Library Assistants, Clerical
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.
Most important skills
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Monitoring
Key knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- History and Archeology
What the work involves
- Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
- Process new materials including books, audio-visual materials, and computer software.
- Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
- Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
- Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
- Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.
- Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
- Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Social, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (49.8% of respondents)
- Related experience
- None (24.4%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (48.8%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 2: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Library Assistants, Clerical is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | High | Higher on contact with others than 62% of occupations compared | 65% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | High | Higher on dealing with the public than 67% of occupations compared | 57% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Teamwork | Moderate | Higher on teamwork than 56% of occupations compared | 71% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Low | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 71% of occupations compared | 40% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Very low | Lower on time pressure than 83% of occupations compared | 33% of surveyed respondents chose “Every day” |
| Conflict situations | High | Higher on conflict situations than 69% of occupations compared | 35% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | High | Higher on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 69% of occupations compared | 42% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Very low | Lower on consequence of error than 99% of occupations compared | 54% of surveyed respondents chose “Not serious at all” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: very low
- Conflict situations: high
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: high
- Consequence of error: very low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 1.51%
- Contact with others about half the time: 7.83%
- Contact with others most of the time: 25.42%
- Constant contact with others: 65.25%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2018
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 12.49%
- Fairly important: 14.04%
- Important: 7.04%
- Very important: 9.65%
- Extremely important: 56.77%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2018
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 13.11%
- Important: 9.68%
- Very important: 6.34%
- Extremely important: 70.88%
n = 30, Incumbent 08/2018
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0.75%
- Very little freedom: 15.64%
- Limited freedom: 15.61%
- Some freedom: 28.5%
- A lot of freedom: 39.5%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2018
Time pressure
- Never: 14.76%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 16.69%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 17.21%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 18.67%
- Every day: 32.67%
n = 30, Incumbent 08/2018
Conflict situations
- Never: 12.29%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 16.06%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 27.76%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 35.37%
- Every day: 8.52%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2018
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 0.99%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 41.62%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 15.48%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 25.55%
- Every day: 16.35%
n = 29, Incumbent 08/2018
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 53.57%
- Fairly serious: 37.43%
- Serious: 9%
- Very serious: 0%
- Extremely serious: 0%
n = 29, Incumbent 08/2018
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O*NET-SOC 43-4121.00 · SOC 43-4121 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8