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Circulation worker vs circulation desk assistant

The differences between circulation workers and circulation desk assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a circulation desk assistant has an average salary of $26,159, which is higher than the $24,116 average annual salary of a circulation worker.

The top three skills for a circulation worker include library materials, library services and customer service. The most important skills for a circulation desk assistant are library materials, customer service, and library patrons.

Circulation worker vs circulation desk assistant overview

Circulation WorkerCirculation Desk Assistant
Yearly salary$24,116$26,159
Hourly rate$11.59$12.58
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs19,38025,638
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

Circulation worker vs circulation desk assistant salary

Circulation workers and circulation desk assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Circulation WorkerCirculation Desk Assistant
Average salary$24,116$26,159
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $31,000Between $19,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between circulation worker and circulation desk assistant education

There are a few differences between a circulation worker and a circulation desk assistant in terms of educational background:

Circulation WorkerCirculation Desk Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorHistoryPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborNorthwestern University

Circulation worker vs circulation desk assistant demographics

Here are the differences between circulation workers' and circulation desk assistants' demographics:

Circulation WorkerCirculation Desk Assistant
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 37.6% Female, 62.4%Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 4.1% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between circulation worker and circulation desk assistant duties and responsibilities

Circulation worker example responsibilities.

  • Process internal and external inter-library loan requests for fiction and non-fiction titles and digital media.
  • Develop library collection materials for young adults including award-winning non-fiction and fiction titles.

Circulation desk assistant example responsibilities.

  • Utilize computerized system for circulating books and DVDs.
  • Stack, sort, and insert ads into newspapers.
  • Assist in running equipment to bundle newspapers to be send out to carriers for delivery.
  • Assign and monitor computers to students; check books and DVDs in and out using a computerize system.
  • Perform regular cataloging of new acquisitions, maintaining accurate data building for microfilm, microfiche, periodicals, and academic collections.
  • Develop library collection materials for young adults including award-winning non-fiction and fiction titles.

Circulation worker vs circulation desk assistant skills

Common circulation worker skills
  • Library Materials, 25%
  • Library Services, 20%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Library System, 13%
  • Newspapers, 13%
  • Front Desk, 9%
Common circulation desk assistant skills
  • Library Materials, 23%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Library Patrons, 6%
  • Library Resources, 6%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • DVDs, 3%

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