Teacher Librarian

A teacher librarian works in school library settings to develop, manage, and promote information literacy and resource collections that support the school curriculum. They combine teaching expertise with library science knowledge to deliver integrated lessons, guide student research skills, and manage library operations and digital resources. They collaborate with classroom teachers to embed information research and critical thinking into subject teaching.

Design and deliver information literacy programmes aligned to curriculum requirements and student learning outcomes. Teach students research methodologies including locating, evaluating, and synthesising information from print and digital sources. Collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate library resources and research activities into subject units and lesson planning. Manage the school library collection including selection, cataloguing, and classification of print and digital materials using Dewey Decimal or similar systems. Organise and conduct induction programmes to teach students library skills, behaviour expectations, and resource access protocols. Maintain the school library management system including circulation records, overdue tracking, and inventory audits. Curate and promote reading programmes aligned to student age groups, interests, and literacy development stages. Manage library budgets, order educational resources, and evaluate collection effectiveness against curriculum and student needs.

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.

Teacher librarians are usually paid on the same scale as classroom teachers, so the extra study may not lift your pay. You'll need both teaching qualifications and a library science degree, which costs time and money upfront. You'll also spend a lot of time on admin tasks like inventory audits and cataloguing that don't feel like teaching.

Most positions are in government and independent schools across capital cities and larger regional centres. Rural and remote schools often can't afford dedicated librarians, so jobs there are scarce. Remote work isn't an option since you need to be physically managing the library and teaching students.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2412, 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
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivitycore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Digital Literacycore
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligencecore
• Inclusive Practicecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Attention to Detail
• Electronic Document Management
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Group Facilitation
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Policy and Procedure Adherence
• Report Writing

• 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.

Last updated: 30 October 2026