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Reference library 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 library assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for reference library assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.8% of reference library assistant resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a reference library assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 reference library assistant skills for your resume and career

1. 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 reference library assistants use customer service:
  • Converted dozens of analog audio and video recordings to digital for timely customer service.
  • Provided exemplary customer service to all Library customers, both internal and external.

2. Library Materials

Here's how reference library assistants use library materials:
  • Performed all circulation desk functions including charging, discharging and renewing library materials.
  • Supervised and/or led and trained circulation staff in the charging, searching, researching, and referencing of library materials.

3. Library Patrons

Here's how reference library assistants use library patrons:
  • Provided informational, directional, reference and research assistance to law library patrons.
  • Provided assistance to library patrons both in relation to finding reference materials for their research and assistance with general library services.

4. Research Assistance

Research assistance means helping in private/academic research.

Here's how reference library assistants use research assistance:
  • Managed the research and reference desk providing administrative, technical, and research assistance to students and faculty.
  • research assistance, reader's advisory and digital literacy

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 library assistants use reference services:
  • Provided face-to-face reference services to students, faculty and alumni.
  • Provided reference services for academic researchers.

6. Library Resources

Here's how reference library assistants use library resources:
  • Maintained library resources in reference section.
  • Assisted patrons with the use of miscellaneous library resources and equipment.

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7. Interlibrary Loan

Here's how reference library assistants use interlibrary loan:
  • Provided reference and research services and handled interlibrary loan requests.
  • Performed interlibrary loan functions; performed tasks related to the management of periodicals and serials.

8. Reference Materials

Here's how reference library assistants use reference materials:
  • Advised students on how to obtain reference materials; Managed reference section of library collection.
  • Assisted patrons with research inquiries, digital resources, and other reference materials.

9. Reference Desk

Here's how reference library assistants use reference desk:
  • Greeted graduate students at the reference desk and answered their questions about information resources online and within the library itself.
  • Provided referral to the Reference Desk for complex research questions requiring librarian assistance.

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 reference library assistants use circulation desk:
  • Assisted circulation desk with check-in/out of material, packaging loan material, updating patron information and answering circulation-related questions.
  • Staffed the circulation desk at peak periods, checking out patrons books and providing them with reserved readings.

11. Inter-Library Loans

Inter-library loans mean a cooperative arrangement among libraries that allows books and other materials from one library to loan to a patron from another library.

Here's how reference library assistants use inter-library loans:
  • Coordinated inter-library loans of books and scholarly references for various colleges and universities throughout the United States.
  • Handled daily operations of inter-library loan department for the main branch.

12. Legal Research

Here's how reference library assistants use legal research:
  • Conduct legal research, compile documents and summaries, and locate information for professors on a variety of topics.
  • Conducted legal research, cite checked briefs, created case notebooks, bates labeled documents and coordinated document productions.

13. 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 reference library assistants use library services:
  • Applied expertise in finding and presenting information to take part in numerous research projects to help expand library services.
  • Assist student with: academic research, library services, computer troubleshooting, and circulation of books.

14. Reference Assistance

Here's how reference library assistants use reference assistance:
  • Provide reference assistance to library users concerning case law, statutes, and practice guides.
  • Provided instructors and students with reference assistance using both print and electronic media.

15. Library Collection

Here's how reference library assistants use library collection:
  • Assist in promoting the library collection and/or services through designing and constructing displays, signage, and bookmarks.
  • Participated in budget development, preparation of electronic budget schedules and evaluation of books and databases for inclusion in library collection.
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List of reference library assistant skills to add to your resume

Reference library assistant skills

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

  • Customer Service
  • Library Materials
  • Library Patrons
  • Research Assistance
  • Reference Services
  • Library Resources
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Reference Materials
  • Reference Desk
  • Circulation Desk
  • Inter-Library Loans
  • Legal Research
  • Library Services
  • Reference Assistance
  • Library Collection
  • OCLC
  • Collection Development
  • Westlaw
  • Public Library
  • Libguides
  • Research Projects
  • Library Database
  • Reference Librarians
  • Computer Lab

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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