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Library aide vs library technician

The differences between library aides and library technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library technician has an average salary of $37,757, which is higher than the $28,197 average annual salary of a library aide.

The top three skills for a library aide include library materials, customer service and circulation desk. The most important skills for a library technician are library services, data entry, and circulation desk.

Library aide vs library technician overview

Library AideLibrary Technician
Yearly salary$28,197$37,757
Hourly rate$13.56$18.15
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs40,98724,941
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4750
Years of experience-12

What does a library aide do?

A library aide is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of libraries. Typical duties include assisting customers in finding books, shelving books according to categories, and updating and maintaining customer profiles. In addition, you will assist customers in accessing the internet, keeping a record of books that have been borrowed and returned, and coordinating the repair of books that have been damaged. You will also be responsible for handling inquiries from customers via telephone or email and assisting with reading sessions and library events.

What does a library technician do?

A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database. They also assist the visitors with their inquiries and concerns, leading them to the appropriate area of their needs, and remind everyone of the policies and regulations inside the library.

Library aide vs library technician salary

Library aides and library technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Library AideLibrary Technician
Average salary$28,197$37,757
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $36,000Between $29,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityDaly City, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyDublin City SchoolsSyracuse University
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between library aide and library technician education

There are a few differences between a library aide and a library technician in terms of educational background:

Library AideLibrary Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNew York University

Library aide vs library technician demographics

Here are the differences between library aides' and library technicians' demographics:

Library AideLibrary Technician
Average age4750
Gender ratioMale, 26.6% Female, 73.4%Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between library aide and library technician duties and responsibilities

Library aide example responsibilities.

  • Assist library patrons at the front desk, checking in/out, use of an ILS.
  • Label new books, label dvds and organize inventory.
  • Shelve DVDs and books, clean doors and windows.
  • Demonstrate initiative by volunteering to undergo cross training on inter-library loan policies and procedures.
  • Process internal and external inter-library loan requests for fiction and non-fiction titles and digital media.
  • Perform elementary descriptive cataloging using automate bibliographic database.
  • Show more

Library technician example responsibilities.

  • Cataloge library materials using OCLC to be add to collection, and repair damaged materials.
  • Process books and serials in Sydney (ILS).
  • Enter new patron records into the ILS.
  • Process incoming serials and maintain serial records and archives.
  • Work with supervisors, coworkers, and patrons to resolve questions and troubleshoot both electronic and physical item requests.
  • Install, configure, troubleshoot laser scanners, RFID readers and antennas, sensors, detectors, actuators, payment systems.
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Library aide vs library technician skills

Common library aide skills
  • Library Materials, 18%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Circulation Desk, 6%
  • Library Patrons, 4%
  • Library Services, 3%
  • Reference Materials, 3%
Common library technician skills
  • Library Services, 6%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • Circulation Desk, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Library System, 4%
  • Library Patrons, 4%

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