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Reference assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical reference assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for reference assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.5% of reference assistant resumes contained library materials as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a reference assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 reference assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Library Materials

Here's how reference assistants use library materials:
  • Assisted students and community members * Organized reference and other library materials * Assisted Reference Librarians with special projects
  • Adapt to various classification schemes shelving library materials.

2. Library Patrons

Here's how reference assistants use library patrons:
  • Provided reference, instructional, referral, and directional assistance to library patrons
  • Acquired extensive legal research skills by assisting library patrons

3. Interlibrary Loan

Here's how reference assistants use interlibrary loan:
  • Coordinate interlibrary loan operations for faculty, students and staff and compile departmental statistics required by state and national organizations.
  • Teach library instruction sessions Full- and Part-time Assist faculty and students with accurate research Manage interlibrary loan Greensboro, North Carolina

4. Reference Desk

Here's how reference assistants use reference desk:
  • Trained reference student workers with reference desk procedures including statistical information gathering and processing.
  • Collaborated with supervisor and librarians to improve reference desk organization.

5. 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 reference assistants use reference services:
  • Provided medical library reference services by assisting patrons with literature search skills utilizing indexes, card and on-line catalogs.
  • Provided research and reference services to students and the community using traditional and electronic resources.

6. Library Resources

Here's how reference assistants use library resources:
  • Updated library resources such as loose-leaf materials and government documents.
  • Assist library users with research, including locating, evaluating, and citing relevant library resources in all formats.

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7. Reference Assistance

Here's how reference assistants use reference assistance:
  • Provided reference assistance to patrons and assisted them with access to various electronic legal databases.
  • Provide personalized reference assistance to patrons and college level students.

8. Reference Materials

Here's how reference assistants use reference materials:
  • Clarified and evaluated reference materials, directed students in initiating and organizing scientific research.
  • Assisted public with reference materials and information technology equipment and systems.

9. Reference Librarians

Here's how reference assistants use reference librarians:
  • Conducted general and special library tours with reference librarians.
  • Assisted MHS Reference Librarians in locating and presenting historical documents from the MHS archive collections to patrons.

10. Research Assistance

Research assistance means helping in private/academic research.

Here's how reference assistants use research assistance:
  • Provide research assistance to patrons who frequent the library and also assist with computers and copier/printer.
  • Worked at circulation desk aiding law students and visiting public with research assistance and guidance with periodicals Non-Legal Experience

11. Library Catalog

Here's how reference assistants use library catalog:
  • Assisted patrons with navigation of databases, digital collections, and library catalog
  • Helped patrons use library catalog and media equipment.

12. 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 reference assistants use circulation desk:
  • Supervised undergraduate circulation desk when scheduled supervisor was not present.
  • Worked at circulation desk; located and sent out various requests daily to other library locations.

13. Legal Research

Here's how reference assistants use legal research:
  • Piloted extensive EEO and civil rights legal research to support law professor in preparing an employment law / workplace diversity symposium.
  • Conducted legal research and employment law, EEO, and civil rights research for senior library team and law professor.

14. Electronic Resources

The term ‘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 reference assistants use electronic resources:
  • Experience with online searching techniques for electronic resources and instruction techniques.
  • Answered reference queries using print and electronic resources in the Library.

15. Research Guides

Here's how reference assistants use research guides:
  • Produced topic-specific research guides and pathfinders using Wiki software.
  • Created and updated research guides and other helpful guidelines for patrons and law staff.
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List of reference assistant skills to add to your resume

Reference assistant skills

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

  • Library Materials
  • Library Patrons
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Reference Desk
  • Reference Services
  • Library Resources
  • Reference Assistance
  • Reference Materials
  • Reference Librarians
  • Research Assistance
  • Library Catalog
  • Circulation Desk
  • Legal Research
  • Electronic Resources
  • Research Guides
  • Library Services
  • Electronic Database
  • Research Databases
  • Library System
  • Research Materials
  • Troubleshoot
  • OCLC
  • Collection Development
  • PowerPoint
  • Office Equipment
  • Research Projects
  • Library Website
  • Reference Interviews
  • Library Procedures
  • Reference Books
  • Academic Research
  • Library Database
  • Library Programs
  • Administrative Tasks
  • Computer Lab
  • Word Processing
  • Library Events
  • Print Resources
  • Library Operations
  • Library Equipment
  • Book Displays
  • Library Cards
  • Library Policies
  • Library Collection
  • Fiction
  • Database Management
  • Digital Resources
  • Westlaw

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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