Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between special library librarians and reference librarians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a special library librarian and a reference librarian. Additionally, a special library librarian has an average salary of $52,343, which is higher than the $50,409 average annual salary of a reference librarian.
The top three skills for a special library librarian include library services, professional development and library resources. The most important skills for a reference librarian are reference services, library patrons, and collection development.
| Special Library Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $52,343 | $50,409 |
| Hourly rate | $25.16 | $24.24 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 12,477 | 1,058 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A special library librarian is responsible for the library which contains specialized materials for commercial and government organizations. They select and order library books and protect audio-video materials, periodical journals, and magazines from damage. They are responsible for locating, filing, and cataloguing.
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.
Special library librarians and reference librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Library Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Average salary | $52,343 | $50,409 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $72,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Northern California Power Agency | Yale University |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a special library librarian and a reference librarian in terms of educational background:
| Special Library Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Library Science | Library Science |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | New York University |
Here are the differences between special library librarians' and reference librarians' demographics:
| Special Library Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |