Skills
Library Science Professor Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in library science professors, and how to build and show them.
Library Science Professors need technical skills such as information organization, cataloging and metadata, and digital libraries, plus people skills like mentoring and communication. They also use tools such as Integrated library systems and Metadata tools.
Technical (hard) skills
- Information organization
- Cataloging and metadata
- Digital libraries
- Research methods
- Online teaching
- Archival practice
People (soft) skills
- Mentoring
- Communication
- Organization
- Curiosity
Tools, equipment and technology
- Integrated library systems
- Metadata tools
- Learning management systems
- Video platforms
- Databases
- Digital repository software
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how library science professors put their skills to work:
- How to teach the reference interview
- How to design an online library science course
- How to supervise a library practicum
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Information organization” and “Cataloging and metadata.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “mentoring,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Ph.D. in library or information science near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our library science professor glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Library Science Professor training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.