Library Technician
Library Technician Overview
Library technicians work both independently and under the supervision of librarians to help acquire, prepare, and organize library materials, while also supporting users in finding those materials. With the rise of the Internet and other information technology, the role of library technicians is changing rapidly to include many higher-tech duties.
Typical library technician duties include organizing and maintaining periodicals, managing interlibrary loan requests, preparing invoices, preparing volumes for binding, helping library users find standard reference materials, cataloging and coding library materials, supervising support staff, and working with computer databases to retrieve information. Library technicians tend to have a range of responsibilities in smaller libraries, while they typically specialize in larger libraries.
Library-service marketing is another role of the library technician. This includes planning and participating in used-book sales, outreach programs, and reader advisory programs. Technicians also sometimes design graphic displays such as posters or bulletin boards to make library users aware of these services.
Computer skills are essential for today's library technicians. These include an understanding of databases, online library systems, library automation systems, online public access systems, and circulation systems.
Library Technician Training and Education
There is a wide range of training requirements for library technicians, depending on the specific employer. While some libraries require only a high-school diploma, others want candidates to have specialized postsecondary training.
Smaller libraries are often willing to hire those with only a high school diploma, but most seek candidates with at least a certificate or associate degree. Certificate programs and associate degree programs in this field offer general liberal-arts courses as well as more library-specific courses covering subjects such as ordering, locating, circulating, cataloging, and processing library materials and media. Continuing education courses are also readily available as technology continues to develop in the field.
Library technicians working in Title 1 schools, which receive enhanced funding due to a high percentage of poor students, are required to have a minimum of two years of college or pass a state or local exam, and must have an associate or higher degree. Many public schools require library technicians to have the same level of training as teachers' assistants.
Library Technician Career and Salary Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of library technicians is expected to grow about as fast as average, with opportunities most readily available for those with specialized postsecondary training. Employment in the field is expected to grow about 8 percent by 2016, with 132,000 people working as library technicians as opposed to 121,000 in 2006.
The growth of technology in the field is spurring demand for library technicians, since an increasing amount of automated tasks are falling to technicians rather than librarians. Budget cuts at public libraries may actually result in more technicians being hired, since their salaries are a lower cost than librarians. Rapid growth is expected in special libraries such as those in businesses and hospitals due to heavy use by professionals and other patrons.
Library Technician Career Fields and Specializations
Library technicians work in a wide range of environments, including public and private libraries, financial institutions, cultural organizations, professional firms, and business corporations. They also work in a variety of school libraries, ranging from elementary schools to universities.
Other library technicians are responsible for running bookmobiles, which provide patrons who can't get to the library easier access to books and other materials. These technicians are often required to have a commercial driver's license.
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