What does a reference librarian do?
Being a reference librarian requires good people skills, knowledge in their respective fields, and good teaching ability to handle the varied responsibilities. Job duties include the interpretation, recommendation, evaluation, and use of information resources in order to assist library patrons with their respective information requirements. These are tasks that will just as often be conducted through phone chat and email as in person.
Reference librarian responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real reference librarian resumes:
- Achieve proficiency cataloging electronic materials (audio records, video recordings, and streaming video) and continuing resources/serials.
- Coordinate inter-library loan service, using OCLC searches to loan and borrow books and periodicals.
- Perform reference and readers' advisory for patrons and staff via telephone, IM, email, and in person.
- Perform copy-cataloging operations using OCLC database and online databases.
- Maintain responsibility for collection management of the adult non-fiction collection.
- Instigate student-librarian relationships and increase library productivity by regularly mentoring students in legal research, writing, and study methods.
- Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.
- Maintain children's and teen's collections including audio and video resources and assist patrons in reader's advisory.
- Acquire and download MARC records from public access sites, e.g.
- Update library and maintain current revisions as per FAA.
- Save PDF images and burned onto DVD.
- Assist in enhancement of syllabus and curriculum.
- Provide client services such as inter-library loans, ordering of new materials and instruction on use of library OPAC.
Reference librarian skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Reference Librarians are proficient in Reference Services, Library Patrons, and Collection Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Initiative, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Reference Librarians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Reference Services, 11%
Provided in-person, telephone, and email reference services to library community * Conducted library and computer instruction sessions for patrons
- Library Patrons, 9%
Assisted library patrons in locating information using a structured reference interview to clarify their needs.
- Collection Development, 9%
Managed the Environmental Sciences and Decision Information Systems Library, at ANL providing research support collection development and Journal subscription renewals.
- Library Services, 7%
Developed and coordinated library services for low-income neighborhoods impacted by ten-year construction campaign by implementing 3-vehicle Bookmobile Program.
- Research Guides, 6%
Produced user instructions for new databases, and created research guides (both print and Web-based).
- Reference Desk, 4%
Reference Service Responsibilities Provided assistance at the reference desk and taught bibliographic instruction classes.
"reference services," "library patrons," and "collection development" are among the most common skills that reference librarians use at work. You can find even more reference librarian responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a reference librarian to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what reference librarians do because "librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand." Additionally, a reference librarian resume shows how reference librarians use communication skills: "provide specialized curricular support and research assistance to faculty and students of the lawrence herbert lawrence herbert school of communication. "
Initiative. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling reference librarian duties is initiative. The role rewards competence in this skill because "new information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do." According to a reference librarian resume, here's how reference librarians can utilize initiative in their job responsibilities: "created and edited profiles of gmu faculty and their research projects as part of the university's research profiles at mason initiative"
Interpersonal skills. reference librarians are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to reference librarian responsibilities, because "librarians must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers." A reference librarian resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "demonstrated strong customer service and interpersonal skills by providing reference services to nasa/gsfc staff and one-on-one training on using online searching. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain reference librarian responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a reference librarian rely on this skill, as "librarians conduct and assist with research." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what reference librarians do: "provide training to new staff on library practices and resolved cataloging problems for support staff assigned to the monograph cataloging section. "
Reading skills. Another crucial skill for a reference librarian to carry out their responsibilities is "reading skills." A big part of what reference librarians relies on this skill, since "librarians must be excellent readers." How this skill relates to reference librarian duties can be seen in an example from a reference librarian resume snippet: "created programs, promotional materials and reports as a member of the adult summer reading team. "
Technology skills. Another skill commonly found on reference librarian job descriptions is "technology skills." It can come up quite often in reference librarian duties, since "librarians use technology to help patrons research topics." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day reference librarian responsibilities: "performed collection development for social sciences, technology, videocassettes, dvd's, and music compact discs. "
The three companies that hire the most reference librarians are:
- North Central University
17 reference librarians jobs
- Georgetown University2 reference librarians jobs
- Hampton University
2 reference librarians jobs
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Compare different reference librarians
Reference librarian vs. Cataloger
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a reference librarian are more likely to require skills like "library patrons," "library services," "research guides," and "reference desk." On the other hand, a job as a cataloger requires skills like "rda," "cataloging," "online database," and "lcsh." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Catalogers tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,571. In contrast, reference librarians make the biggest average salary, $54,597, in the education industry.The education levels that catalogers earn slightly differ from reference librarians. In particular, catalogers are 16.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a reference librarian. Additionally, they're 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Reference librarian vs. Circulation supervisor
Each career also uses different skills, according to real reference librarian resumes. While reference librarian responsibilities can utilize skills like "research guides," "library resources," "legal research," and "interlibrary loan," circulation supervisors use skills like "library circulation," "course reserves," "inter-library loans," and "library equipment."
Circulation supervisors earn lower levels of education than reference librarians in general. They're 23.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Reference librarian vs. Circulation director
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a reference librarian is likely to be skilled in "reference services," "library patrons," "collection development," and "library services," while a typical circulation director is skilled in "audience development," "newspapers," "independent contractors," and "expense budget."
When it comes to education, circulation directors tend to earn lower degree levels compared to reference librarians. In fact, they're 29.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Reference librarian vs. Library supervisor
Types of reference librarian
Updated January 8, 2025
