Skip to main content

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


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Common and Oddball Niches to Pursue on Amazon KDP

 In my blogs about making money online, I mentioned selling journals and logbooks on Amazon KDP. In some cases, I make journals out of ideas and inspirations I get from my life as a librarian, mother of a young adult, and a restaurateur/party caterer. I may sell the journals myself (selling mined gold) or sell them to people who might want to develop them as their own products on Amazon KDP (selling shovels for others to mine gold with).  If you want to find out more about the latter, here is the link to my Creative Fabrica store:  https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/ruby-cari-galvez/ref/2135193/ In my brainstorming, I thought of several oddball and common niches that I could develop products around. Here they are... First-Time Homeowner's Planner – Step-by-step guidance and to-do lists for managing house projects, budgeting, and maintenance. Solo Hiking Journal – A log for solo hikers to track routes, wildlife sightings, reflections, and survival tips. Eco-Conscio...
Read more

What is Special About a Coming-of-age Novel?

A  coming-of-age novel  has distinct traits that set it apart from other genres, primarily through its focus on personal growth and self-discovery. Here’s what makes it unique:        1.     Focus on Character Development        -     Core Theme:     The central theme of a coming-of-age novel is personal transformation. The protagonist, usually a young person, matures through experiences, gaining insight into themselves and the world.    -     Compared to Other Genres:     While many genres focus on external conflicts (e.g., fantasy battles or mystery puzzles), the coming-of-age novel centers on   internal   conflicts—struggles with identity, morality, and self-understanding.        2.     Transition from Youth to Adulthood        -     Rite of Passage:...
Read more

Playtime is Library Time: the Library as a Place of Adventure

When I was a kid, the word “library” meant one thing: boredom. It conjured up images of stuffy silence, stern librarians, and endless shelves of dusty books that seemed more interested in gathering cobwebs than capturing my imagination. Yet, I’ve since learned that this perception couldn’t be more wrong. The library is not a place where fun goes to die; it’s a playground for the mind. So why do we, as adults, so often pass it off as a dreary destination for last-minute study sessions or research marathons? I can’t help but think we’ve done our children a disservice by failing to frame it as what it really is: a place of adventure, discovery, and, yes, play. Imagine for a moment if the library wasn’t treated like a "last resort" when you've exhausted all other options for entertainment. What if, instead, it was seen as a treasure chest waiting to be opened? Each shelf a new map to a far-off land, every book a ticket to a new world where anything is possible? This shift in ...
Read more