Library Assistants and Clerks

(NOC 1451)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Library assistants and clerks issue and receive library materials, sort and shelve books and provide general library information to users. They also do clerical functions like maintaining journal subscriptions, manual and electronic filing and recording of payments received, and helping library users access library materials and online resources, and make interlibrary loans. Library clerks work for libraries or other organizations with library services.

Job Outlook

Average

Estimate Decline employment change, 2021-2023
Estimate 40 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Budget pressures have led many libraries throughout the province to cut-back on programming and staff hours. Low entry requirements for such clerical roles may also lead to greater job competition. A challenging job market for library technicians, a higher-skilled position, could lead some unemployed technicians to apply for work in this occupation, further suggesting fairly weak job prospects in the current environment.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$20.15

Median

$25.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,029

Minimum

$21,865

Median

$39,596

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Job duties

Library assistants and clerks:

Issue and receive library books and other materials.
Sort and re-shelve books and other library materials.
Complete clerical activities like manual and electronic filing and recording payments received.
Maintain journal subscriptions.
Help library users access library materials and online resources, and make interlibrary loans.

Sample job titles

bookmobile clerk
circulation assistant
library aide
library assistant
library clerk
periodicals clerk
reference clerk - library
shelving clerk - library

Skills

You should be patient and organized, and have good research skills. Both spoken and written communication skills are essential. You must be able to work unsupervised with library users, and cooperate with co-workers. Good computer skills and knowledge about audiovisual equipment are strongly recommended. Knowledge of literature is also an asset.

Job requirements

High school is usually required.

Other considerations

Movement to more senior positions is possible with experience and post-secondary education related to library science.

By the numbers

Quick look

785

employed in 2016

45.2%

employed full-time

1.3%

self employed

87.9%

12.1%

47.1

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%

26.6%

47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

54.1%

Halifax

$25,794 median annual income

19.7%

North Shore

$15,984 median annual income

10.8%

Southern

$24,788 median annual income

8.9%

Annapolis Valley

$22,291 median annual income

6.4%

Cape Breton

$29,968 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

98.5%

Information and cultural industries

1.5%

Health care and social assistance

What is the age of Employment?

25.0%

55-64

18.0%

15-24

16.0%

35-44

16.0%

45-54

13.0%

25-34

11.0%

65+

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

28.7%

Bachelor

$26,505 median annual income

27.4%

High school

$16,275 median annual income

20.4%

College Diploma

$22,220 median annual income

11.5%

Master

$23,758 median annual income

3.8%

Diploma Below Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income

23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income

22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income

5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income

4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

admission@usainteanne.ca

Website

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Website

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Website

Library Assistant/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare individuals to assist professional librarians. They include courses in principles, systems, processes, and procedures of library operation, library resources and services, processes of acquisition, cataloguing, storage, and display systems, discovery and retrieval of requested materials, management of books, periodicals, and other documents.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website