Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 1349

Library manager

Library managers supervise the correct usage of library equipment and items. They manage the provided services of a library and the operation of the departments within a library. Library managers also provide training for new staff members and manage the budget of the library.

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Rate 5 of the 18 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

manage digital libraries

manage budgets

negotiate library contracts

manage staff

recruit employees

About library manager

As a library manager in Poland, you will oversee the daily operations of library facilities, supervising staff, managing collections, and ensuring patrons have access to quality resources and services. Your role involves strategic planning for library services, budget management, staff training and development, and collaboration with community stakeholders. You will work to promote literacy and information access while adapting to the evolving digital landscape, managing both physical collections and digital resources. Library managers are essential in ensuring libraries remain vibrant, accessible community spaces that serve diverse populations.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a library manager.

Collection Development and Management

Develop collection policies aligned with community needs and institutional goals
Select, acquire, and catalog books, journals, and multimedia materials
Evaluate literary collections across different genres and formats
Manage weeding and deaccessioning of outdated or damaged materials
Monitor collection quality, usage patterns, and user satisfaction

Digital Library Management

Implement and maintain digital library platforms and e-resource systems
Manage licenses and subscriptions for electronic databases and e-books
Train staff and patrons on accessing and using digital resources
Monitor usage statistics and evaluate digital service effectiveness

Budget and Financial Management

Develop and manage annual library budget allocations
Track expenditures and ensure compliance with financial policies
Secure funding through grants and fundraising initiatives
Prepare financial reports for stakeholders and institutional leadership

Staff Management and Training

Recruit, hire, and onboard new library staff members
Provide training on library systems, customer service, and professional development
Conduct performance evaluations and manage staff development plans
Foster a positive workplace culture and address staff conflicts

Service Planning and Community Engagement

Develop strategic plans for library services aligned with community needs
Organize programming, events, and educational workshops for diverse audiences
Build partnerships with schools, organizations, and community stakeholders
Assess community information needs and adjust services accordingly

European Skills Framework

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

Essential (18)

literatureliteratureThe body of artistic writing characterized by beauty of expression, form, and universality of intellectual and emotional appeal.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...project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.types of literature genrestypes of literature genresThe different literary genres in the history of literature, their technique, tone, content and length.manage digital librariesmanage digital librariesCollect, manage and preserve for permanent access digital content and offer to targeted user communities specialised search and retrieval functionality.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.negotiate library contractsnegotiate library contractsNegotiate contracts for library services, materials, maintenance and equipment.manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...recruit employeesrecruit employeesHire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.confer with library colleaguesconfer with library colleaguesCommunicate with colleagues and collaborators; make collection decisions and determine present and future library services to offer.arrange interlibrary loansarrange interlibrary loansArrange interlibrary exchange of materials that are not available in a particular library.provide library informationprovide library informationExplain the use of library services, resources and equipment; provide information about library customs.liaise with colleaguesliaise with colleaguesLiaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ...coordinate operational activitiescoordinate operational activitiesSynchronise activities and responsibilities of the operational staff to ensure that the resources of an organisation are used most efficiently in pursuit of the specified objectives.supervise worksupervise workDirect and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.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.train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...buy new library itemsbuy new library itemsEvaluate new library products and services, negotiate contracts, and place orders.

Optional (15) — show

music and video industrymusic and video industryPlayers and products available on the market in the video and music industry.digital curationdigital curationThe field that deals with maintaining, preserving and adding value to digital research.copyright legislationcopyright legislationLegislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.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...apply change managementapply change managementManage development within an organisation by anticipating changes and making managerial decisions to ensure that the members involved are as less disturbed as possible.evaluate library materialsevaluate library materialsEvaluate materials to determine whether they are outdated and should be replaced, or they are unused and should be discarded.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.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.analyse library users' queriesanalyse library users' queriesAnalyse library users' requests to determine extra information. Assist in furnishing and locating that information.apply for library fundingapply for library fundingCompose proposals for new research or project grants.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.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.participate in school programs on librariesparticipate in school programs on librariesPlan and teach classes on topics like literacy, library instruction, and technology use.draw up professional textsdraw up professional textsCompose and publish professional articles, internal documents, and instructional texts.

Related Occupations

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Frequently asked questions

What does a library manager do?

What skills does a library manager need?

A library manager needs 18 essential skills, including literature, collection management, project management, types of literature genres, manage digital libraries.

Will AI replace library manager jobs?

The AI disruption score for library manager is 60/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: organise information, draw up professional texts, classify library materials. Most resilient: liaise with colleagues, confer with library colleagues, negotiate library contracts.

AI Replacement Risk

60/ 100

High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

organise information draw up professional texts classify library materials

Skills resilient to automation

liaise with colleagues confer with library colleagues negotiate library contracts

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Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production

ISCO GroupProduction and specialised services managers

Essential Skills18

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