Library Assistants, Clerical
What Library Assistants, Clerical Do
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not available
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.7/5
- Administrativeimportance 3.7/5
- English Languageimportance 3.6/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 3.0/5
- Psychologyimportance 3.0/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.0/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.9/5
- History and Archeologyimportance 2.4/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8/5
- E-Mail4.8/5
- Telephone Conversations4.6/5
- Contact With Others4.5/5
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.4/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.3/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive97% skill match
- Office Clerks, General97% skill match
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants96% skill match
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks96% skill match
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks96% skill match
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education96% skill match
- Human Resources Specialists96% skill match
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare95% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Service Orientationimportance 3.4/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 2.9/5
- Time Managementimportance 2.9/5
- Instructingimportance 2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 2.8/5
- Management of Personnel Resourcesimportance 2.3/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Automated circulation systems
- Cataloging software
- Database software
- Microsoft Publisher
- Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) databases
- Recordkeeping software
- ResourceMate Plus
- Video retrieval systems
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Integrity
- Self-Control
- Sincerity
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- ConventionalHigh
- SocialMedium
- RealisticLow
- EnterprisingLow
- InvestigativeLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 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.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where library assistants, clerical make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Ann Arbor, MI6.93× national avg
- 2Mansfield, OH5.63× national avg
- 3Kankakee, IL5.54× national avg
- 4Bellingham, WA4.65× national avg
- 5Pittsfield, MA4.26× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveLateral Move
- Office Clerks, GeneralLateral Move
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsAdvancement
- Receptionists and Information ClerksLateral Move
See the full career path from Library Assistants, Clerical →