Library Technician: Career Information

A library technician, usually working under the supervision of a librarian, acquires and organizes material and helps library patrons locate information. Sometimes library technicians work independently. Some library technicians operate book mobiles, which go out into communities to provide services to those who can't get to the public library.

Library technicians held about 121,000 jobs in 2006. About half worked in public libraries. The majority of the other half worked in school media centers or in academic libraries. Other worked in special libraries, such as medical and law libraries.

Educational requirements for library technicians range from a high school diploma paired with on-the-job training to a specialized associates degree designed for those entering this field. As libraries have rapidly moved toward automation, computer skills have become a necessity. Associations and libraries offer continuing education workshops to help library technicians keep up with new developments in the field.

Library technicians who work as bookmobile drivers are sometimes required to have commercial drivers' licenses.

Library technicians often start out working at circulation desks, but as they become more experienced, their responsibilities increase. Some eventually take on supervisory positions.

Employment of library technicians is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2016.^*

Library technicians earned a median annual salary of $26,560 and median hourly wages of $13.31 in 2007.

Average Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Numbers of Library Technicians (2007, U.S.)

• Colleges, universities, and professional schools: $32,210
• Junior Colleges: $31,400
• Local government: $28,050
• Elementary and secondary schools: $27,300
• Other information services: $27,220

Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much library technicians currently earn in your city.

On a typical day a library technician may:

• direct library patrons to standard reference resources;
• organize and maintain periodicals;
• handle interlibrary loan requests;
• catalogue library materials;
• supervise support staff;
• customize databases;
• enter catalogue information into library computers;
• retrieve information from databases;
• operate audiovisual equipment;
• instruct users, including students in the case of school media centers, in the use of library materials
• operate bookmobiles;

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Library Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos113.htm and Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2007, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes254031.htm (visited August 4, 2008).

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