Library and Museum Resume Examples
These library and museum resume examples are custom made by LiveCareer’s Resume Builders to help draw attention to the skills and experiences needed by professionals in your field.
Our Recommended Example
Library Assistant
Popular Templates in the Library & Museum Space
Collections Specialist
Librarian
Curator
Docent
Table of Contents
Library Museum Resume
Library Museum Cover Letter
Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Library and Museum Resume
Our certified resume writers have created library and museum resume examples to show you how to write, format and design your own. When you are ready to write your resume, use our Resume Builder, which offers pre-written text suggestions unique to library and museum science for every section of your resume.
Here are some examples of industry-specific content our builder might recommend:
- Experienced in locating sources
- Drove the expansion of collections and programs in response to faculty needs
- Developed tour strategies to highlight permanent collection and increase visitor satisfaction
- Checked out and renewed materials, collected payment for overdue fines and answered telephone at circulation desk
6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Library and Museum Resume
Do
- Do include any experience working with children or adult learners. Almost every position at a library or museum has the potential for teaching moments, so show your willingness to explain information to patrons of all ages.
- Do present yourself as a public servant. The culture of libraries and museums is one of public service. Even if your ultimate goal is to be director of a large metropolitan library system, emphasize your love of helping others find information they need.
- Do showcase your technological skills. The days of card catalogs are long gone. Today, you are apt to find 3-D printers, robots and recording studios at libraries. List the technology you can use already, and express willingness to learn new things.
Don’t
- Don’t panic if you don’t have an MLS. While getting your master’s degree in library science is a career move to consider, there are plenty of library jobs available without one, just as there are plenty of museum jobs that don’t require a degree in museum studies. Just be sure to explain how your existing degree might relate to the job.
- Don’t try to be a “typical” librarian or curator. There is a strong movement to change public perception of libraries and museums from quiet, cavernous spaces full of books and dusty specimens into vibrant hubs of community information and activity. Your colorful personality and experience may be just the thing an employer wants to liven up an institution.
- Don’t forget the soft skills. Even though libraries and museums are places where materials are organized in a very specific way, other skills count as well. This is an industry where job duties are often in a state of flux and employers want to hire individuals who are comfortable with change. Emphasize soft skills like customer service, collaboration and flexibility on your resume.
Beat the ATS with These Library and Museum Resume Skills
Employers often use an applicant tracking system, or ATS, to weed out unqualified candidates. ATS software sorts through resumes in search of specific phrases, and resumes without the desired keywords are removed from consideration right off the bat.
Because jobs at libraries and museums can be so diverse, it is difficult to predict what an employer wants. You can save time by relying on our expert resume writers who know how to describe your skills in ATS-friendly terms that are appropriate to this dynamic industry.
Here are some skills that LiveCareer’s Resume Builder might suggest for your resume:
- Information requests and research
- Film history expertise
- Museum outreach and training
- Developing research tools for secondary schools
- Experience with Archivists Toolkit and ArchiveSpace
- Library operations
- Digitization and metadata
Library and Museum Resumes for Every Professional Level
Entry-Level Library and Museum resume example: Library Volunteer
Competition is often high for library roles, even for volunteer positions. A functional resume format like this one can keep your application at the top of the stack by highlighting your transferable skills over your limited work experience. The design template uses a bit of color to catch the eye, but the document is otherwise clean and uncluttered, making it easy to scan.
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Mid-Career library and Museum resume example: Restoration Technician
This resume’s combination format puts the applicant’s decade of museum work experience front and center. With this resume format, his skills section also gets the spotlight. He lists hard skills, such as preparing exhibits and manual hand tool operations, as well as soft skills such as strong design sense. This is the perfect resume format for a mid-career professional who wants to show off both experience and skills.
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Executive-Level Library and Museum Resume Example: Collections Manager
The chronological resume format of this highly qualified collections manager’s resume gives the reader a favorable impression at first glance. Thanks to the choice of format, it is easy to see his impressive work history suggest a highly experienced applicant. This resume format works well for executive- or senior-level applicants because recruiters can see at-a-glance a career with no employment gaps and a strong career trajectory.
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Resume Success Stories
Statistics and Facts About Library and Museum Jobs
Median Pay
| Library Assistant (2019) | $13.22 hourly |
|---|---|
| Library Technician (2019) | $16.78 hourly |
| Librarian (2018) | $28.39 hourly |
| Archivists, Curators and Museum Workers | $23.97 hourly | 0102030 |
Source: BLS
Job Outlook, 2018–2028
| Library Technicians and Assistants | 3% decline, losing 5,600 jobs |
|---|---|
| Librarians | 6% increase, gaining 8,500 jobs |
| Archivists, Curators and Museum Workers | 9% increase, gaining 3,300 jobs | 0510 |
Source: BLS
Popular Titles
- Library: Library technician, library assistant, librarian, archivist
- Museum: Museum technician, museum conservator, curator, archivist, set and exhibit designer
Source: O*NET
Education Requirements
Library Technician
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30% |
|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 28% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 17% | 0102030 |
Library Assistant
| High School Diploma or Equivalent | 50% |
|---|---|
| Some College | 14% |
| Associate Degree | 12% | 01020304050 |
Librarian
| Master’s Degree | 70% |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 8% |
| Some College | 6% | 01428425670 |
Archivist
| Master’s Degree | 81% |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3% | 01734516885 |
Curator
| Master’s Degree | 44% |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 35% |
| Post-Baccalaureate certificate | 8% | 01020304050 |
Source: O*NET
Gender Diversity
Archivists, Curators and Museum Technicians (2018)
Female
63.3%
Male
36.7%
| Average Male Age | 46.5% years |
|---|---|
| Average Female Age | 43.4% years | 02550 |
Librarians: (2017)
Female
83.5%
Male
16.5%
| Average Male Age | 46.3% years |
|---|---|
| Average Female Age | 47.9% years | 02550 |
Source: Data USA
Racial Diversity
Archivists, Curators and Museum Technicians (2018)
| White | 90.4% |
|---|---|
| Black | 3.58% |
| Asian | 3.15% | 0102030405060708090100 |
Librarians: (2017)
| White | 86.18% |
|---|---|
| Black | 6.38% |
| Asian | 3.99% | 0102030405060708090100 |
