Head Librarian Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Head Librarian resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Head librarians are the top dogs of their libraries. They’re the ones who make sure that everything runs smoothly—from the reference desk to the stacks. They set the tone for the whole organization and help it grow and thrive.
Head librarians are often in charge of hiring new staff members and setting their salaries. They also oversee budgeting and planning, and they play a major role in developing the collection by selecting new books, DVDs, and other materials for patrons to enjoy.
Here are some tips and an example to help you write a great head librarian resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.
How to Write a Head Librarian Resume
Here’s how to write a resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. And while it’s tempting to use bullet points to simply list your responsibilities, you should instead use them to describe your accomplishments.
For example, rather than saying you “managed library staff,” you could say you “led team of 15 librarians to achieve record-breaking circulation numbers by developing new training programs and implementing new technology tools.”
The second bullet point is much more interesting and provides a clear sense of what was accomplished and how.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a head librarian role, your resume is often scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for certain terms related to the job, like “library management” or “acquisitions,” in order to determine whether your skills are a match for the position. If you don’t have enough relevant keywords on your resume, the ATS might disqualify your application before a human ever sees it.
To make sure this doesn’t happen, use this list of common head librarian keywords as a starting point:
- Library Services
- Library Science
- Information Literacy
- Library Instruction
- Collection Development
- Library Management
- Cataloging
- Library Research
- Library Reference
- ILS
- Digital Libraries
- Data Analysis
- Community Outreach
- Higher Education
- Digital Preservation
- Public Speaking
- Instructional Design
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Curriculum Development
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Organization Skills
- Management
- Microsoft Access
- Event Planning
- Research
- Social Media
- Public Libraries
- Leadership Development
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a head librarian, you are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the library, as well as its staff. In order to effectively do your job, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems. For instance, you should be familiar with library management software, such as Koha and Sierra. You should also be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, as well as social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, you should have a solid understanding of copyright law and be familiar with digital rights management (DRM) software.