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.
Library assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real library assistant resumes:
- 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.
- Digitize music, check out materials for students, set up PowerPoint equipment.
- Process books, handle reference and computer troubleshooting, and help with teen programming.
- Perform clerical duties such as word processing, Microsoft Office/Excel, photocopying, mail sorting etc.
- Perform administrative tasks when require such as photocopying, mailing, scanning, creating signs and notices.
- Assist with printers, scanners, Microsoft, PowerPoint, internet access, searching for and locating books.
- Assist staff with check-in and check-out of library books and materials and tracking down obscure materials and documents.
- Clean and maintain newspapers and periodicals displays.
- Assist students and faculty with questions concerning books, periodical articles, magazines, newspapers, videos, and DVDs.
- Administer the physical and electronic procedures of preparing and checking in serials, processing them, and shelving them.
Library assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Library Assistants are proficient in Customer Service, Library Materials, 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 Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 16%
Managed Federal Work studies to carry out required administrative task through direct supervision to ensure high customer service satisfaction.
- Library Materials, 15%
Retrieved, researched, and circulated library materials to patrons -Scanned and electronically categorized journal articles; arranged and maintained collection shelves
- Circulation Desk, 7%
Managed circulation desk which entailed the processing of incoming mail, check out/in reading material and equipment and facilitated student orientations.
- Library Patrons, 4%
Shelved and organized books and other media * Provided assistance and directions to library patrons * Maintained library appearance and cleanliness
- Library Services, 4%
Provided library services including issuing library cards, answering reference questions, checking in/out and sorting library resources through specialized software.
- Library Resources, 3%
Planned multiple community outreach events that included students and members of community to increase awareness of library resources and services.
"customer service," "library materials," and "circulation desk" are among the most common skills that library assistants use at work. You can find even more library assistant responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a library assistant to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what library assistants do because "library technicians and assistants must be able to answer patrons’ questions clearly and explain use of library resources." Additionally, a library assistant resume shows how library assistants use communication skills: "organized and distributed summer reading materials to 8 other branches in library system through communication with branch managers. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling library assistant duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "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." According to a library assistant resume, here's how library assistants can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "label reading and printing, attention to detail and knowledge of how the dewey decimal system works. "
Interpersonal skills. library assistants are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to library assistant responsibilities, because "library technicians and assistants need to work with library patrons, librarians, teachers, or researchers." A library assistant resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "registered patrons at the front desk using interpersonal skills and monitored the reading room. "
The three companies that hire the most library assistants are:
- University of California-Berkeley74 library assistants jobs
- Laramie County Community College8 library assistants jobs
- The New York Public Library6 library assistants jobs
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Compare different library assistants
Library assistant vs. Shelver
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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between library assistants and shelver. For instance, library assistant responsibilities require skills such as "library services," "interlibrary loan," "library equipment," and "computer software." Whereas a shelver is skilled in "book drop," "book carts," "numerical order," and "county library." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, shelvers reach similar levels of education than library assistants. Shelvers are 3.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Library assistant vs. Page
Each career also uses different skills, according to real library assistant resumes. While library assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "interlibrary loan," "computer software," and "library policies," pages use skills like "library shelves," "decimal system," "legislative session," and "committee hearings."
Pages earn a lower average salary than library assistants. But pages earn the highest pay in the media industry, with an average salary of $27,082. Additionally, library assistants earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $31,833 annually.In general, pages achieve similar levels of education than library assistants. They're 3.5% less 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 assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Kacy Lovelace
Research and Student Success Librarian, Marshall University
Library assistant vs. Circulation clerk
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, library assistants are more likely to have skills like "library collection," "troubleshoot," "library operations," and "collection development." But a circulation clerk is more likely to have skills like "patron accounts," "issue library cards," "customer accounts," and "customer complaints."
Circulation clerks typically earn similar educational levels compared to library assistants. Specifically, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Library assistant vs. Assistant librarian
Types of library assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
