Explore a possible path

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

How does this connect to your interests? →

A look at the work

  • Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
  • Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
  • Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
  • Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
  • Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
  • Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
  • Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
  • Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.

A selection of source-listed tasks; duties vary by role and employer.

Interests involved in this work

These source scores describe occupational work activities. They are separate from your personal test results.

Hands-on

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.3 / 7

Investigative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

3.6 / 7

Creative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.7 / 7

Helping people

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

4.0 / 7

Enterprising

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.8 / 7

Organizing

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

5.8 / 7

Skills to explore

Source-reported importance on a 1–5 scale. Try a course, project or conversation to learn what these skills involve.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

2026-08

4.1 / 5

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

2026-08

4.0 / 5

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

2026-08

4.0 / 5

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

2026-08

3.6 / 5

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

2026-08

3.6 / 5

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

2026-08

3.4 / 5

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

2026-08

3.3 / 5

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

2026-08

3.3 / 5

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

2026-08

3.3 / 5

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

2026-08

3.1 / 5

Plan a small next step

Talk to someone doing this work, look for a supervised activity, and explore the subjects that interest you. Admission, licensing and current program requirements should be confirmed with the relevant institutions.

Source preparation category: Job Zone 5 of 5 · 2026-08. This category describes typical preparation, not your eligibility.

Related study fields

Source crosswalk connections are research leads, not required qualifications.

Educational/Instructional Technology →

School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist →

Library and Information Science →

Children and Youth Library Services →

Library Science and Administration, Other →

Explore all related study fields →

Source & methodology

O*NET-SOC code 25-4022.00 · Database 31.0 · Retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Dates on individual observations describe their source periods.

How interest exploration matching works →

Data: O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. StudyIndex normalizes the presentation and adds exploration features; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions.