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Specific Job Description and Responsibilities of a Special Librarian



Being a special librarian is different from other types of librarians because of the nature of the library where he/she is working. Unlike a school and academic librarian, there are no curricula to base the collection development on. When I started working in a special library, the duties and responsibilities were not clear cut. 

Eventually, as I started submitting my accomplishment reports, I realized what the job entails and came up with the following job description based on what I do on a daily and monthly basis.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES of a SPECIAL LIBRARIAN

  • Collect information on user demographics (age, sex, profession, address, etc.) through a specific log-in system. Create a new library visitor log-in system, in which the new patron is asked to write down the date of his visit, his name, contact number, school and/or organization, and research interests 
  • Compile library statistics for monthly and yearly reports.
  • For Library Management & Marketing: Contact artists and local event organizers to discuss possible tie-up events with the library 
  • Attended board meeting with library administrators to discuss collection development, marketing prospects, and future directions. 
  • Update the library blog and social media pages
  • Distribute informative brochures and promotional material to affiliated nearby organizations, e.g., Plaza Hotel. 
  • For Reference & Information Service,  assist users in finding books related to the research topic,  recommended books, and help students with their research tasks e.g., bibliography
  • For Cataloging & Classification, edited the collection categories in the online OPAC system, migrate all of the bibliographical entries in the online OPAC system to the new collection categories by using keywords, titles, and authors to find the entries. 
  • Installing call number tags to successfully accessioned, classified, and digitally cataloged  books.
  • For Acquisition & Selection, set-up a new accessioning system, in which new books are listed digitally, manually annotated in the library's accession book (hard copy), stamping the library logo on the front and back covers, title page, and the secret page 
  • Adding protective covering for books and shelving/reshelving them


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