Education:
30%
Bachelor's Degree
28%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Library Technicians
This is a sub-career of
Library Technician or Assistant
More sub-careers
Select a specialized sub-career for more details.
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Job Outlook:
Decline
Education:
Postsecondary nondegree award
Salary
High:
$59,570.00
Average:
$40,590.00
Hourly
Average:
$19.52
What they do:
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
On the job, you would:
- Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
- Answer routine telephone or in-person reference inquiries, referring patrons to librarians for further assistance, when necessary.
- Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Library technicians and assistants must be able to answer patrons’ questions clearly and explain use of library resources.
Detail oriented. Library technicians and assistants must pay close attention to ensure that library materials and information are organized correctly and according to the library’s organizational system.
Interpersonal skills. Library technicians and assistants need to work with library patrons, librarians, teachers, or researchers.
Listening skills. Library technicians and assistants need to listen to patrons to help them with research topics or with finding materials.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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90% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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90% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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89% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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87% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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86% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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83% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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79% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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78% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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76% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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75% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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69% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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67% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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66% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources. | |
|
|
67% | Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
72% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
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61% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Process library materials.
Maintain operational records.
Assist other educational professionals with projects or research.
Train staff members.
Direct activities of subordinates.
Search information sources to find specific data.
Process library materials.
Process library materials.
Process library materials.
Organize informational materials.
Maintain operational records.
Distribute instructional or library materials.
Process library materials.
Classify materials according to standard systems.
Develop library or archival databases.
Operate audiovisual equipment.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.
Confer with others to conduct or arrange operational activities.
Develop instructional materials.
Compile specialized bibliographies or lists of materials.
Help patrons use library or archival resources.
Provide information to the general public.
Classify materials according to standard systems.
Process library materials.
Maintain computer equipment or software.
Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
Inspect materials or equipment to determine need for repair or replacement.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Plan community programs or activities for the general public.
Maintain operational records.
Sort mail.
Deliver items.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
97% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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95% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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93% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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86% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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82% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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79% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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79% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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77% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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76% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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74% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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70% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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68% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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65% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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82% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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75% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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75% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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70% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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65% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
What Library Technicians and Assistants Do
Library technicians and assistants help shelve and organize materials.
Library technicians and assistants help librarians with all aspects of running a library. They assist patrons, organize library materials and information, and do clerical and administrative tasks.
Duties
Library technicians and assistants typically do the following:
- Loan library materials to patrons and collect returned materials
- Sort and reshelve returned books, periodicals, and other materials
- Catalogue and maintain library materials
- Handle interlibrary loans
- Register new patrons and issue library cards
- Answer routine reference questions from patrons
- Teach patrons how to use library resources
- Maintain computer databases used to locate library materials
- Perform routine clerical tasks such as answering phones and organizing files
- Help plan and participate in special programs, such as used-book sales, story times, or outreach programs
A librarian usually supervises library technicians and assistants. Both technicians and assistants help patrons find information and organize library materials. However, library technicians typically have more responsibilities than library assistants.
Library technicians and assistants in small libraries have a broad range of duties. In large libraries, they tend to specialize in a particular area, such as user services or technical services. Those specializing in user services assist library patrons with locating resources and information. Those specializing in technical services research, acquire, catalog, and process materials to be added to the library’s collections.
The following are examples of types of library technicians and assistants:
Academic library technicians and assistants help students, faculties, and staff in colleges and universities access resources and information related to coursework or research projects. Some teach students how to access and use library resources. They may work at service desks for reserve materials, special collections, or computer labs.
Public library technicians and assistants work in community libraries to serve members of the public. They help patrons find books to read for pleasure, assist patrons with their research, or teach patrons how to access the library’s resources. Some technicians in public libraries may help plan programs for users, such as story time for children or book clubs for teens or adults.
School library technicians and assistants show students how to find and use library resources, maintain textbook collections, and help teachers develop curriculum materials.
Special library technicians and assistants work in settings other than school or public libraries, including government agencies, corporations, museums, law firms, and medical centers. They assist users, search library resources, compile bibliographies, and provide information on subjects of interest to the organization.
Work Environment
Library assistants, clerical held about 82,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of library assistants, clerical were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 63% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 11 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 11 |
Library technicians held about 78,600 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of library technicians were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 53% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 17 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 16 |
| Junior colleges; state, local, and private | 3 |
Library technicians and assistants generally work indoors. They spend much of their time at public service desks or at computer terminals. They may spend time in the library stacks reshelving books, a task that may require bending or stretching to reach the shelves.
Work Schedules
Many library technicians and assistants work part time. Library technicians and assistants in school libraries work during school hours. Those in public or college libraries may work weekends, evenings, and some holidays. In special libraries, technicians and assistants typically work during normal business hours but may have to work evenings and weekends.
Getting Started
How to Become a Library Technician or Assistant
Library technicians and assistants provide customer service to library patrons.
Library technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate. Library assistants typically need a high school diploma or its equivalent, combined with short-term on-the-job training.
Education
Library technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate in library technology, which may include coursework in acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation, reference, and automated library systems. The American Library Association has information about certificate programs available by state.
Most library assistants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training
Library assistants usually receive short-term on-the-job training to learn about libraries and library resources.
Advancement
Library technicians and assistants may advance to become supervisors and oversee daily library operations. To become a librarian, technicians and assistants need to earn a master’s degree in library science.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of library technicians and assistants is projected to decline 6 percent from 2022 to 2032.
Despite declining employment, about 25,700 openings for library technicians and assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Library use has decreased despite community efforts to rebrand libraries for a variety of services and activities. This decrease in use reduces the need for library workers to help patrons find information and to operate libraries. Additionally, budget constraints may limit the number of library technicians and assistants in local government and education services.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about library technicians and assistants careers, visit
For information about medical libraries, visit
For information about law libraries, visit
American Association of Law Libraries
For information about many different types of special libraries, visit
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Library assistants, clerical (PDF)
Library technicians (PDF)
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of library technicians and assistants.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Librarians and Library Media Specialists |
Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. |
Master's degree | $61,660 |
|
Medical Records Specialists |
Medical records specialists compile, process, and maintain patient files. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $47,180 |
|
Receptionists |
Receptionists do tasks such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing information about their organization to the public. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $33,960 |
|
Teacher Assistants |
Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction. |
Some college, no degree | $30,920 |