Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobsSalaryResumeSkillsWhat They DoEducationCertificationsDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireBest CompaniesBest StatesBest CitiesJob Outlook

Compare

Part Time jobsEntry Level jobsFull Time jobs

Library assistant vs circulation assistant

The differences between library assistants and circulation assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library assistant has an average salary of $30,146, which is higher than the $28,632 average annual salary of a circulation assistant.

The top three skills for a library assistant include customer service, library materials and circulation desk. The most important skills for a circulation assistant are patron accounts, customer service, and interlibrary loan materials.

Library assistant vs circulation assistant overview

Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Yearly salary$30,146$28,632
Hourly rate$14.49$13.77
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs1,122738
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

Library assistant vs circulation assistant salary

Library assistants and circulation assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Average salary$30,146$28,632
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $39,000Between $22,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityBrookline, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New York-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between library assistant and circulation assistant education

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

Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Library assistant vs circulation assistant demographics

Here are the differences between library assistants' and circulation assistants' demographics:

Library AssistantCirculation Assistant
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 29.0% Female, 71.0%Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 6.2% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between library assistant and circulation assistant duties and responsibilities

Library assistant example responsibilities.

  • Organize and check in newly arrive reference materials, magazines, newspapers, and journals.
  • Assist with processing acquisitions, collection maintenance and development, retro- cataloging, copy cataloging.
  • Process and track inter-library loans and donations.
  • Set up user accounts and user rights in windows.
  • Process magazines and annual reports for the circulation department.
  • Re-Serve, circulate, check-in / check-out and renew books.
    • Show more

Circulation assistant example responsibilities.

  • Assist patron's in locating materials using MLS database.
  • Perform check-in duties to shelve all tapes that are used the night before.
  • Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, DVDs, and other items.
  • Locate library materials for students and faculty, including books, periodicals, DVDs and online resources.
  • Receive requests from other libraries to lend MLS materials; check availability of materials, request materials via system reserve process.
  • Process internal and external inter-library loan requests for fiction and non-fiction titles and digital media.
    • Show more

Library assistant vs circulation assistant skills

Common library assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Library Materials, 15%
  • Circulation Desk, 7%
  • Library Patrons, 4%
  • Library Services, 4%
  • Library Resources, 3%
Common circulation assistant skills
  • Patron Accounts, 15%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Interlibrary Loan Materials, 8%
  • Check-In, 8%
  • Library Patrons, 6%
  • Front Desk, 5%

Library Assistant vs. similar jobs

Library Assistant related careers

Library Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs