library services assistants use library cards:

Register new patrons and issue library cards and informed patrons about library policy.
Created patron accounts in SirsiDynix and issued library cards.

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What skills help Library Services Assistants find jobs?

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

What library services assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kacy Lovelace

Research and Student Success Librarian, Marshall University

Consider skills that directly apply to the job that you want in the future. Get creative with this! Improve your communication skills, cross-cultural understanding by working abroad. The hospitality industry offers many opportunities for improving these valuable skills while also teaching listening skills, time management skills, and collaboration skills. If working abroad is not an option, take a language immersion course (online or in-person) and increase your ability to communicate with patrons and colleagues and your attractiveness to potential employers.

What type of skills will young library services assistants need?

Dr. Rene Burress Ph.D.

Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator, University of Central Missouri

Our graduates need to be completely digital literate when they enter the workforce. Librarians are technology leaders and should be ready to assist and train their patrons on all types of technology for people of all technical skill levels.

What technical skills for a library services assistant stand out to employers?

Andrew Wertheimer Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Library & Information Science Program, University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Libraries and archives look for a variety of skills. It would be hard to specify which ones since different workplaces need different skills. The reason they hire our graduates is that they have this wide range of skills as well as soft-skills to provide service to users and communities in an ethical and legal way. If I had to name a few areas though I would say health informatics, digital archives, digital libraries, online instruction, as well as data science. Again, different employers have different technical needs. Our employers keep telling us that they also need the strong foundations plus soft skills.

Do you want to know more?

List of library services assistant skills to add to your resume

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

Library Services
Library Policies
Interlibrary Loan
Library Patrons
Customer Service
Library System
Readers Advisory
Computer Software
Library Resources
Circulation Desk
Cataloging
Public Library
Library Materials
Reference Services
Library Cards
Collection Development
Library Catalog

Library Equipment
Library Programs
Electronic Resources
Community Outreach
OCLC
Circulation Services
Library Collection
Routine Inquiries
Reference Desk
Dewey Decimal System
Front Desk
Student Assistants
Teen
Fax Machines
Library Database
Library Operations
Fiction

DVDs
Circulation System
Reference Assistance
Course Reserves
Word Processing
Reference Materials
Library Technology
Technical Assistance
Library Computers
Adobe Photoshop
Non-Fiction
Outreach Program
Research Materials
Press Releases
PowerPoint
Library Displays

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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