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Reference library assistant vs library technical assistant

The differences between reference library assistants and library technical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library technical assistant has an average salary of $33,427, which is higher than the $27,791 average annual salary of a reference library assistant.

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

Reference library assistant vs library technical assistant overview

Reference Library AssistantLibrary Technical Assistant
Yearly salary$27,791$33,427
Hourly rate$13.36$16.07
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs1,13068,948
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

Reference library assistant vs library technical assistant salary

Reference library assistants and library technical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Reference Library AssistantLibrary Technical Assistant
Average salary$27,791$33,427
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $36,000Between $25,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Saint Anselm College
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between reference library assistant and library technical assistant education

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

Reference Library AssistantLibrary Technical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorEnglishBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNew York University

Reference library assistant vs library technical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between reference library assistants' and library technical assistants' demographics:

Reference Library AssistantLibrary Technical Assistant
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 38.7% Female, 61.3%Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 6.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between reference library assistant and library technical assistant duties and responsibilities

Reference library assistant example responsibilities.

  • Construct and manage subject LibGuides.
  • Perform elementary descriptive cataloging using automate bibliographic database.
  • Perform elementary descriptive cataloging using automate bibliographic database.

Library technical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage paperwork associate with HVAC procedures.
  • Check in and out books, journals, DVDS, etc.
  • Operate, maintain and troubleshoot computer equipment as required.
  • Search OCLC [library record database] as well as Internet for hard to find records.
  • Upgrade to full level, OCLC and RLIN bibliographic records for monographs that lack usable subject and/or classification numbers.
  • Perform elementary descriptive cataloging using automate bibliographic database.
  • Show more

Reference library assistant vs library technical assistant skills

Common reference library assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Library Materials, 12%
  • Library Patrons, 8%
  • Research Assistance, 7%
  • Reference Services, 7%
  • Library Resources, 6%
Common library technical assistant skills
  • Library Materials, 15%
  • Circulation Desk, 7%
  • Library Services, 7%
  • Library Equipment, 4%
  • Check-In, 4%
  • Cataloging, 3%

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