Librarian Boolean Search String
A first-pass boolean search for sourcing librarian candidates, built from the role's most-screened-for skills — adapt it with your own must-haves, or generate one tailored to your exact JD below.
"Librarian" AND "Collection development" AND "Reference services" AND "Cataloging" NOT "recruiter" NOT "intern"site:linkedin.com/in/ "Librarian" "Collection development" "Reference services" "Cataloging"Run this search on Google →How this string is built
The role title in quotes, ANDed with the top must-have skills for a librarian — Collection development, Reference services, Cataloging — each in quotes so LinkedIn and Google match the exact phrase rather than any word in it separately. NOT "recruiter" NOT "intern" filters out the two most common sources of false positives.
Other must-have skills worth adding
If the search above returns too many results, AND in more of these to narrow further:
- Program planning
- Information literacy instruction
- MLIS degree
- Integrated library systems (Koha, Sierra)
- Digital literacy program experience
Other titles to search for a librarian
The same job is also called Library Manager, Information Specialist, Reference Librarian, Library Assistant. Searching only for “Librarian” misses those people, so join the titles with OR inside brackets and AND the skills after them.
Five searches to run, from broad to narrow
- Broad: every title, one core skill
("Librarian" OR "Library Manager" OR "Information Specialist" OR "Reference Librarian" OR "Library Assistant") AND "Collection development" - Focused: three skills, with the noise removed
("Librarian" OR "Library Manager" OR "Information Specialist") AND "Collection development" AND "Reference services" AND "Cataloging" NOT "library volunteer" NOT "bookseller" NOT "intern" - Tools and credentials: the nice-to-haves as an OR group
("Librarian" OR "Library Manager" OR "Information Specialist") AND ("MLIS degree" OR "Integrated library systems (Koha, Sierra)" OR "Digital literacy program experience") - Google X-ray on LinkedIn profiles
site:linkedin.com/in/ ("Librarian" OR "Library Manager" OR "Information Specialist") "Collection development" "Reference services" - Feeder role: people from a neighbouring job
"Library Assistant" AND "Collection development" AND "Reference services"
Start with the broad search to see how large the pool is. If it is too big, move to the focused one. If it is too small, drop a skill or use the feeder search.
Noise to exclude for this role
For a librarian the usual false positives are library volunteer, bookseller, intern. Each one added with NOT removes a group of profiles that look similar but are not the job.
Where else to look
Good librarian candidates often come from Library Assistant, Archivist, Teaching Assistant. Search for them with the same core skills, then check that they are ready to move.
What to check on the profile
The catalogue systems used, programmes run and community or research work.
Credentials to confirm
A library qualification where the post requires one.
Frequently asked questions
Why AND the skills together instead of OR?
AND narrows to candidates who show evidence of every listed skill — good for a first-pass search on a specific role. If that returns too few results, dropping to OR between the least-critical skills (keeping the must-haves ANDed) widens the pool without losing precision on what actually matters.
Why exclude "recruiter" and "intern"?
Those two terms are the most common source of false positives in a librarian search — recruiters and internship-seekers whose profiles happen to mention the same skill keywords. Adjust or remove the exclusion if it's cutting out candidates you actually want (e.g. if you're specifically hiring for an internship).
How is this different from the full Boolean Search Generator tool?
This is a static starting-point example built from librarian's most common requirements. The tool builds a tailored version from your actual job description — different seniority, location, and specific must-haves than this generic example.
What other job titles should I search for a librarian?
The same job is also called Library Manager, Information Specialist, Reference Librarian, Library Assistant. Put them in a bracketed OR group so one search covers them all, for example ("Librarian" OR "Library Manager" OR "Information Specialist").
What should I exclude when sourcing a librarian?
The usual noise is library volunteer, bookseller, intern. Add each with NOT so the results are people who do the job, not people near it.
Where else can I find librarian candidates?
Look at people in related roles who already have the core skills: Library Assistant, Archivist, Teaching Assistant. Search for them with the same skills and check whether they are ready to move across.
Hiring a librarian? The rest of the toolkit
- How to write the job description →
Titles, must-haves, credentials and a starting posting.
- Interview questions to ask →
Role-specific questions and what a good answer contains.
- Run the whole hire in one place →
Jobs, CV review, interviews, offers and checks together.