Instructional Librarian

Career Guide

An Instructional Librarian teaches people how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively. They design and deliver library instruction for students, faculty, and community members, often focusing on research skills, information literacy, and responsible use of sources. The role blends teaching, research support, and collaboration with academic departments.

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Key Responsibilities

Plan and teach library instruction sessions
Create online learning materials
Support research and reference questions
Collaborate with faculty on course assignments
Build information literacy programs
Assess learning outcomes
Provide one on one research consultations
Maintain subject and course guides
Promote library services and workshops
Support academic integrity and citation practices

Top Skills for Success

Teaching

Lesson Planning

Instructional Design

Presentation Skills

Public Speaking

Curriculum Development

Information Literacy

Research Skills

Reference Interviewing

Database Searching

Source Evaluation

Assessment Design

Learning Analytics

Learning Management Systems

Accessibility Standards

Faculty Collaboration

Project Management

Written Communication

Workshop Facilitation

Customer Service

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Instruction Coordinator

Head of Instruction

Information Literacy Coordinator

Student Success Librarian

User Experience Librarian

Outreach Librarian

Academic Liaison Librarian

First Year Experience Librarian

Transition Opportunities

Learning Experience Designer Instructional Designer Educational Technologist Training Specialist Academic Advisor Program Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Assessment StrategyLearning Management SystemsAccessibility PracticesOnline TeachingLearning AnalyticsVideo CreationStakeholder Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a small teaching portfolio with lesson plans, learning objects, and assessment examples. Practice online instruction using a learning platform, and apply accessibility checks to all materials. Seek co teaching opportunities with faculty, and collect simple feedback data to show impact.

Market Intelligence Report

Instructional Librarian is part of the Higher Education category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 48,000 to 62,000

Mid LevelUSD 62,000 to 80,000

Senior LevelUSD 80,000 to 105,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand in higher education, with increased emphasis on digital learning, research support, and student success services. Hiring is competitive and varies by region and institution budgets.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Arizona State UniversityUniversity of California BerkeleyUniversity of MichiganUniversity of WashingtonNew York UniversityBoston Public LibraryChicago Public LibraryLos Angeles Public LibraryCommunity College of DenverCity University of New York

Industry Sectors

UniversitiesCommunity collegesPublic librariesSchool districtsGovernment librariesMedical librariesLaw librariesNonprofit education organizations

Recommended Next Steps

Create a teaching portfolio with two lesson plans and two online learning materials

Gain experience teaching workshops or guest sessions

Learn one learning management system used in higher education

Complete accessibility training and apply it to learning materials

Practice assessment by using short quizzes and reflection prompts

Network with academic librarians through regional library associations

Tailor a resume to highlight teaching outcomes and collaboration examples

Prepare a sample instruction session for interviews