Sample of Librarian Resumes

How can you make your resume stand out and appear impressive? Look into resume builders, too. This way, you won’t miss any important detail. Furthermore, these librarian resume templates can help you make your CV look cleaner, more creative, and professional-looking. Increase the chances of getting interviewed even more by attaching a well-written cover letter.

Sample of Librarian Resumes

While most libraries are no longer what they used to be decades ago, librarians enjoy a quite stable job with more than decent pay. Based on over 1,500 salary profiles as of 2021, librarians enjoy a media pay of close to $51,000. This amount can go up to $72,000 or even more depending on your location, skills, position, and the company you will be working with.????

To manage your expectations when it comes to librarian salaries, you must know that experience and years in the industry matter greatly. If you are one to pursue a career for stability, then being a librarian would be a great choice. Payscale identifies these figures as the average salary of librarians based on years of experience:

• Entry Level (less than 1 year of experience): $44,000
• Early Career (1-4 years of experience): $47,000
• Mid Career (5-9 years of experience): $52,000
• Late Career (10-19 years of experience): $56,000
• Experienced (20+ years of experience): $61,000

How to Make a Librarian Resume

As earlier mentioned, one of the best characteristics of a librarian is being organized. Therefore, this quality should be evident in your resume. Using resume templates is ideal so you won’t have a challenging time building your resume from scratch.

Here are some quick tips to keep in mind while building your resume:

• Make your resume appear professional by using a resume builder.
• Pay attention to details while writing your resume. It must be flawless.
• Highlight your education, certifications, and skills so they are easily seen.
• Make sure your contact details are clear and updated. This is the only way the hiring manager can get in touch with you for an interview.

The Layout of a Librarian Resume

Resumes these days are no longer just the usual black and white text on a piece of bond paper. Applicants exert a lot of effort to make their resumes appear as creative and professional as possible. Remember, the very fact that you can craft a stand-out resume is a skill in itself.

The ideal layout of a librarian resume includes the simple characteristics found in most resumes.

The Structure of a Librarian Resume

The structure of your resume must also be created in a way that all of your skills and experience are highlighted. When you want the hiring manager to see what you can offer, then you must also pay attention to your resume’s structure.

You can follow the standard or usual resume structure, or you can also mix it up a bit so that your special skills are highlighted. Some librarian applicants would highlight their education, others would want their experience to stand out.

Many more applicants, especially those who have acknowledged the importance of adding more skills than the usual librarian, would want to have those skills and even some certifications stand out.

Check out our resume templates here to give you a better idea of what the best resume structure looks like.

Start with the Header of a Librarian Resume

The first and most important part of your resume is its header. As the name suggests, this is the part that typically includes your name, the resume title, and your contact details.

Needless to say, the header should be flawless. You can’t afford to have any mistakes in this part of your resume as it is the first thing any hiring manager sees when looking at a pile of resumes.

Example of a Librarian Header

Here’s an example of a good header.

CORRECT

Elizabeth Holmes

Experienced Librarian

+1-123-123-1234

elizabeth.holmes@contact.com

San Francisco, CA

A good header is simple and straightforward. You can be more creative with the title, but you can also keep it as simple as it is.

A bad header, on the other hand, is one that lacks relevant details and is difficult to read. Here’s an example.

INCORRECT

Elizabeth Holmes, Librarian

1231231234

elizabeth.holmes@contact.com

Is a Photo Required in Librarian Resumes?

It is not recommended to include a photo in your resume.

Over 80% of recruiters in the US would not consider it appropriate to hire you if you included a photo. Strict discrimination laws prevent employers from asking for a photo before employing them. You must know though that only 20% of companies might see a benefit to adding a photo to your resume. However, it is allowed and there are still the 20% of employers who might still consider you. A photo gives a face behind the name and all the information you have added to your resume.

If you want to display your picture on your resume, please make sure to keep in mind the following tips:

• Use a formal headshot.
• Make sure you are wearing something professional.
• A neutral background for your photo would be best.
• Use a recent, unedited, and unfiltered photo.

You might want the hiring manager to think that you’re one smart librarian but you know how to party, too, but please reserve that for later when you are already hired. Selfies or pictures in a party or while you’re on a vacation are best to be shared with friends, not with potential employers. Avatars and cartoons aren’t advisable either.

In fact, a lot of people advise against using photos for resumes. Many say it is not necessary. You are hired for your skills, education, and experience as a librarian – not your appearance. Also, images can be used to discriminate applicants, whether deliberate or not.

Choosing Your Librarian Resume Title

Your resume title can also be as simple as your job title or the position you are applying for. Once again, make this as simple and straightforward as possible. These are one-liners, basically a headline.

While striving to show your creativity and wit while creating a resume title might be a good idea, you’ll never know if it’s something a hiring manager would appreciate or not. We recommend sticking to simplicity.

For example, you can simply write “Experienced Librarian”, “____-Certified Library Technician”, or something similar.

Professional Summary for a Librarian Resume

Allow us to once again reiterate the importance of simple professionalism on your applicant’s librarian resume. If you do want to show off your wit and writing skills, this is the part you can and should personalize. You can also choose to keep it simple. Here are some examples:

CORRECT

Detail-oriented and diligent library professional with over 5 years of related experience. Expertise in managing and maintaining resources and completing day-to-day library duties. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and strong drive to achieve a high level of patron satisfaction. Highly organized and effective team leader aiming to achieve efficiency across library functions.

CORRECT

Head Librarian with a sound background assisting librarians and patrons. Familiar with administrative and day-to-day business tasks including organizing library materials, filing paperwork, and handling currency. Team-oriented, self-motivated, and prioritizes building relationships with colleagues and customers.

When writing a professional summary, make sure you’re keeping in mind the details placed in the job description. Not only does this show your ability to pay close attention to detail, it also shows that you might just be the perfect person for the job.

It is understandable if you feel some pressure while writing a professional summary. After all, this is also on top of your resume and can make or break your chances to get interviewed and ultimately hired. Aside from using resume builders or librarian resume templates, you can also look at samples from competitors or other librarians’ resumes.

Here’s an example of a straightforward librarian resume objective.

Work Experience in Librarian Resumes

While fresh graduates and those with very little experience in the librarian industry still have positions available for them, it is undeniable that experience does a whole lot in giving you an edge over other applicants.

Therefore, it is important to include and highlight your work experience in your resume as a librarian applicant.

Describe Your Professional Experience on Your Librarian Resume

We have mentioned multiple times above that your professional experience plays a huge role in your application as a librarian. So if you have a good track record or work history, make sure it’s highlighted on your resume.

Ideally, your experience should be as a librarian or any position you’ve had in the past where you worked in a library. However, since librarians these days have a variety of tasks that involve more than just organizing and classifying books, and checking them in and out of the library, you can also include other job experiences that are relevant to what the employer is looking for.

For example, if you have experience in IT, project management, web content management, database management, and strategic planning, among others, you should definitely add them to your list of work experience.

Examples of Work Experience for a Professional Librarian Resume

If you don’t have a lot of experience as a librarian yet, you can simply write what you’ve done so far. The example below shows a student assistant’s experience in a library.

While it came from a former student who might now be applying for a librarian position in a public library, school library, or a private library, it also shows that he or she has gained a lot of experience in such a short time. He or she was able to show it by describing in detail his or her experience while assisting in the library.

Now, if you do have a lot of experience as a librarian, then it would be best to include them all on your resume. You may follow the reverse chronological order where your most recent work experience appears first. Here’s an example.

Education in the Librarian Resume

Most, if not all, librarian resume examples you will find always include an education section. Education is highly important if you want to become a librarian. Some librarian jobs require a bachelor’s degree, however, if you want career growth in the future, you may also consider getting a master’s degree. If you have these, you should definitely include them in your resume.

Do not be discouraged if you do not have a degree yet. There are plenty of librarians who started out with entry level librarian positions as they pursued a college degree. Also, you can check the job description whether a degree was specifically mentioned as a requirement.

Should You Start With Education or Work Experience in a Librarian Resume?

When you look at librarian resume samples, you will see that the order of sections may vary, specifically with the educational background and work experience sections.

Which should you place first? Once again, take a look at the job description. Get a feel of what the employer values more - education or experience. If you simply can’t tell, then you can base your decision according to what you feel holds more weight on your resume.

For example, if you have plenty of work experience and you want to highlight these in your resume, then you should put your experience ahead of your education. However, if you have little to no work experience yet, you can prioritize the education section over the experience section instead.

How to Properly List Your Education in a Librarian Resume

When listing down your educational background, include all relevant details such as the name of your course, the university or college you went to, and the years you studied there. Include significant achievements and awards if they are relevant to the position you are applying for.

If you have multiple degrees, training, and certifications to add to your librarian resume, it is best to list them according to importance or significance to the job description. For instance, a degree in Medicine might sound impressive, but your Education master degree or even a certificate in the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program holds more weight on a librarian resume.

Example of the Education Section of a Librarian Resume

When listing down your educational background, include all relevant details especially those that are specifically stated as requirements in the job description. Here’s an education section for a librarian resume sample.

If you have any significant achievements and awards, you may include them in this section.

Skills to put in a Librarian resume

Aside from your educational background and experience, your skills matter greatly in your librarian resume. You may look up librarian resume samples and the best ones would always include a list of hard skills and soft skills that are great to have as a librarian.

Make your librarian resume stand out by listing down some of your best skills. Make sure they are relevant to the position, customized according to the job advertisement, and can be useful once you become a librarian.

When it comes to hard skills, here are some of the best ones you should include in your librarian resume:

• Word Processing
• Computer Skills
• Collection Management
• Automated Library Systems
• Library Databases and Programming
• Multi-Task Management
• Lead Development
• GALILEO Databases
• CRM Systems
• Strong Oral and Written Communication Skills

On the other hand, your soft skills are just as important too. Even an entry level librarian resume can be very impressive when you highlight key skills that are important to have as a professional librarian. Here are some examples.

• Strong Interpersonal Skills
• Strong Organizational Skills
• Participative in Community Organizations
• Great Team Player
• Efficient and Accurate
• Fast Learner
• Creative Problem Solving
• Customer Satisfaction
• Building Rapport with Library Patrons
• Time Management

Skills for a Junior Librarian

If you are looking into getting a library job and you have little to no experience yet, you may try starting a librarian career as a junior librarian. Here are some librarian skills that you may consider adding to your resume.

• Computer Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Professional Assistance
• Knowledge in Library Operations

Skills for a Qualified Senior Librarian

Some of the best senior librarian examples include unique and special skills that can be gained with professional experience. Here are some examples.

• Mastery of Reference Services
• Master of Library Reference Materials
• Knowledge of Multiple Languages
• Ability to Prepare Comprehensive Reports
• Ability to Develop and Implement Library Services and Programs

Write the Ideal Resume Hook for a Librarian

An ideal resume hook can help attract potential employers into looking at your resume and inviting you over for an interview. It can be a short one-liner that appears close to or directly under your name.

Example of a Tagline for a Junior Employee Librarian

A junior employee tagline may look like this:

Example of a Tagline for a Senior Level Librarian

If you are a senior level librarian, include your most notable experience.

Additional Headings for Your Librarian Resume

When you want to submit the perfect librarian resume, whether you are applying for a school librarian position or other librarian jobs available, it is best to do everything you can to take advantage of all the space available on your resume.

This is why many library resume examples include additional heading such as certifications, computer skills, interests, and even languages. Your personal data and other reference materials to prove that you have such skills and experience are important, but these headings can attract hiring managers into looking at your resume.

Computer Skills and Certifications for a Librarian

Aside from relevant librarian certifications and other library materials and library resources you have mastered over time, your librarian resume may also include specific computer skills and certifications. You may use a resume builder so you won’t have a hard time filling in all the information and keep your resume format organized.

Some computer skills and certifications that are great to have as a librarian are the following:

• E-Book Applications
• Scheduling and Event Management Software
• Patron Messaging Programs
• Integrated Library Systems
• Web Design and Management
• Literacy Software

Interests in a Librarian Resume

Should you add your personal interests on your resume? Again, this is not required and many librarian resume examples do not include this part at all. However, as earlier mentioned, for as long as you follow the right resume format, you still have more space available, and you want to build the perfect librarian resume that will spark interest in hiring managers, then go ahead and add your interest.

Again, mention your interests only when it fits your profile. You can skip this section and just mention some of your interests in your librarian cover letter if you wish to let your potential employer know more about you.

Languages for a Librarian

If you speak or write more than one language, it is best to include them in your librarian resume too.

You may use proficiency levels such as beginner, intermediate, proficient, fluent, or native to label each language you speak and/or write. If you have completed language certification tests such as TOEFL or IELTS for the English language or SIELE for Spanish, it is ideal to include them in your librarian resume too.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect Librarian Resume

If you want to get hired for the best librarian jobs, then you would have to write an impressive librarian resume first. Here are some key points to remember.

• Use a resume builder and review librarian resume examples.
• Write an impressive librarian resume summary or a resume objective.
• Refer to librarian resume samples as basis for your own resume so you can have an idea of what looks good and what doesn’t.
• A sample librarian resume can also give you an idea of how to format or layout your resume.
• Highlight your education, work experiences, and both hard and soft skills on your resume.
• It is recommended not to include a photo in your resume however it is allowed.
• Additional headings for your resume may include computer skills and certifications, interests, and languages. Include these only when they fit your profile or the librarian job description as advertised.

Check out our resume examples to have an idea of what an ideal resume would look like.

Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your Librarian Resume

Just like you, many others are busy with their job search for positions as assistant librarians, junior librarians, school librarian, reference librarian, or even senior librarians. If you want to get hired for the best librarian job, then your resume must be better than the usual librarian resume samples you’ll find out there. To make your stand out, you can use a resume builder. Also, you should attach an impressive librarian cover letter.

Aside from using the perfect resume template to build your resume, you can also use the perfect cover letter template. These templates will serve as a guide as you write your cover letter to your potential employer.

A cover letter summarizes your resume and this gives you a chance to introduce yourself further to hiring managers. This is another great way for you to impress them so that you may be granted an interview.

Frequently Asked Questions Librarian Resume