How to Become a

Library Technician

The complete career guide to be a Library Technician: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.
Table of Contents

Quick Degree Finder

Why We Love It

  • $34,200
    Potential Avg. Salary
  • 5.2%
    Job Growth Rate
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook
  • Dependable Daily Workload
    Career Attribute

Working under the supervision of a librarian, a library technician is typically in charge of acquiring and organizing various resources in a library, e.g. DVDs, books, periodicals. This role may also involve other library support activities.

Recommended Schools

What is a Library Technician?

Duties

As a library technician, you will have to take the lead on the following responsibilities:

  • Assist patrons of the library to locate a wide range of materials, instructing patrons on ways to search for library materials using references in online resources and card catalogues.
  • Plan and organize different interactive sessions and weekly programs for library patrons like storytelling events, book clubs and summer reading programs.
  • Manage the receipt and processing of print library resources and track down vendors when required to resolve any issues that arise with received items.
  • Reconcile library resource funds and maintain fund balances to make certain that there is no excess spending; create fiscal and statistical reports on assigned library materials.
  • Create, maintain and submit invoices in both electronic and print, for payment by choosing the most applicable workflow for type of payment, type of invoice and material type.

Day In The Life

Most library technicians perform a wide range of tasks under the direction of a librarian. This role has greater duties than library assistants like implementing library programs and supervising other junior level staff. Particularly in larger libraries, such technicians may specialise in a certain area of work like technical services or user services. Under user services, one would support library patrons by helping them find various resources. If you specialise in technical services, you may have to acquire, house and document materials that will be added to the library’s collections.

Other day to day tasks you will spend time completing include providing support to catalogue or maintain books, periodicals, videos, etc., processing new library resources and ensuring that procedures are complied with. Customizing electronic or physical databases, updating the library’s website and providing assistance to library patrons regarding computerized databases may also form a part of your duties.

Work Schedule

Library Technicians usually work indoors at libraries during normal working hours from Monday to Friday. Once in a while, this role requires work over weekends when a library is open for maintenance work or any updates to the library network. In school libraries, hours are less tedious since it is regular school hours. In comparison, public and college libraries involve working over evenings, nights, weekends and even some holidays. There are corporate libraries where you would be expected to work normal business hours but overtime work can come up.

Growth Of The Job

Job opportunities for library technicians is expected to grow by 8% by 2022 – at a faster rate than the average for other occupations. As a library technician, you can look forward to taking on additional responsibilities in other areas of a library environment as you gain sufficient experience. Many library technicians become supervisors and take charge of day to day library operations.

Becoming a full-time librarian from a library technician, requires you to complete relevant educational qualifications, e.g. a master’s degree in library science. With more and more libraries facing budget cuts, technicians will be an economical alternative for providing library services to various institutions. Another alternative career to explore if you are a library technician, includes that of a teaching assistant – which may require you to have an associate’s degree or its equivalent depending on the school district.

Typical Employers

A library technician can find work with local public libraries, corporate libraries and school or university libraries.

Recommended Schools

How To Become a Library Technician

While formal educational training is not always necessary, most libraries require you to at least have a high school diploma, GED or associate’s degree in a relevant subject area such as library technology or library science. Due to the requirements of state funding laws, library technicians that find employment in public schools have to hold an associate’s degree or higher and pass an elaborate exam, as per the American Library Association (ALA).

You may also be qualified in terms of practical training, i.e. experience in similar clerical work. In experienced workers are sometimes trained on the job itself. In terms of skills, library technicians should demonstrate a passion for books and various information, enjoy being organized and be able to adapt quickly to new technologies applied to traditional practice areas. You must also be comfortable and patient with providing assistance to diverse patrons, especially the elderly.

Library Technician Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

Low Range

$24,530

Average

$34,200

High Range

$51,620

National Hourly Wage

Low Range

$12/hr

Average

$16/hr

High Range

$25/hr

How do Library Technician salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Library Technician's can make an average annual salary of $34,200, or $16 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $24,530 or $12 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

  • #631 Nationally for All Careers

Programs and Degrees

Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Library Technician. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.

Highest Education Among Library Technicians

  • 1.4%   Doctorate
  • 10.1%   Masters
  • 23.7%   Bachelors
  • 9.9%   Associates
  • 16.2%   College
  • 35.5%   High School
  • 3.2%   Less than High School

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

2014 Total Jobs

101,800

2024 Est. Jobs

107,100

Job Growth Rate

5.2%

Est. New Jobs

5,300

How does Library Technician job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 5,300 jobs for a total of 107,100 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 5.2% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.

Growth Rankings And Facts

  • #424 Nationally for All Careers

What Companies Employ The Most Library Technicians

Industry Current Jobs New Jobs Needed % Increase
Local government, excluding education and hospitals 52,500 2,900 3%
Elementary and secondary schools; local 16,200 100 0%
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 9,100 400 0%

Similar Careers

Want To Be a Library Technician? Get Started!

Generate your free SmartPlan™ to identify colleges you like, and potential ways to save on a degree or certification program toward your career with courses, offers, and much more!

Enroll Now and Get Started

or Learn More →