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The differences between technical services librarians and library technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a technical services librarian, becoming a library technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a technical services librarian has an average salary of $50,657, which is higher than the $37,757 average annual salary of a library technician.
The top three skills for a technical services librarian include library services, collection development and library resources. The most important skills for a library technician are library services, data entry, and circulation desk.
| Technical Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,657 | $37,757 |
| Hourly rate | $24.35 | $18.15 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 118,696 | 24,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A technical services librarian is responsible for overseeing the technical and circulation services at a library. Typical duties for this role include supervising the technical and circulation staff, working closely with other library services, and directing the activities on library automation. In addition, you will make technical decisions involving the use and management of bibliographic records based on accepted standards. As a technical services librarian, it is also your responsibility to assist in the preparation of the library's annual budget and contribute to collection and acquisition development initiatives.
A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database. They also assist the visitors with their inquiries and concerns, leading them to the appropriate area of their needs, and remind everyone of the policies and regulations inside the library.
Technical services librarians and library technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,657 | $37,757 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Charlottesville, VA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Yale University | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a technical services librarian and a library technician in terms of educational background:
| Technical Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Library Science | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between technical services librarians' and library technicians' demographics:
| Technical Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 11% |