Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

Also Known As:

Catalog Librarian Instructional Technology Specialist Librarian Library Media Specialist Media Specialist Media Technician Multimedia Services Coordinator Reference Librarian Reference and Instruction Librarian Technical Services Librarian

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in United States

Job Outlook Average

New job opportunities are likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

146,400

3% Change From 2023

Explore Librarians and Media Collections Specialists video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Check books in and out of the library.
Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
Explain use of library facilities, resources, equipment, and services, and provide information about library policies.
Confer with teachers to select course materials and to determine which training aids are best suited to particular grade levels.
Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
Respond to customer complaints, taking action as necessary.
Troubleshoot problems with audio-visual equipment.
Evaluate materials to determine outdated or unused items to be discarded.
Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
Arrange for interlibrary loans of materials not available in a particular library.
Represent library or institution on internal and external committees.
Plan and deliver client-centered programs and services, such as special services for corporate clients, storytelling for children, newsletters, or programs for special groups.
Set up, adjust, and operate audio-visual equipment, such as cameras, film and slide projectors, and recording equipment, for meetings, events, classes, seminars, and video conferences.
Assemble and arrange display materials.
Maintain inventory of audio-visual equipment.
Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
Troubleshoot problems with audio-visual equipment.
Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot information access aids, such as databases, annotated bibliographies, Web pages, electronic pathfinders, software programs, and online tutorials.
Engage in professional development activities, such as taking continuing education classes and attending or participating in conferences, workshops, professional meetings, and associations.
Locate unusual or unique information in response to specific requests.
Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
Develop library policies and procedures.
Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
Compile lists of books, periodicals, articles, and audio-visual materials on particular subjects.
Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
Maintain inventory of audio-visual equipment.
Maintain inventory of audio-visual equipment.

Subject areas you may need to master.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.