### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Library Technicians and Assistants Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			library technicians and assistants imageLibrary technicians and assistants help patrons find library resources.							
						Quick Facts:     Library Technicians and Assistants2023     Median Pay
            						$36,700     per year
										$17.64     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    See How to Become OneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    161,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    -6% (Decline)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    -9,600What Library Technicians and Assistants Do
                                                
                        
                        
Library technicians and assistants help librarians with all aspects of running a library.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Library technicians and assistants work in local public libraries, corporate and specialty libraries, and school and university libraries.
            
                                                How to Become a Library Technician or Assistant
                                                
                        
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.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for library assistants, clerical was $16.36 in May 2023.									                                														The median hourly wage for library technicians was $18.90 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for library technicians and assistants.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of library technicians and assistants with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about library technicians and assistants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Library Technicians and Assistants Do 
            

			library technicians and assistants imageLibrary 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 programsA 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 technicians and assistantsCataloguing or reshelving books may require bending or stretching to reach shelves.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 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
                11Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                11Library 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
                17Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private
                16Junior colleges; state, local, and private
                3Library 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.
 How to Become a Library Technician or Assistant

			Library technicians and assistantsLibrary 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.
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.
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.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                    Library Technicians and AssistantsMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Library technicians$18.90   Library technicians and assistants$17.64   Library assistants, clerical$16.36Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for library assistants, clerical was $16.36 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.30, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $24.14.The median hourly wage for library technicians was $18.90 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.00, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $29.62.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for library assistants, clerical in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Elementary and secondary schools; local
                $17.52Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                17.03Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                16.18In May 2023, the median hourly wages for library technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                $22.45Junior colleges; state, local, and private
                21.32Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private
                20.18Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                18.42Many library technicians and assistants work part time. Library technicians and assistants in school libraries work during regular school hours. Those in public or college libraries may work weekends, evenings, and some holidays. In corporate libraries, library technicians and assistants work normal business hours but may have to work evenings and weekends.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                  Library Technicians and AssistantsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Library assistants, clerical-6%  Library technicians-6%  Library technicians and assistants-6%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			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.
			

                        Employment projections data for     library technicians and assistants, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Library technicians and assistants**
			—
			161,500
			151,900
			-6
			-9,600
			—**Library technicians**
			25-4031
			78,600
			73,800
			-6
			-4,800
			Get data**Library assistants, clerical**
			43-4121
			82,900
			78,200
			-6
			-4,800
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Library assistants, clerical
					Library technicians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 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
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**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
            $64,370**Medical Records Specialists**
            Medical records specialists compile, process, and maintain patient files.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $48,780**Receptionists**
            Receptionists do tasks such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing information about their organization to the public.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $35,840**Teacher Assistants**
            Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.
            Some college, no degree
            $35,550
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about library technicians and assistants careers, visit
American Library Association
For information about medical libraries, visit
Medical Library Association
For information about law libraries, visit
American Association of Law Libraries
For information about many different types of special libraries, visit
Special Libraries Association
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Library assistants, clerical (PDF)
Library technicians (PDF)


                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Library Assistants, ClericalLibrary Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Library Technicians and Assistants, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/library-technicians-and-assistants.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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