How to Be Music Librarian - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Oct 30, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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Music librarians play a key role in organizing and maintaining the vast catalogs of musical works. This is especially true in large libraries or archives, such as those within universities or public music collections. As a result, such librarians have an immense job of keeping track of the many compositions, recordings, and other musical materials they are responsible for managing.

This work helps ensure that the library's patrons can locate the music they need quickly and easily. music librarians may be responsible for cataloging new works, ensuring accuracy and consistency in the library's inventory of music, and preserving valuable documents and recordings. In addition to these duties, music librarians may also be involved in teaching classes about music history, music theory, and other topics related to the field.

the work of music librarians is essential to providing efficient access to the resources available in a library's music collection.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. To become a music librarian, you will need to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in music or library science. You may also want to consider taking classes in computer science and information technology, as these are important skills for the job.
Get Relevant Experience. Many employers prefer to hire music librarians with experience in the field. Consider volunteering at your local library or music archive to gain experience working with music-related materials and databases.
Take Certification Programs. Certification programs are available to help you further develop your skills as a music librarian. These programs cover topics such as cataloging, archiving, and preservation of music materials, and can be completed online or through a college or university.
Seek Employment. Once you have the necessary qualifications and experience, you can begin looking for jobs as a music librarian. Some positions may require additional certifications, so be sure to check the job postings carefully.
Stay Up-to-Date. The field of music librarianship is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date on new technologies and developments in the field. Consider joining professional organizations and attending conferences to stay informed and network with other music librarians.

In order to stay ahead and capable as a music librarian, it is important to stay on top of the latest music trends, as well as the collections, catalogs, and databases associated with them. By understanding the most popular music genres, and having an in-depth knowledge of the associated collections, catalogs, and databases, librarians can ensure that they are able to provide relevant music resources to all those who use their library. Additionally, librarians should have a good understanding of copyright law and the implications of using digital music files. Finally, staying up to date on emerging technologies is essential for librarians to keep their skills relevant and to help their library remain ahead of the curve.

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Job Description

Develop and maintain databases and archives of musical scores, recordings, and other materials.
Catalog musical works and recordings.
Maintain and update bibliographies and databases of musical works and recordings.
Assist patrons with research and inquiries about musical works and recordings.
Assist patrons in locating and accessing musical scores, recordings, and other materials.
Provide reference services to patrons.
Assist with the processing of new materials.
Assist with planning and coordinating musical events and activities.
Assist with the acquisition and circulation of musical materials.
Provide instruction in the use of library resources related to music.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of music theory and terminology.
Knowledge of music genres and styles.
Familiarity with music software, such as audio/video editing and library management systems.
Ability to research and locate music recordings and other resources.
Excellent organizational skills to catalogue and maintain music collections.
Ability to use audio/visual equipment to listen to, view and review music recordings.
Computer skills in order to enter and update data in library systems.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with patrons, colleagues and vendors.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
Knowledge of copyright law and other related legal issues.

Having strong organizational and communication skills are essential for anyone looking to become a successful music librarian. Being organized is important because it allows the librarian to keep track of the music library and its contents. It also helps them to quickly locate and retrieve any requested materials.

Communication is key for a music librarian, as they must be able to interact with other library staff, vendors, and patrons. They also need to understand and explain copyright laws and other regulations. music librarians must have a good understanding of music theory, composition, and performance.

This allows them to provide detailed information about a wide range of musical works. Finally, music librarians must have technical knowledge of cataloging and classification systems in order to properly organize and store materials. By having all of these skills, a music librarian can ensure that the librarys music collection is well organized, accessible, and up-to-date.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working with music collections?
How would you organize a large music collection?
How do you ensure accuracy in cataloguing and shelving?
What strategies do you use to keep music collections up-to-date?
What have you done to promote music collections within your organization?
How do you handle difficult questions from patrons about music collections?
How do you handle copyright issues when it comes to music collections?
What techniques do you use to stay organized and manage time when dealing with music collections?
Describe a project youve worked on that involved music collections.
What methods do you use to evaluate the success of a music collection?

Common Tools in Industry

Music Database Software. A software program used to organize, store, and search for music files. (eg: MusicMaster)
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). A computer program used for recording, editing, and producing audio files. (eg: Pro Tools)
Metadata Editing Software. Software used to edit information about a track such as the title, artist, year, genre, and other details. (eg: Discogs)
Music Notation Software. Software used to create and edit musical scores. (eg: Finale)
Music Scanning Software. Software used to convert printed music into digital notation. (eg: SmartScore)
Music Streaming Platforms. Platforms used to stream and access millions of songs. (eg: Spotify)
Music Identification Software. Software used to identify unknown songs. (eg: Shazam)
Music Playlist Management Software. Software used to create and manage playlists. (eg: Soundiiz)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
Music Library Association (MLA)
Special Libraries Association (SLA)
International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML)
National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM)
International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC)
Society of American Archivists (SAA)
Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC)
Music Publishers Association (MPA)
Copyright Society of the USA (CSUSA)

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Common Important Terms

Record Label. A record label is a brand or trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos.
Copyright. Copyright is a form of legal protection provided to the authors of original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works; this includes both published and unpublished works.
Music Distribution. Music distribution is the process of making music available to the public, such as through streaming services, physical media, or online stores.
Licensing. Licensing is the granting of permission to use another person's or company's copyrighted material for a specific purpose, such as publishing a song on an album or in a movie.
Music Publishing. Music publishing is the business of exploiting musical compositions by making them available for public consumption, usually through licensing deals with record labels and other entities.
BMI/ASCAP. BMI/ASCAP are two of the largest US-based performing rights organizations (PROs) that collect royalties from radio stations and venues that play music, and distribute those funds to composers, songwriters, and publishers.
Sound Recording. A sound recording is a fixed, tangible representation of aural sounds that can be heard by the human ear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of a Music Librarian?

A Music Librarian is responsible for organizing, managing and maintaining large collections of music. This includes selecting and acquiring music, organizing and cataloguing the music, and providing access to users.

What skills do Music Librarians need?

Music Librarians need strong organizational and communication skills, knowledge of music theory and history, and expertise in music cataloging systems. They also need to be knowledgeable about music technology, copyright law and digital library systems.

What kind of libraries employ Music Librarians?

Music Librarians are employed by academic, public and special libraries, as well as archives and museums. They may also work for private institutions such as music publishers and recording companies.

What is the typical salary for a Music Librarian?

According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a Music Librarian is $51,924 per year. Salaries vary depending on experience, location and other factors.

What kind of opportunities are available for Music Librarians?

There are a variety of career opportunities available to Music Librarians. These include positions in academic libraries, public libraries, archives, museums, music publishers, recording companies and more.