1 | P a g e

Library knowledge and skills audit

Developed by Alison Edwards AALIA (CP)

This audit is a list of a number of different knowledge and skills that are useful when working in a

library. It is not a complete list, nor is it specific to just one library type. The aim has been to gather

what could loosely be called “generic skills”, that is skills that could be transferable from one library

to another. When marking the tables, consider how well you think you can the skill:

“Really Well” means that you are very proficient, and have an advanced level of knowledge

or skills

“Well” means that you are more than just proficient, but you could still learn more about the

skill

“I Can Do This” means you are proficient and have a basic level of knowledge or skills

“More Practice” means that you are not quite proficient, and need to learn more about

this skill or knowledge

“Learn This” means that you need to learn this skill or knowledge

“No Interest” means that this skill or knowledge has no interest to you or the career path

you are

pursuing. It could also be something you may wish to learn later in your career.

1. Personal skills

Ethics and values Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I can find and

understand the mission,

vision and values of my

library

I am aware of privacy

issues, and how to

protect my client’s

confidentiality

I am aware of and promote

freedom of information

I respect the diversity of my

library’s clients and its

community

I provide an equitable

service for all clients

2 | P a g e

Lifelong Learning Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I understand the need

for and am committed

to continuing my own

learning

I am aware of the

range of professional

development

opportunities

available to me

I am able to access

professional

development

opportunities,

wherever they may be

found

Communication Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am able to effectively

communicate orally

I am able to effectively

communicate in written

formats

I am able to communicate

in a professional manner,

including being able to

present my ideas in a clear

and concise manner

I practice active listening skills

I am able to negotiate

beneficial outcomes

I have effective conflict

resolution skills

Interpersonal Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I treat my fellow

colleagues with respect

and fairness

I acknowledge my own

and others strengths,

weaknesses and their

contributions to the library

3 | P a g e

I actively contribute to all

team goals and objectives

I contribute to problem-

solving

I share the knowledge I

have as well as that I gain

through professional

development opportunities

I give and happily receive

feedback from others

I am able to

manage my time

effectively

2. Circulation services

Customer service Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am aware of the

importance of and practice

good personal presentation

I am able to

communicate with a

variety of clients

I am able to answer the

telephone in an

appropriate manner

I know why, how and

when to add value to the

service I offer

I am able to use a cash

register and can

complete a range of

basic financial

transactions

I am able to deal with

competing customer

demands tactfully

I can deal with clients

complaints, and know

when to refer them to

more senior staff

4 | P a g e

Circulation Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am able to lend and

return items using the

correct procedure set by

my library

I am able to reserve items

for my patrons using the

correct procedure set by

my library

I know where all items are

located in my library, and

can shelve them using the

correct procedure

I know the importance of

checking the shelf order

whilst shelving

I am able to identify items

that need to be repaired,

and the procedure for

dealing with them

Reader’s advisory Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I have a broad knowledge

of my library’s collection

I read widely, and ask my

client’s opinions to enhance

my knowledge

I have a good knowledge

of authors, genres, subjects

and keep up-to-date with

new releases

I can create booklists,

displays and other

documents for reader’s

advice

I am aware of and can use a

range of reader’s advisory

resources

3. Reference services

5 | P a g e

Reference Interview Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am able to

communicate with a

variety of clients

I understand and can

effectively use reference

interview techniques to

solicit the client’s needs

I use active listening

skills while conducting

the interview

I know when and how to

place an Inter-Library Loan

requests according to my

library’s procedures

Resource knowledge Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I have a broad

knowledge of the

resources available at

my library

I am able to find

information in print and

electronic resources to

answer reference queries

I know how to conduct

Boolean and Federated

searches

Patron training Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am able to produce

subject guides, and other

documents on common

reference queries

I know and can impart

the importance of

information literacy

I am able to design, develop

and deliver training sessions

for groups of clients

I am able to assist client’s

with one- on-one

technology training

6 | P a g e

I have a knowledge of

a range of online

tutorials that I can make

available to clients

4. Technical services

Acquisitions Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I have a broad knowledge

of my library’s collection

I have a good

understanding of the

different formats in the

collection

I know how to access my

library’s budgetary

information

I am able to interpret the

information in my library’s

budget

I have a broad

knowledge of publishers

and suppliers of library

resources

I am able to source

different formats from a

range of suppliers

I am able to negotiate a

price that is acceptable to

the library’s budget

I know how to source

difficult to find items

Cataloguing Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am able to copy catalogue

an item

I have a good

understanding of how to

use Libraries Australia

I understand cataloguing

systems (eg. AACR2, MARC,

and RDA)

7 | P a g e

I am able to assign an

item to a subject

heading using a subject

classification system (eg.

LCSH or MESH)

I understand how and am

able to use cataloguing

classification systems (eg.

Dewey Decimal, Library of

Congress etc.) work

I know how to use a

range of print and online

resources to assist me

when cataloguing

Collection care Really well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this

No

interest

I am able to label and cover

a book

I am able to carry out

basic book repairs

I am able to weed a

collection to my

library’s policies and

procedures

I am aware of the optimal

conditions for keeping

collections

I am aware of and

understand the rationale

for preserving an item

I aware of the need for

disaster preparation

plans

Eresource management

Really

well Well

I can

do this

More

practice Learn this No interest

I have a good

knowledge, and maintain

awareness of available e-

resource systems

I am able to negotiate

license fees and access

options for e-resources

8 | P a g e

5. Management and leadership

Budgeting and planning

Really

well Well

I can

do

this

More

practice Learn this No interest

I have a good

understanding of

accounting practices and

procedures

I am able to prepare

effective, easily read

financial reports

I am able to fiscally

plan for the short,

medium and long term

I am aware of a range of

sources for grants to fund

my library

I am able to write

effective grant

applications

I can measure the

effectiveness, quality and

value of library services

Human resources

Really

well Well

I can

do

this

More

practice Learn this No interest

I understand how to

apply the recruitment

and selection process

I am able to roster staff

according the needs of the

library, staff and training

commitments

I am able to implement

the performance

management process

I am aware of the

workplace relations, and

how to best manage it

I am able to work with

volunteers, and to

effectively manage them

9 | P a g e

Laws, policies and

procedures

Really

well Well

I can

do

this

More

practice Learn this No interest

I understand and know

how to find the local, state

and federal laws

pertaining to the library

and information field

I am able to write clear,

and concise policies and

procedures

I am able to regularly

review and update

policies and procedures

as necessary

I am aware of and can

assist in disaster

preparedness policies

and procedures

Staff training and

development

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I understand the

importance of

professional

development

I have a Certificate IV in

Training and

Assessment

I am able to train staff

members in various facets

of library work

I understand how to

measure the effectiveness

of the training I provide

Community relations and

marketing Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am aware of the basic

principles of marketing and

consumer behaviour

I am able to design and

deliver a range of public

programs to promote the

library and its services

10 | P a g e

I am able to communicate

the value of the library and

its services

I am able to provide

information of the library’s

services in a range of

different mediums

Project management

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I understand the basic

principles of project

management

I am able to set procedures

to ensure the timely delivery

of a project

I am able to

measure the

effectiveness of

a project

6. Technology - Software

Microsoft Office

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able to use Microsoft

Word

I am able to use Microsoft

Excel

I am able to use Microsoft

Publisher

I am able to use Microsoft

PowerPoint

I am able to use Microsoft

Access

I understand the file

extensions used by the

Microsoft Office products

I am able to

troubleshoot basic

problems with

Microsoft Office

products

11 | P a g e

Automated library

management systems Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able to use the core

functions (circulation, and

reservations) of any system

I am able to search

for items effectively

using the OPAC

I am able to

troubleshoot basic

problems with the

system

Email

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able to receive,

open, forward and delete

emails

I can compose, reply to,

address, and send emails

I am able to send, receive

and save email

attachments

I can manage address

book, and the calendar

functions effectively

I can create a task list, and

schedule meetings,

including inviting others in

my email calendar

Internet

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I understand the basic

structure of the Internet

and World Wide Web

I am able to search for

information online

effectively

I know how to evaluate

information for authority

and quality

I am able to use Social

Networking Sites, such as

Facebook and

LibraryThing

12 | P a g e

I know how to share

photos and videos

online

I am able to design

and develop websites

System maintenance

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able file documents

effectively

I can empty the

Recycling Bin, and restore

documents from there

I can run virus checks,

and access virus vaults

to check for viruses

I am able to run

scheduled

maintenance tasks,

such as error checks.

7. Technology - Hardware

Common equipment

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able to use a keyboard

I am able to use a mouse

I am able to use a monitor

I am able to

troubleshoot basic

hardware problems

I am able to use a printer,

including changing a

cartridge, adding paper

and clearing paper jams

Audio devices

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able to plug in

speakers, change the

volume and troubleshoot

basic problems

13 | P a g e

I am able to plug in

headphones, change the

volume and troubleshoot

basic problems

Removable storage devices

Really

well Well

I can

do this More

practice Learn this No interest

I am able to use CD-

ROM/DVD drives and

troubleshoot basic problems

I am able to use a USB

drives, and troubleshoot

basic problems

8. References

The Library and Information Sector: Core Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

(http://alia.org.au/policies/core.knowledge.html) Competency Index for the Library Field

(http://www.webjunction.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=67024497&name=DLF

E-16500008.pdf)