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Library clerical assistant vs circulation desk assistant

The differences between library clerical assistants and circulation desk assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library clerical assistant has an average salary of $35,093, which is higher than the $26,159 average annual salary of a circulation desk assistant.

The top three skills for a library clerical assistant include front desk, professional assistance and routine inquiries. The most important skills for a circulation desk assistant are library materials, customer service, and library patrons.

Library clerical assistant vs circulation desk assistant overview

Library Clerical AssistantCirculation Desk Assistant
Yearly salary$35,093$26,159
Hourly rate$16.87$12.58
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs2,43725,638
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

Library clerical assistant vs circulation desk assistant salary

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

Library Clerical AssistantCirculation Desk Assistant
Average salary$35,093$26,159
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $46,000Between $19,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between library clerical assistant and circulation desk assistant education

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

Library Clerical AssistantCirculation Desk Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNorthwestern University

Library clerical assistant vs circulation desk assistant demographics

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

Library Clerical AssistantCirculation Desk Assistant
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.9% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between library clerical assistant and circulation desk assistant duties and responsibilities

Library clerical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Help troubleshoot technology relate issues.
  • Retrieve and copy medical information for staff and patrons for medical books and CD-ROM system.
  • Assess and discard non-fiction collections as assigned.

Circulation desk assistant example responsibilities.

  • Utilize computerized system for circulating books and DVDs.
  • Stack, sort, and insert ads into newspapers.
  • Assist in running equipment to bundle newspapers to be send out to carriers for delivery.
  • Assign and monitor computers to students; check books and DVDs in and out using a computerize system.
  • Perform regular cataloging of new acquisitions, maintaining accurate data building for microfilm, microfiche, periodicals, and academic collections.
  • Develop library collection materials for young adults including award-winning non-fiction and fiction titles.

Library clerical assistant vs circulation desk assistant skills

Common library clerical assistant skills
  • Front Desk, 16%
  • Professional Assistance, 12%
  • Routine Inquiries, 10%
  • Library Equipment, 9%
  • AV, 9%
  • Word Processing, 8%
Common circulation desk assistant skills
  • Library Materials, 23%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Library Patrons, 6%
  • Library Resources, 6%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • DVDs, 3%

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