MightyRecruiterLibrary technicians manage many of the day-to-day activities involved with running a library. They help patrons find what they are looking for, answer general questions, sort new and returned materials and shelve books and other media.
When creating your library technician job description, you may want to emphasize people skills as well as organizational and indexing skills. A successful library technician must be able to work well with the public, including people of all ages, abilities and educational backgrounds. Part of the role is focused on customer service and part of it on organization, cataloging and database maintenance.
Finding the right mix of interpersonal, organizational and technological skills is essential in choosing a good candidate for this position. To get an idea of what to include in your employment post, study the library technician job description below.
Library Technician Job Summary
Do you love books? Are you an organizer, a thinker and a tech-savvy people person? Come join us at the local library as a library technician. As a tech, you would work under the head librarian, shelving and cataloging materials as well as interacting with patrons to discover and fill their needs. This role provides an essential service to the local community and comes with perks like medical benefits, paid time off and fee waivers for meeting room rentals and other library services. The library technician job may also be a good fit for you if you enjoy public outreach, as we need someone to help develop ongoing community programs like story time and basic adult technology classes.
Job Responsibilities
- Process, catalog, sort, shelve, discharge or file library materials on a daily basis
- Work as part of a close-knit team to regularly assist library patrons with basic research, technology support and location of materials
- Check out books and issue library cards while providing excellent customer service
- Train users, including patrons, volunteers and library staff, on library technology and equipment, including self-checkout kiosks, public computers, catalog database stations, audio-visual equipment, printers and copiers
- Update computer records when new materials are acquired or existing materials are lost or damaged, and coordinate interlibrary loan program
- Assist in planning and development of community outreach programs for youth and underserved populations
- Know what is new at the library, including newly released films, music, works of fiction and nonfiction, and make recommendations based on patrons’ interests and preferences
- Manage database and prepare quarterly reports, occasionally presenting findings at board meetings or to members of the community council
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma (or equivalent)
- Computer literacy
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
Preferred:
- College-level coursework in library science
- Associate degree or higher
- One year or more of library experience (can be volunteer experience)
Library Technician Job Responsibilities
Searching for the perfect employee for your library technician position can be a frustrating task. Increase your odds of acquiring the right person by creating an excellent job responsibilities section for your library technician job description. This portion of your listing lets prospective candidates know what you expect from them, what types of work they might be doing and how they might fit into your work environment. Jobseekers like to envision themselves in the workplace and understand how they might contribute to the success of your library. Use positive language that will engage prospects and encourage them to apply.
When composing the responsibilities section of your library technician job description, choose the most essential tasks and organize them into a bulleted list. Simple, short statements are best. Jobseekers are often considering many positions, and they are not likely to spend time plowing through dense prose. Try to keep your list under eight items, and start each statement with an action verb, for maximum readability and impact.
Here are a few library technician job responsibilities you can consider for your list:
- Ensure appropriate circulation of library materials
- Assist in conducting periodic inventories to ensure the accuracy of library recordkeeping systems
- Monitor and maintain printers and other equipment
- Provide exceptional customer service, both in person and by phone
- Pull printed and electronic materials for patrons
- Coordinate proper shelving of all library materials
Library Technician Job Specifications
Since the primary job of a library technician is to help patrons find information, the job qualifications and skills section of your library technician job description needs to be strong. After all, it takes some education and training to be a good library technician. Does your position require a bachelor’s degree, or is that just preferred? Do you want someone with years of experience, or are you willing to train on the job? Are there special certifications you’d like your new hire to have? Answering these kinds of questions is the key to writing this section of your posting.
When you have compiled a list of the qualifications you want your future employee to have, use bullets to present the information clearly. This will allow jobseekers to quickly assess if they have the right competencies and experience for your position. Organize your requirements in descending order of importance, with the most essential qualifications at the top. Don’t forget to separate the must-have skills from the nice-to-have skills in this section of your library technician job description, as this may allow a larger pool of candidates to apply.
Take a look at these sample library technician job specifications to help you determine what might work for your posting:
- Associate degree in library science plus 2 years’ experience; bachelor’s degree preferred
- Working knowledge of cataloging techniques and procedures
- Ability to learn and use various library management software and automation programs
- Excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills
- Experience with project planning
