Skills
Library Technician Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in library technicians, and how to build and show them.
What skills do library technicians need?
Library Technicians need technical skills such as circulation systems, cataloging basics, and shelving systems, plus people skills like organization and attention to detail. They also use tools such as Integrated library systems and Barcode scanners.
Technical (hard) skills
- Circulation systems
- Cataloging basics
- Shelving systems
- Technology help
- Material processing
- Customer service
People (soft) skills
- Organization
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Patience
Tools, equipment and technology
- Integrated library systems
- Barcode scanners
- Printers and scanners
- Book carts
- Label makers
- Public computers
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how library technicians put their skills to work:
- How to shelve books by call number
- How to process a new book
- How to help a patron use a public computer
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Circulation systems” and “Cataloging basics.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “organization,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as ALA Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our library technician 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 Technician 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.