Library clerk vs circulation desk assistant

The differences between library clerks and circulation desk assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library clerk has an average salary of $30,275, which is higher than the $26,159 average annual salary of a circulation desk assistant.

The top three skills for a library clerk include library materials, customer service and circulation desk. The most important skills for a circulation desk assistant are library materials, customer service, and library patrons.

Library clerk vs circulation desk assistant overview

	Library Clerk	Circulation Desk Assistant
Yearly salary	$30,275	$26,159
Hourly rate	$14.56	$12.58
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	67,131	25,638
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	-	-

Library clerk vs circulation desk assistant salary

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

	Library Clerk	Circulation Desk Assistant
Average salary	$30,275	$26,159
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $39,000	Between $19,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	Anchorage, AK	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	Mayor Ethan Berkowitz	-
Best paying industry	Finance	-

Differences between library clerk and circulation desk assistant education

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

	Library Clerk	Circulation Desk Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common major	Business	Psychology
Most common college	Stanford University	Northwestern University

Library clerk vs circulation desk assistant demographics

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

	Library Clerk	Circulation Desk Assistant
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%	Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.5% 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 Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between library clerk and circulation desk assistant duties and responsibilities

Library clerk example responsibilities.

Issue out DVDs, CD's, and newspapers to library customers.
Check in and out library merchandise including: books, audio recordings, magazines, and DVDs.
Perform copy cataloging, subject analysis and assignment of classification numbers.
Perform regular cataloging of new acquisitions, maintaining accurate data building for microfilm, microfiche, periodicals, and academic collections.
Collate, and burned documents to CDs for time-sensitive shipment.
Shelve music books, music scores, CDs, vinyl record albums, and audiobooks.

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 clerk vs circulation desk assistant skills

Common library clerk skills

Library Materials, 19%
Customer Service, 12%
Circulation Desk, 7%
Library Patrons, 4%
Word Processing, 3%
Office Equipment, 3%

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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Library Clerk vs Circulation Desk Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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