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Media librarian vs cataloger

The differences between media librarians and catalogers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a media librarian and a cataloger. Additionally, a media librarian has an average salary of $44,176, which is higher than the $34,943 average annual salary of a cataloger.

The top three skills for a media librarian include DVD, media management and rights issues. The most important skills for a cataloger are library catalog, RDA, and cataloging.

Media librarian vs cataloger overview

Media LibrarianCataloger
Yearly salary$44,176$34,943
Hourly rate$21.24$16.80
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs8,86693
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Media librarian vs cataloger salary

Media librarians and catalogers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Media LibrarianCataloger
Average salary$44,176$34,943
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $60,000Between $23,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City-New Haven, CT
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Harvard University
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between media librarian and cataloger education

There are a few differences between a media librarian and a cataloger in terms of educational background:

Media LibrarianCataloger
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorCommunicationHistory
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Maryland - College Park

Media librarian vs cataloger demographics

Here are the differences between media librarians' and catalogers' demographics:

Media LibrarianCataloger
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 50.3% Female, 49.7%Male, 37.9% Female, 62.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 5.0% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between media librarian and cataloger duties and responsibilities

Media librarian example responsibilities.

  • Achieve proficiency cataloging electronic materials (audio records, video recordings, and streaming video) and continuing resources/serials.
  • Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.
  • Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.

Cataloger example responsibilities.

  • Manage category of materials: including books, CDs, films and other documents.
  • Assign subject headings using LCSH.
  • Cataloge books and serials for all the school district libraries.
  • Master the use of cataloguing resources such as WorldCat and HomeBase.
  • Assist librarians in other EPA libraries with the conversion of their serials list.
  • Assign LCSH and LCC, as well as a local classification system for legal treatises.
  • Show more

Media librarian vs cataloger skills

Common media librarian skills
  • DVD, 21%
  • Media Management, 15%
  • Rights Issues, 14%
  • Front Desk, 10%
  • Disaster Recovery, 9%
  • Library Materials, 9%
Common cataloger skills
  • Library Catalog, 13%
  • RDA, 11%
  • Cataloging, 11%
  • OCLC, 8%
  • Online Database, 8%
  • Lcsh, 6%

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