How to become a Library Technician

Official title: Library Technicians

Also called: Circulation Clerk, Library Aide, Library Assistant, Library Associate, Library Clerk, Library Media Technician, Library Specialist, Library Technical Assistant (LTA), Library Technician, Page Technician

Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.

Main tasks

• Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
• Answer routine telephone or in-person reference inquiries, referring patrons to librarians for further assistance, when necessary.
• Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed.
• Deliver and retrieve items throughout the library by hand or using pushcart.
• Process print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections.
• Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
• Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
• Provide assistance to teachers and students by locating materials and helping to complete special projects.

How to become one

Library technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate. Library assistants typically need a high school diploma or its equivalent, combined with short-term on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Library and Archives Assisting

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $44,580 a year The middle half earn $35,740 to $52,430.
• About 72,800 people work in this job now, and about 68,100 are projected by 2035. (-6.4%)
• People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Related jobs

• Archivists
• Curators
• Museum Technicians and Conservators
• Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Library Technician?

Library technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate. Library assistants typically need a high school diploma or its equivalent, combined with short-term on-the-job training.

How much does a Library Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $44,580 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $35,740 to $52,430.

Is a Library Technician a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 72,800 to about 68,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Library Technician?

Not always. 42% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Will AI change the work of a Library Technician?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.