Librarian

A librarian organises, manages, and provides access to information resources in libraries, including books, journals, digital collections, and databases. They assist patrons in locating and evaluating information, develop collections aligned with community or institutional needs, and manage library operations and systems. In Australian libraries, librarians work within standards set by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and support diverse users across public, academic, school, and specialist library settings.

Catalogue library materials using metadata standards such as RDA (Resource Description and Access) and MARC21 format. Manage integrated library management systems (such as Koha or Evergreen) to record acquisitions, track holdings, and process loans. Curate and develop collections by selecting and acquiring print and digital resources aligned with patron demographics and institutional priorities. Negotiate licences and subscriptions for electronic databases, e-journals, and digital content. Provide reference services to assist patrons in locating, evaluating, and synthesising information sources for research and study. Conduct literature searches and systematic reviews for researchers, students, or clinical staff using specialised databases. Design and deliver information literacy training to patrons on search strategies, critical appraisal, and use of library resources. Manage digital repositories and institutional archives, including digitising materials and assigning appropriate metadata.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need a university degree in library science or information studies, which is a real investment. Pay stays modest even in senior roles: library budgets are tight across Australia. You'll also face frustration from declining foot traffic in many public libraries and pressure to justify the role's value as digital resources replace physical collections.

Academic libraries at universities are stable employers. Regional areas have fewer positions and smaller budgets. Remote work is rare in this role since libraries need on-site staff for patron services and physical collection management.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2246, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Digital Literacycore
• Electronic Document Managementcore
• Inclusive Practicecore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Record Managementcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Service Navigation and Referralcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Community Development
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliance
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Group Facilitation
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Process Improvement Identification
• Report Writing
• Team Collaboration

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Librarian workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026