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Library assistant vs library page

The differences between library assistants and library pages can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library page has an average salary of $30,218, 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 a library page are customer service, library patrons, and library system.

Library assistant vs library page overview

Library AssistantLibrary Page
Yearly salary$30,146$30,218
Hourly rate$14.49$14.53
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs1,122848
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

What does a library assistant do?

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.

What does a library page do?

A library page is an individual who is responsible for organizing all returned books and other items while putting them in their proper places on the shelves. This library page must retrieve materials that are kept in secured areas and checking items that are returned from patrons. The library page is required to help library patrons by helping them find a specific section of the library or book titles. This library page must also provide information to patrons related to due dates as well as library policies.

Library assistant vs library page salary

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

Library AssistantLibrary Page
Average salary$30,146$30,218
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $39,000Between $23,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CityBrookline, MADaly City, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkRamsey County
Best paying industryProfessionalEducation

Differences between library assistant and library page education

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

Library AssistantLibrary Page
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Library assistant vs library page demographics

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

Library AssistantLibrary Page
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 29.0% Female, 71.0%Male, 30.2% Female, 69.8%
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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between library assistant and library page 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

Library page example responsibilities.

  • Perform check-in and check-out of library books on a daily basis.
  • Coordinate seating for VIP guests.
  • Gain familiarity with a vast array of works of fiction and nonfiction.
  • Issue library cards, check-in and check-out library materials, answer incoming calls.
  • Sort & organize various library materials consisting of books, magazines, CDs, etc.
  • Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, DVDs, etc.
  • Show more

Library assistant vs library page skills

Common library assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Library Materials, 15%
  • Circulation Desk, 7%
  • Library Patrons, 4%
  • Library Services, 4%
  • Library Resources, 3%
Common library page skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Library Patrons, 10%
  • Library System, 8%
  • Photocopying, 6%
  • Shelve Library Materials, 5%
  • Public Library, 4%

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