O*NET-SOC 25-4022.00 · US REFERENCE
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.
Skill importance below is an O*NET US occupational rating, not a global or individual benchmark. No score here is a job-loss probability or a prediction.
Examples of work in this occupation
- 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.
O*NET task statements describe US work; do not perform regulated or hazardous tasks without appropriate training and authorization.
Skills to examine first
Reading Comprehension
US occupation importance: 4.12/5 · rating last updated 2026-08-01
Summarise a public, role-relevant document in five points; verify each point against the source.
Active Listening
US occupation importance: 4.00/5 · rating last updated 2026-08-01
Ask a peer to explain a fictional work problem; paraphrase it and check what you missed.
Speaking
US occupation importance: 4.00/5 · rating last updated 2026-08-01
Explain a safe example of your work in two minutes, then ask which point was unclear.
Writing
US occupation importance: 3.62/5 · rating last updated 2026-08-01
Draft a one-page explanation of a fictional decision for a non-specialist; ask for clarity feedback.
Critical Thinking
US occupation importance: 3.62/5 · rating last updated 2026-08-01
Compare two approaches to a fictional task and document one counterargument for each.
Monitoring
US occupation importance: 3.25/5 · rating last updated 2026-08-01
Define three observable quality checks for a fictional workflow and review the outcome.
These prompts are RolePaths practice suggestions, not O*NET instructions, training or certification.
Related work to compare
O*NET marks these occupations as related. That is a comparison starting point, not a guaranteed career transition. Check local licensing and entry requirements.
Your next seven days
- Choose one skill above and a fictional or non-confidential work example.
- Practise for 20 minutes on three days; keep one small output.
- Ask a qualified peer for feedback against clear criteria.
- Reassess the same career and record what changed.
Source and limits
Occupation definition, task examples, skill importance and related-occupation links come from the US O*NET 31.0 Database. RolePaths selected the top six skills by importance and authored the practice prompts. Career fit, local salaries, automation timing and licensing have not been verified.