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Library supervisor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical library supervisor skills. We ranked the top skills for library supervisors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.3% of library supervisor resumes contained library materials as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a library supervisor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 library supervisor skills for your resume and career

1. Library Materials

Here's how library supervisors use library materials:

Maintain inventory records for library books, magazines, audio-visual equipment and other library materials and equipment.
Manage library materials by organizing them according to established procedure.

2. Library Patrons

Here's how library supervisors use library patrons:

Ensured library patrons could easily navigate and locate materials.
Exercise effective customer service skills by successfully answering questions and attending to the needs of various library patrons.

3. 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 supervisors use library services:

Worked with teachers, administrators, students and parents in all aspects of library services.
Provided general/law library services for a detainee population of 2,000.

4. Library Operations

Here's how library supervisors use library operations:

Utilized computers and other related equipment to develop reports and produce library statistics to support management of library operations.
Maintained records and prepared reports relative to assigned library operations and/or programs.

5. Library Policies

Here's how library supervisors use library policies:

Trained and informed employees and patrons of library policies and procedures.
Ensured execution of the library policies and procedures.

6. Student Assistants

Here's how library supervisors use student assistants:

Supervised Library building, services, and student assistants; assisted patrons with research and circulation needs
Stack student assistants are crossed-trained to serve as back up to circulation students.

7. Library Equipment

Here's how library supervisors use library equipment:

Maintained and would troubleshoot problems with library equipment including computers, photocopiers, and audiovisual equipment.
Compiled maintenance and inventory reports of library equipment, utilizing proprietary software.

8. 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 supervisors use customer service:

Worked with administrators to ensure efficient and professional implementation of policies, while ensuring effective customer service at various branch libraries.
Established friendly yet professional atmosphere that promoted attentive customer service and respect for co-workers

9. Reference Materials

Here's how library supervisors use reference materials:

Helped students with research and reference materials for classroom assignments/reports/research papers.
Oversee organized collections of books, audio, visual aids others reference materials for convenient access.

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 supervisors use circulation desk:

Assisted with tasks that Circulation Desk workers were either not allowed to do or unsure how to do.
Train and give work direction to 20 new student workers Lead the circulation desk in the absence of the supervisor

11. Library System

Here's how library supervisors use library system:

Gained experience with Voyager Integrated Library System.
Explained library system policy and procedures concerning to the public and handled complaints and public behavior problems.

12. Library Resources

Here's how library supervisors use library resources:

Teach classes and groups of students in the use of library resources and effective research methods.
Aided patrons in the use of library resources, software, and online searching.

13. 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 supervisors use collection development:

Prepared report outlining intentions for collection development while considering changing customer usage trends, particularly focusing on media.
Managed large technical library encompassing collection development in adult reference including audio-visual, periodicals, documentation control, and database selection.

14. Cataloging

Here's how library supervisors use cataloging:

Worked within the UCLA Library Cataloging Department supervising the in-house book binding department.
Provide cataloging services, including indexing, assigning metadata, classification and subject heading application using the standard thesaurus of terms.

15. Library Collection

Here's how library supervisors use library collection:

Process all incoming new books to the library collection.
Managed 11,000+ volume library collection, including collection development, materials acquisitions, resource management, and technical services.

What skills help Library Supervisors find jobs?

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

List of library supervisor skills to add to your resume

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

Library Materials
Library Patrons
Library Services
Library Operations
Library Policies
Student Assistants
Library Equipment
Customer Service
Reference Materials
Circulation Desk

Library System
Library Resources
Collection Development
Cataloging
Library Collection
Work-Study
Front Desk
Law Library
Reference Services
Electronic Resources

Circulation Services
OCLC
Web Pages
Library Assistants
Disaster Recovery
Literature Searches
Library Database
AV

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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