Research Librarian

Career Guide
A Research Librarian helps people find, evaluate, and use information effectively. They support students, faculty, researchers, and the public by teaching research skills, curating reliable resources, and improving access to collections and services.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct reference and research consultations
  • Teach research skills through workshops and classes
  • Create research guides and learning materials
  • Develop and manage library collections
  • Negotiate and manage resource licenses
  • Support literature searches and systematic reviews
  • Promote information literacy and source evaluation
  • Partner with faculty and departments on research needs
  • Maintain discovery tools and resource access
  • Track usage data to improve services
  • Support citation management and research workflows
  • Provide support for open access publishing
  • Advise on research impact and visibility
  • Ensure equitable access and inclusive services

Top Skills for Success

Reference Interviewing
Information Literacy Instruction
Database Searching
Collection Development
Scholarly Communication
Copyright Literacy
Metadata Basics
Research Consultation
Literature Review Support
Systematic Review Methods
User Needs Assessment
Stakeholder Management
Written Communication
Presentation Skills
Data Fluency

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Research Librarian
Subject Librarian
Instruction Librarian
Scholarly Communications Librarian
Digital Scholarship Librarian
Collection Development Librarian
Access Services Manager
Transition Opportunities
Knowledge Manager
Information Specialist
Research Analyst
Competitive Intelligence Analyst
User Researcher
Records Manager
Content Strategist

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Systematic Review MethodsData Management SupportOpen Access Publishing KnowledgeLicensing NegotiationLearning DesignAssessment and Outcomes MeasurementDiscovery System Administration
Development SuggestionsBuild one deep specialty that matches your environment, such as systematic reviews, instruction, or scholarly communications. Pair it with strong teaching materials, a portfolio of guides, and evidence of impact using clear service metrics.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 45,000 to 60,000
Mid LevelUSD 60,000 to 80,000
Senior LevelUSD 80,000 to 110,000
Growth Trend
Steady demand in universities and large public systems, with increased hiring tied to digital services, data support, and instruction. Competition can be higher for research focused institutions and specialty subject roles.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
Universities and collegesPublic library systemsGovernment librariesHospital and health system librariesLaw librariesCorporate research librariesNonprofit research institutes
Industry Sectors
Higher educationPublic sectorHealthcareLegal servicesCorporate servicesNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

1
Review job postings in your target library type and note recurring requirements
2
Create a small portfolio that includes a research guide, a lesson plan, and a search strategy example
3
Strengthen database searching with advanced query techniques and controlled vocabulary
4
Practice instructional delivery by leading a short workshop or guest session
5
Learn core scholarly communications topics including open access and author rights
6
Get hands on experience with citation management tools and research workflow support
7
Track outcomes for your work using simple measures such as attendance, feedback, and usage
8
Join professional groups and attend local meetups to build connections and learn current practices