Library assistant
Also known as: library services assistant, assistant librarian, senior library assistant, library technician, library clerk
About this occupation
Library assistants assist the librarian in the day-to-day activities of the library. They help clients find the materials they need, check out library materials and restock the shelves.
Essential skills and knowledge
- instruct library users
- organise information
- analyse library users' queries
- provide library information
- organise library material
- classify library materials
- display library material
- maintain library equipment
- copyright legislation
- maintain library inventory
- assess informational needs
- manage library users queries
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Library Assistants, Clerical (O*NET 43-4121.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
- Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
- Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
- Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
- Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
- Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Social, Realistic
Top skills: Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$36,910 a year (2025), 85,520 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Library Technicians
- File Clerks
- Office Clerks, General
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- Document Management Specialists
- Stockers and Order Fillers
- Receptionists and Information Clerks
- Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
- Correspondence Clerks
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.