What skills does a librarian need?

A librarian needs 15 essential skills including collection management, information governance compliance, scientific research methodology, manage digital libraries, negotiate library contracts. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace librarian jobs?

The AI disruption score for librarian is 48/100 (moderate risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Public Administration & LegalLegal, social and cultural professionalsISCO 2622

librarian

Librarians manage libraries and perform related library services. They manage, collect and develop information resources. They make information available, accessible and discoverable to any kind of user.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

collection managementcollection managementThe process of resource evaluation, selection and life-cycle planning to create and promote a coherent collection in line with the developing needs of the users or customers. Understanding legal depos...information governance complianceinformation governance complianceThe policies regarding processes and procedures for use of information, the balance between information availability and information security and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and personal data p...scientific research methodologyscientific research methodologyThe theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.manage digital librariesmanage digital librariesCollect, manage and preserve for permanent access digital content and offer to targeted user communities specialised search and retrieval functionality.negotiate library contractsnegotiate library contractsNegotiate contracts for library services, materials, maintenance and equipment.develop solutions to information issuesdevelop solutions to information issuesAnalyse information needs and challenges to develop effective technological solutions.conduct scholarly researchconduct scholarly researchPlan scholarly research by formulating the research question and conducting empirical or literature research in order to investigate the truth of the research question.assess informational needsassess informational needsCommunicate with clients or users in order to identify which information they require and the methods with which they can access it.arrange interlibrary loansarrange interlibrary loansArrange interlibrary exchange of materials that are not available in a particular library.analyse library users' queriesanalyse library users' queriesAnalyse library users' requests to determine extra information. Assist in furnishing and locating that information.evaluate information services using metricsevaluate information services using metricsUse bibliometrics, webometrics and web metrics to evaluate information services.provide library informationprovide library informationExplain the use of library services, resources and equipment; provide information about library customs.perform customer managementperform customer managementIdentify and understand the customer's needs. Communicate and engage with stakeholders in designing, promoting and evaluating services.classify library materialsclassify library materialsClassify, code and catalogue books, publications, audio-visual documents and other library materials based on subject matter or library classification standards.buy new library itemsbuy new library itemsEvaluate new library products and services, negotiate contracts, and place orders.

Optional (36)

literatureliteratureThe body of artistic writing characterized by beauty of expression, form, and universality of intellectual and emotional appeal.music and video industrymusic and video industryPlayers and products available on the market in the video and music industry.musical genresmusical genresDifferent musical styles and genres such as blues, jazz, reggae, rock, or indie.primary school proceduresprimary school proceduresThe inner workings of a primary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.types of literature genrestypes of literature genresThe different literary genres in the history of literature, their technique, tone, content and length.digital curationdigital curationThe field that deals with maintaining, preserving and adding value to digital research.digitizationdigitizationThe process of transforming an object from its analogical form to a digital format. It creates a digital representation of the object without making in-kind changes to it.secondary school proceduressecondary school proceduresThe inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.copyright legislationcopyright legislationLegislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.kindergarten school procedureskindergarten school proceduresThe inner workings of a kindergarten, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, policies, and regulations.assist in the organisation of school eventsassist in the organisation of school eventsProvide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school's open house day, a sports game or a talent show.compile library listscompile library listsCompile exhaustive lists of books, magazines, periodicals, articles, and audio-visual materials on particular subjects.assist students with library operationsassist students with library operationsHelp students or pupils with tasks relating to library services such as the lending, return, or search for library materials.manage human resourcesmanage human resourcesConduct employee recruitment, helping employees to develop their personal and organisational skills, knowledge, and competencies as well as providing feedback and performance appraisals. It includes m...maintain library equipmentmaintain library equipmentMaintaining, cleaning and repairing of library resources, equipment and facilities, such as dusting or fixing printer paper jams.escort students on a field tripescort students on a field tripAccompany students on an educational trip outside the school environment and ensure their safety and cooperation.digitise documentsdigitise documentsLoad analog documents by converting them into a digital format, using specialised hardware and software.use software for data preservationuse software for data preservationUtilise specialised applications and software to collect and preserve digital information.use databasesuse databasesUse software tools for managing and organising data in a structured environment which consists of attributes, tables and relationships in order to query and modify the stored data.recruit employeesrecruit employeesHire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.develop classification systemsdevelop classification systemsOrganise archive or business records; develop classification systems to facilitate access to all information.confer with library colleaguesconfer with library colleaguesCommunicate with colleagues and collaborators; make collection decisions and determine present and future library services to offer.manage information access aidsmanage information access aidsDevelop and maintain information access aids such as databases, digital bibliographies, web pages, software programs and online tutorials.apply social media marketingapply social media marketingEmploy website traffic of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to generate attention and participation of existing and potential customers through discussion forums, web logs, microblogging and s...apply for library fundingapply for library fundingCompose proposals for new research or project grants.develop artistic educational activitiesdevelop artistic educational activitiesDevelop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an ...assist in library facility planningassist in library facility planningProvide input into the future planning of library facilities.coordinate educational programmescoordinate educational programmesPlan and coordinate educational and public outreach programs such as workshops, tours, lectures and classes.perform playground surveillanceperform playground surveillanceObserve students' recreational activities to ensure student safety and well-being and intervene when necessary.manage fundraising activitiesmanage fundraising activitiesInitiate fundraising activities managing the place, teams involved, causes and budgets.organise informationorganise informationArrange information according to a specified set of rules. Catalogue and classify information based on the characteristics of that information.select new library items to acquireselect new library items to acquireSelect new library items to acquire by exchange or purchase.create semantic treescreate semantic treesCreate coherent lists and hierarchies of concepts and terms to ensure consistent indexing in knowledge organisation systems.supervise daily library operationssupervise daily library operationsSupervise daily library processes and operations. Budgeting, planning, and personnel activities such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.draw up professional textsdraw up professional textsCompose and publish professional articles, internal documents, and instructional texts.oversee extra-curricular activitiesoversee extra-curricular activitiesSupervise and potentially organise educational or recreational activities for the students outside of mandatory classes.