Librarian Cover Letter Example

As information science professionals, librarians are responsible for maintaining an extensive amount of information and assisting others with research.

So employers need to know that you have the right mix of interpersonal skills, technical expertise, and organizational skills needed to run a successful library. Show them that you’re the right person for the job by demonstrating your expertise with an outstanding cover letter.

Here are some tips on how to write a great librarian cover letter:

Highlight your librarian skills

Start by emphasizing skills that are essential to the work being done by a librarian.

Depending on the institution, the general duties of a librarian may vary but a number of hard and soft skills are required for the position.

Here are some librarian soft skills you should include on your cover letter:

• Organizational skills
• Time management skills
• Prioritization
• Interpersonal skills
• Active listening
• People skills 
• Customer service
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Patience
• Attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate

Additionally, here’s a list of valuable librarian hard skills and related software to highlight in your cover letter:

• Research skills
• Analytical thinking
• UStrong understanding of cataloging, shelving, and storage methods
• Google Drive and Microsoft Office (Google Docs, Word, and Excel)
• Experience with information retrieval and query software
• Knowledge of databases and electronic resources, such as (like e-books and journals)
• Classification Web, LexisNexis, and Westlaw
• Ex Libris Group Voyager, MC2 Systems Auto Librarian, Online Computer Library Center OCLC, WorldCat

You can demonstrate to employers that you have the right skills to excel by providing real-life examples on your cover letter.

For example, you can mention your experience at a college library and how you implemented a new online catalog to streamline the research process for students.

Open with a strong introduction

Knowing how to start your cover letter in an attention-grabbing way is especially important when you’re applying for entry-level librarian jobs and don’t have a lot of experience to highlight. A strong cover letter introduction makes an immediate impact on employers and helps you stand out from candidates who have similar qualifications.

Here are a few ways to craft a stronger introduction on your librarian cover letter:

• Show your enthusiasm for the institution or role by connecting a personal passion to the job
• Lead with an impressive accomplishment that demonstrates your skills as a librarian
• Research the library and use this information to align your talents with their goals

Provide examples of your achievements (with numbers)

Quantify your achievements to give employers a better sense of what you can contribute to their current workflow. Although the main responsibilities of a librarian are service-based, there’s always a way to include data on your cover letter.

Here are some examples of quantified achievements that would make good additions to a librarian cover letter:

Librarian Cover Letter Achievements

• Supervised and trained 25+ staff in shelving, cataloging, and information retrieval methods
• Co-instructed sessions on research methods to 900+ incoming students during college orientation
• Reworked the library’s budget for supplies and reduced spending by 15% per year
• Initiated a project to streamline subscription processes, which saved the library $2,500 annually