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Catalog library assistant vs circulation assistant

The differences between catalog library assistants and circulation assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a catalog library assistant has an average salary of $37,403, which is higher than the $28,632 average annual salary of a circulation assistant.

The top three skills for a catalog library assistant include OCLC, library catalog and cataloging. The most important skills for a circulation assistant are patron accounts, customer service, and interlibrary loan materials.

Catalog library assistant vs circulation assistant overview

Catalog Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Yearly salary$37,403$28,632
Hourly rate$17.98$13.77
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs1,068738
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

Catalog library assistant vs circulation assistant salary

Catalog library assistants and circulation assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Catalog Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Average salary$37,403$28,632
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $50,000Between $22,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between catalog library assistant and circulation assistant education

There are a few differences between a catalog library assistant and a circulation assistant in terms of educational background:

Catalog Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorArea StudiesEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkNorthwestern University

Catalog library assistant vs circulation assistant demographics

Here are the differences between catalog library assistants' and circulation assistants' demographics:

Catalog Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 34.0% Female, 66.0%Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.5% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between catalog library assistant and circulation assistant duties and responsibilities

Catalog library assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage database reports for acquisitions, inventory, circulation statistics, and cataloging.
  • Search, input, and retrieve information on the OCLC database.
  • Develop and revise MARC records for new and existing print materials.
  • Process books for circulation, including cataloging and preparation for commercial bindery.
  • Manage database reports for acquisitions, inventory, circulation statistics, and cataloging.
  • Develop and maintain young adult fiction/nonfiction collection.

Circulation assistant example responsibilities.

  • Assist patron's in locating materials using MLS database.
  • Perform check-in duties to shelve all tapes that are used the night before.
  • Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, DVDs, and other items.
  • Locate library materials for students and faculty, including books, periodicals, DVDs and online resources.
  • Receive requests from other libraries to lend MLS materials; check availability of materials, request materials via system reserve process.
  • Process internal and external inter-library loan requests for fiction and non-fiction titles and digital media.
  • Show more

Catalog library assistant vs circulation assistant skills

Common catalog library assistant skills
  • OCLC, 25%
  • Library Catalog, 15%
  • Cataloging, 14%
  • Library System, 11%
  • RDA, 11%
  • Library Collection, 8%
Common circulation assistant skills
  • Patron Accounts, 15%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Interlibrary Loan Materials, 8%
  • Check-In, 8%
  • Library Patrons, 6%
  • Front Desk, 5%

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