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The differences between library specialists and library assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library specialist has an average salary of $32,884, which is higher than the $30,146 average annual salary of a library assistant.
The top three skills for a library specialist include library materials, library services and library resources. The most important skills for a library assistant are customer service, library materials, and circulation desk.
| Library Specialist | Library Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $32,884 | $30,146 |
| Hourly rate | $15.81 | $14.49 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 19,984 | 1,122 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Library specialists are professionals who are responsible for assisting library patrons by performing a variety of tasks assigned by librarians. These specialists are required to perform duties such as telephone calls, responding to the questions of patrons, and assisting teachers and their students. They must help library patrons find resources that can include reference materials, electronic journals, and audiovisual equipment. Library specialists must also catalog and process other print and non-print materials while using a pushcart to re-shelve or deliver library books.
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 specialists and library assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Specialist | Library Assistant | |
| Average salary | $32,884 | $30,146 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $43,000 | Between $22,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Brookline, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Brown University | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a library specialist and a library assistant in terms of educational background:
| Library Specialist | Library Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | English | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between library specialists' and library assistants' demographics:
| Library Specialist | Library Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.8% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |