How to become a library assistant or clerk
Official title: Library assistants and clerks
Also called: Library aide, Library page, Library clerk, Library filer, Reference clerk, Bookmobile clerk, Library assistant, Periodicals clerk, Branch library clerk, Circulation assistant, Interlibrary loan clerk, Music library assistant
Library assistants and clerks issue and receive library materials, sort and shelve books and provide general library information to users. They also perform clerical functions. Library clerks are employed by libraries or other establishments with library services.
Main tasks
- Issue and receive library books and other materials
- Sort and reshelve books and other library materials
- Perform clerical activities such as manual and electronic filing and record payments received
- Maintain journal subscriptions
- Assist library users in accessing library materials and online resources, and in making interlibrary loans
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Ways in
- University: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 18 universities in Canada
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 17 universities in Canada
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $45,182 a year The middle half earn $36,329 to $54,600.
- About 15,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 16,000 are projected by 2033. (+6%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a library assistant or clerk?
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
How much does a library assistant or clerk earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $45,182 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $36,329 to $54,600.
Is a library assistant or clerk a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 15,100 to about 16,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a library assistant or clerk?
Not always. 40% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Arts & Humanities degrees; Business & Commerce degrees.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03