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The differences between library assistants and acquisitions assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an acquisitions assistant has an average salary of $32,357, which is higher than the $30,146 average annual salary of a library assistant.
The top three skills for a library assistant include customer service, library materials and circulation desk. The most important skills for an acquisitions assistant are HR, data entry, and background checks.
| Library Assistant | Acquisitions Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $30,146 | $32,357 |
| Hourly rate | $14.49 | $15.56 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,122 | 1,102 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A library assistant's primary responsibilities revolve around managing reading materials and maintaining order while under a librarian's supervision. They are mostly in charge of locating, organizing, sorting, and even handling newly arrived books and other reading materials according to a specified system. A library assistant may also handle transactions with customers such as checking in and out books, maintaining databases, processing new registrations, and even releasing new library cards. Furthermore, they may have clerical tasks such as producing reports and other necessary documentation, managing schedules, answering calls, and other forms or correspondence.
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.
Library assistants and acquisitions assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Assistant | Acquisitions Assistant | |
| Average salary | $30,146 | $32,357 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $39,000 | Between $18,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookline, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a library assistant and an acquisitions assistant in terms of educational background:
| Library Assistant | Acquisitions Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between library assistants' and acquisitions assistants' demographics:
| Library Assistant | Acquisitions Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% | Male, 28.5% Female, 71.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |