What does a school librarian do?
School librarian responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real school librarian resumes:
- Manage and supervise a full-time media assistant, technology technicians and parent and student volunteers.
- Volunteer to host events at annual school carnival and other PTA and school events.
- Guide them in researching through a non fiction books, encyclopedia entry, and the elibrary BigChalk database.
- Institute the use of computers in the library for cataloging, online searching, reference, bibliographies, and administrative functions.
- Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
- Manage and supervise a full-time media assistant, technology technicians and parent and student volunteers.
- Manage and supervise a full-time media assistant, technology technicians and parent and student volunteers.
School librarian skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of School Librarians are proficient in Library Services, Library Resources, and Library Materials. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Initiative, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of School Librarians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Library Services, 11%
Maintained school library and provided library services for students
- Library Resources, 9%
Provided reference, bibliographic instruction, and assistance in the use of library resources/services to students, faculty and staff.
- Library Materials, 9%
Selected and cataloged all library materials, increasing and improving the collection to reflect an expanding student population.
- Library Programs, 7%
Developed and implemented library programs.
- Collection Development, 6%
Managed elementary library, including collection development: budgeting, ordering, cataloging and weeding.
- Library Collection, 5%
Organized, developed, and cataloged elementary and secondary school library collections.
Most school librarians use their skills in "library services," "library resources," and "library materials" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential school librarian responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a school librarian to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what school librarians do because "librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand." Additionally, a school librarian resume shows how school librarians use communication skills: "assist students in using library materials respond to queries for information via phone and face-to-face improve organizational and communication skills"
Initiative. Another essential skill to perform school librarian duties is initiative. School librarians responsibilities require that "new information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do." School librarians also use initiative in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created monthly displays cataloged library materials organized 8,000 book collection pursued grant initiatives"
Interpersonal skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of school librarians is interpersonal skills. This skill is critical to many everyday school librarian duties, as "librarians must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "leveraged superior interpersonal skill to provide reference services to up to 50 clients each day. "
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what school librarians do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to school librarian responsibilities because "librarians conduct and assist with research." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical school librarian tasks: "provided customer services to all library departments and solved cataloging related issues. "
Reading skills. Another common skill required for school librarian responsibilities is "reading skills." This skill comes up in the duties of school librarians all the time, as "librarians must be excellent readers." An excerpt from a real school librarian resume shows how this skill is central to what a school librarian does: "provided reading guidance and reference services to students, faculty and staff. "
Technology skills. Another skill commonly found on school librarian job descriptions is "technology skills." It can come up quite often in school 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 school librarian responsibilities: "instructed students on various research methods, including on line databases, and information technology. "
The three companies that hire the most school librarians are:
- Boston Public Schools26 school librarians jobs
- East St Louis School District 1894 school librarians jobs
- The Brearley School
1 school librarians jobs
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Compare different school librarians
School librarian vs. Circulation supervisor
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, school librarian responsibilities require skills like "library resources," "student learning," "library programs," and "classroom curriculum." Meanwhile a typical circulation supervisor has skills in areas such as "student assistants," "library patrons," "circulation services," and "library system." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, circulation supervisors reach lower levels of education than school librarians. Circulation supervisors are 14.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.School librarian vs. Cataloger
Each career also uses different skills, according to real school librarian resumes. While school librarian responsibilities can utilize skills like "library services," "library resources," "student learning," and "library programs," catalogers use skills like "rda," "oclc," "online database," and "lcsh."
Catalogers earn a lower average salary than school librarians. But catalogers earn the highest pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $40,571. Additionally, school librarians earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $49,633 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Catalogers tend to reach lower levels of education than school librarians. In fact, they're 7.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.School librarian vs. Circulation director
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from school librarian resumes include skills like "library services," "library resources," "student learning," and "library materials," whereas a circulation director is more likely to list skills in "audience development," "newspapers," "independent contractors," and "expense budget. "
Most circulation directors achieve a lower degree level compared to school librarians. For example, they're 20.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.School librarian vs. Library supervisor
Even though a few skill sets overlap between school librarians and library supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a school librarian might have more use for skills like "student learning," "library programs," "classroom curriculum," and "kindergarten." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of library supervisors require skills like "library patrons," "student assistants," "customer service," and "library system. "
Library supervisors reach lower levels of education compared to school librarians, in general. The difference is that they're 14.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of school librarian
Updated January 8, 2025
