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The differences between library assistants and assistant librarians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assistant librarian has an average salary of $53,764, 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 assistant librarian are library materials, reference services, and library services.
| Library Assistant | Assistant Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $30,146 | $53,764 |
| Hourly rate | $14.49 | $25.85 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,122 | 1,617 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| 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.
The main responsibilities and duties of an assistant librarian are to help librarians in acquiring, preparing, and organizing materials. Assistant librarians help in checking in and out as well as in the circulation of library materials. They execute transaction activities and patron registration. It is their job to process new books, make reservations on requested books, and maintain circulation records. They weed the collection of obsolete and worn-out materials whenever necessary. It is also part of their job to greet and attend to the needs of library users.
Library assistants and assistant librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Assistant | Assistant Librarian | |
| Average salary | $30,146 | $53,764 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $39,000 | Between $40,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookline, MA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Kent Daniels & Associates |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a library assistant and an assistant librarian in terms of educational background:
| Library Assistant | Assistant Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between library assistants' and assistant librarians' demographics:
| Library Assistant | Assistant Librarian | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |