Resume guide · Job Zone 5

Librarians and Media Collections Specialistsresume guide.

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. A strong Librarians and Media Collections Specialists resume shows reading comprehension, active listening and speaking, and names the tools you have worked with, such as Microsoft Access, Structured query language SQL and JavaScript.

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01Also called

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CatalogerCatalog LibrarianLibrarianLibrary Media SpecialistReference and Instruction LibrarianReference LibrarianResearch LibrarianSchool LibrarianTechnical Services LibrarianUniversity Librarian

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
Reading ComprehensionVery highAdvanced
Active ListeningVery highAdvanced
SpeakingVery highAdvanced
Critical ThinkingHighIntermediate
WritingHighAdvanced
Service OrientationHighIntermediate
Judgment and Decision MakingHighIntermediate
MonitoringHighIntermediate
Social PerceptivenessHighIntermediate
Active LearningHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administration and Management
  • Administrative
  • Communications and Media
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
  2. Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
  3. Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
  4. Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
  5. Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
  6. Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
  7. Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
  8. Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
  9. Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
  10. Arrange for interlibrary loans of materials not available in a particular library.

05Software and tools

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81 tools across 24 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Library software17
  • Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) databases
  • WorldCat
  • Dynix Digital Library
  • Ex Libris Group Voyager
  • Innovative Interfaces Millennium
  • National Library of Medicine DOCLINE
  • SirsiDynix Symphony
  • WebClarity Software BookWhere
  • CATNYP
  • Electronic Online Systems International EOS.Web
  • Infovision Amlib
  • Inmagic Genie
  • Kelowna Software L4U
  • MC2 Systems Auto Librarian
  • PrimaSoft PC Small Library Organizer Pro
  • RCL Software Media Library Manager
  • Surpass management system software
+ 12 more
Data base user interface and query software16
+ 11 more
Web platform development software7
  • JavaScriptHotIn demand
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHotIn demand
  • PHPHotIn demand
  • Cascading style sheets CSSHotIn demand
  • DrupalIn demand
  • Springshare LibGuidesIn demand
  • Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
+ 2 more
Web page creation and editing software6
  • FacebookHot
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Blogging software
  • Really Simple Syndication RSS
  • Social networking software
  • Wiki software
+ 1 more
Graphics or photo imaging software5
Video creation and editing software4
  • Adobe After EffectsHotIn demand
  • Apple Final Cut ProIn demand
  • Adobe Premiere ProIn demand
  • Apple iMovie
Desktop publishing software3
Information retrieval or search software3
  • LexisNexis
  • Thomson Reuters Westlaw Edge
  • Classification Web
Analytical or scientific software2
  • StataCorp StataIn demand
  • Data visualization software
Document management software2
Electronic mail software2
Office suite software2
Computer aided design CAD software1
Computer based training software1
  • Learning management system LMSIn demand
Development environment software1
  • Standard generalized markup language SGML
Enterprise application integration software1
Internet browser software1
Object or component oriented development software1
Operating system software1
Presentation software1
Process mapping and design software1
Spreadsheet software1
Video conferencing software1
  • ZoomHotIn demand
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Master's Degree
96% of surveyed workers. Others report Bachelor's Degree (4%) and Less than a High School Diploma (0%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 5 · Extensive preparation
Usually a graduate degree and extensive related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with what you built. For a Job Zone 5 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "Microsoft Access, Structured query language SQL, JavaScript, Hypertext markup language HTML" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show active listening and speaking, not just reading comprehension. Active listening and speaking rank close to reading comprehension for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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