What Does the Best Resume Look Like in 2023
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Ready to hit the stacks and write a librarian cover letter? As a librarian, current or future, you know that old adage: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Unfortunately, library directors do judge you by your cover—
The librarian cover letter, that is. So, let’s make sure they score you highly.
This guide will first give you a sample librarian cover letter for library jobs, as well as great advice for how to write a librarian cover letter no experience or with.
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Librarian Cover Letter for a Resume—See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here.
A great cover letter for librarians is awesome, sure. However, it is completely useless if you don’t also send them a great librarian resume: Librarian Resume Samples and Writing Guide
For similar cover letter examples, have a look at these guides:
- Library Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Education Cover Letter Sample
- Teacher Cover Letter Sample
- Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Sample
- Academic Cover Letter Sample
- Admissions Counselor Cover Letter Sample
- Teaching Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Research Associate Cover Letter Sample
- Consulting Cover Letter Sample
- Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter Sample
- Editor Cover Letter Sample
- Editorial Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Tutor Cover Letter Sample
- Art Teacher Cover Letter Sample
Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Best Cover Letter Examples for All Professions
Here is Zety’s example of the ideal cover letter for librarian jobs:
Librarian Cover Letter Sample
Eric B. Porter
Librarian Assistant
2451 Maud Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
July 3, 2019
Lorene Chapman
Library Director
Philadelphia Public Library
4027 Argonne Street
Philadelphia, PA 19108
Dear Lorene,
Having been a librarian assistant at the Drexel University Campus Library, I’m quite fond of working amidst the stacks. When I saw your Indeed posting for a librarian at the Philadelphia Public Library, it immediately excited me. Though I love assisting college students and other older visitors with their requests, I would love to use my natural enthusiasm for books to inspire the general public and younger children, which this job would allow me to do.
As a library assistant, I’ve had the opportunity to chalk up several successes during my 2+ years at the Drexel University Campus Library. These include:
- Earned the Library Instruction Section Innovation Award in 2018 from the American Library Association (ALA) Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL).
- Digitized over 2,000 items from the backlog in the microfilm collection.
- Overhauled the “Friends of Drexel Library” website, increasing readership by 35%.
As I hope my award and achievements show, I love working around books. I enjoy helping others enjoy their books, and I take great pride in my friendly personality and helpful character. I know I would be a great fit at the Philadelphia Public Library because I would bring these same traits with me.
If you would kindly take the time, I’d be happy to discuss in more detail how I can be the ideal candidate for the librarian job position.
Sincerely,
Eric B. Porter
P.S.—If you have time, I’d enjoy sitting down with you over a coffee to discuss how I could bring that increased readership (35%) over to the PPL, too.
That’s our sample of the perfect librarian cover letter Now comes the breakdown for you.
Librarian Cover Letter Template
Here’s how to build a cover letter for library job applications:
1. Use the Proper Format on a Librarian Cover Letter
- Pick the perfect cover letter font, and use the normal 11–12pt font size throughout the body.
- Don’t use justified alignment on your cover letter for librarian jobs, because it looks terrible. Stick with left-side alignment from top to bottom.
- Use single line spacing rather than double, because you need to be able to fit everything in under one page.
Learn more: What's the Best Cover Letter Format to Use?
2. Create a Professional Librarian Cover Letter Heading Section
- In the top corner of your public or academic librarian cover letter (left-aligned), start the document with your full name, job title, and mailing address.
- Next, add today’s date (or the date you’re writing the cover letter).
- Then, include the library’s info, such as the library director, their title, and the address of the library.
Learn more: How Do I Address My Cover Letter?
3. Begin Your Library Cover Letter With a Salutation and a Compelling Introduction Paragraph
- Start the cover letter by addressing the head librarian or hiring manager by name.
- Introduce your candidacy by stating exactly which position at the library you’re applying for.
- Make the cover letter introduction as captivating as a seasoned novelist would so you know they’ll read further.
Use a neutral “Dear Library Director” if you’re unable to find the exact name of the person to whom you’ll send the cover letter for library positions.
Learn more: How to Open a Cover Letter Just Right (Samples)
4. Show You’re the Perfect Candidate for Librarian Jobs
A library is a repository of choice books and other media.
A great cover letter for library jobs needs to be a repository of your choicest skills, experience, and accomplishments.
- Open up the librarian job posting and have a look at the job requirements area. This is a list of exactly what they’re looking for in a new librarian.
- Give some background on your work history, and make it as relevant to library jobs as possible.
- Add a few wins using numbers to prove to them you’re that rare first edition they’ve been hunting for.
Don’t make your library clerk cover letter too short or long: How Long Should My Cover Letter Be?
5. Explain Why This Particular Library is Right for You
- Show knowledge of working with books, such as your knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System or a particular book cataloging format.
- Don't send in generic text on your cover letter. Tailor it to this specific library job.
- Display eagerness and feeling for your love of books and literature.
Do you have any librarian certifications, such as the AASL-CAEP School Librarianship Education Program? Was your college major was ALA-accredited? These look great on your cover letter, so always include them.
Writing a first-time cover letter for librarian jobs with no experience? Check out this guide: Entry-Level Cover Letter with No Experience
6. Make the Librarian Director an Offer They Won’t Refuse
- Write a compelling ending statement which sums up your request for the librarian job.
- Include a powerful call to action as you leave the decision in their hands.
Learn more: How to Finish Cover Letters (Samples)
7. End the Library Cover Letter With a Distinguished Sign-Off
- Select a common closing sentiment, such as “sincerely.”
- Add your full name below, leaving a space between it and the closing sentiment. Leave extra spaces if you will print it out and sign it by hand.
- Add a postscript, perhaps, to draw their attention to a particular achievement one last time.
Here’s how to follow up after sending your cover letter and librarian resume: How to Follow Up on a Job Application
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, our professional resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
Did we answer all your questions about writing a librarian cover letter? Need help tweaking it for special positions (e.g., library director cover letter, school librarian cover letter, library aide cover letter)? Let’s talk below, and thanks for reading!
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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.
