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.
Library aide responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real library aide resumes:
- 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.
- Keep up fiction to go/first in series shelf's.
- Perform elementary descriptive cataloging using automate bibliographic database.
Library aide skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Library Aides are proficient in Library Materials, Customer Service, and Circulation Desk. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Detail oriented, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Library Aides that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Library Materials, 18%
Assist with reference and patron questions -Organize library materials including books, periodicals, and business material -Assist with special organizations projects
- Customer Service, 11%
Provided quality customer service with reference assistance, assisted with summer reading committee, assisted with duties assigned by librarians
- Circulation Desk, 6%
Worked Circulation Desk and fostered positive Library-Patron relations.
- Library Patrons, 4%
Advanced technology in record-keeping databases for library internet users as well as computer troubleshooting for library patrons.
- Library Services, 3%
Educated customers on browsing library catalog and various library services.
- Reference Materials, 3%
Organize and repair periodicals and reference materials.
Most library aides use their skills in "library materials," "customer service," and "circulation desk" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential library aide responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a library aide to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "library technicians and assistants must be able to answer patrons’ questions clearly and explain use of library resources." Library aides often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "refined communication skills in a customer service environment. "
Detail oriented. Many library aide duties rely on 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.," so a library aide will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways library aide responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "utilized organizational skills and attention to detail to shelve books accurately. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for library aides to perform their duties. For an example of how library aide responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "library technicians and assistants need to work with library patrons, librarians, teachers, or researchers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a library aide: "enhanced interpersonal skills by interacting with colleagues and library patrons. ".
The three companies that hire the most library aides are:
- City Of Tolleson3 library aides jobs
- BAE Systems2 library aides jobs
- Lewiston Public Schools2 library aides jobs
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Compare different library aides
Library aide vs. Shelver
An acquisitions assistant helps the acquisition team in performing different administrative tasks. They conduct detailed research to plan and keep the acquisition process running smoothly. Besides categorizing and storing goods and materials and placing orders to the vendor, acquisitions assistants also prepare and keep payments and purchase records and receipts for reference. They receive the requested orders, evaluate the goods and other items, and return all damaged materials to the vendors. Moreover, these professionals maintain magazine records, book records, and other journal records in the library.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between library aides and shelver. For instance, library aide responsibilities require skills such as "library services," "decimal system," "library catalog," and "library policies." Whereas a shelver is skilled in "book carts," "county library," "audio-visual materials," and "non-fiction." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, shelvers reach similar levels of education than library aides. Shelvers are 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Library aide vs. Acquisitions assistant
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that library aide responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "circulation desk," "library patrons," and "library services." But an acquisitions assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "hr," "data entry," "background checks," and "interview process."
In general, acquisitions assistants achieve similar levels of education than library aides. They're 3.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for library aides in the next 3-5 years?
Ling Hwey Jeng
Professor and the Director of School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman's University
Library aide vs. Page
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, library aides are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "library catalog," "library policies," and "routine inquiries." But a page is more likely to have skills like "library shelves," "legislative session," "committee hearings," and "organization."
Pages earn the best pay in the media industry, where they command an average salary of $27,082. Library aides earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $27,335.Most pages achieve a similar degree level compared to library aides. For example, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Library aide vs. Reference assistant
Even though a few skill sets overlap between library aides and reference assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a library aide might have more use for skills like "customer service," "dewey decimal system," "front desk," and "decimal system." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of reference assistants require skills like "interlibrary loan," "reference desk," "reference services," and "reference assistance. "
In general, reference assistants hold higher degree levels compared to library aides. Reference assistants are 6.3% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of library aide
Updated January 8, 2025
