What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Library Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $44,580 a year — the middle 80% land between $29,300 and $63,080. About 68,690 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Library Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$44,580typical pay / year
68,690people in this work
$63,080+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record5
Assist with interlibrary loans
+Arrange the interlibrary loan request for the University of Kansas copy of The Kansas City Star microfilm,…
Assist with interlibrary loans
+Arrange the interlibrary loan request for the University of Kansas copy of The Kansas City Star microfilm, send the request to their circulation desk and my supervisor Carla Ruiz for approval, and confirm delivery method and due date before I log it.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Answer routine reference questions
+Answer the emailed routine question about local census records by locating the 1940 census index, summarising…
Answer routine reference questions
+Answer the emailed routine question about local census records by locating the 1940 census index, summarising the holdings we have on-site, and reply with hours and next-step options for a research appointment to patron James Allen.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Assist in managing bookmobile programs
+Compile the monthly bookmobile stop list for July showing stops at Oak Park, Eastside Senior Center, and…
Assist in managing bookmobile programs
+Compile the monthly bookmobile stop list for July showing stops at Oak Park, Eastside Senior Center, and Lincoln Elementary, note which titles to bring for children and seniors, and circulate the schedule to driver Mark and supervisor Dana by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Organize and reshelve library materials
+Reshelve the returned local history volumes by call number on aisle 3 between 10 and 11, flag any mis-shelved…
Organize and reshelve library materials
+Reshelve the returned local history volumes by call number on aisle 3 between 10 and 11, flag any mis-shelved items and record three damaged bindings to report to Collections by end of shift.
The tools that do the workjob descriptionsO*NET
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Help organize library collections
+Survey the local history collection for duplicates and misplaced items, create a short record of items…
Help organize library collections
+Survey the local history collection for duplicates and misplaced items, create a short record of items needing reclassification, propose three shelves to consolidate similar subjects, and send the plan to Collections Manager Priya by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Sending & sharing1
Check materials in and out for patrons
+Check in the stack of five patron returns at the main desk, update their loan status and due dates, print…
Check materials in and out for patrons
+Check in the stack of five patron returns at the main desk, update their loan status and due dates, print overdue receipts for two holds, and notify patron Lisa Morgan that her recalled item is ready for pickup.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work18
Deliver and retrieve library items
+Deliver the three requested reserve items to Dr. Patel at the History reading room by 3pm, note loan…
Deliver and retrieve library items
+Deliver the three requested reserve items to Dr. Patel at the History reading room by 3pm, note loan conditions on each item, collect any requested returns from the same room on your way back and log departures in the circulation ledger.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Remove or repair damaged library materials
+Remove the brittle 1892 pamphlet from general shelving, assess tears and detached cover, stabilise pages with…
Remove or repair damaged library materials
+Remove the brittle 1892 pamphlet from general shelving, assess tears and detached cover, stabilise pages with archival tape if minor, place in polyester sleeve or set aside for conservation and record its condition on the damage report.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Compile records and maintain library databases
+Compile last quarter's accession records, reconcile missing entries against the acquisitions invoice folder,…
Compile records and maintain library databases
+Compile last quarter's accession records, reconcile missing entries against the acquisitions invoice folder, update the master holdings file so counts match, and produce a one-page summary of additions and deaccessions for the head archivist.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Support in cataloging and classifying materials
+Support the cataloguer by checking physical items for correct classification numbers, confirm authorship and…
Support in cataloging and classifying materials
+Support the cataloguer by checking physical items for correct classification numbers, confirm authorship and publication details against the label data, suggest Dewey or local subject headings where uncertain, and flag anything needing curator review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Process interlibrary loans for patrons.
+Process the interlibrary loan request from Professor Gomez: pull the volume, verify it is not on reserve,…
Process interlibrary loans for patrons.
+Process the interlibrary loan request from Professor Gomez: pull the volume, verify it is not on reserve, package it with the completed request form, arrange courier pickup for Thursday morning and email confirmation of the outbound tracking number to the requesting library.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Collect fines and respond to complaints about fines.
+Collect the overdue fine from student number 21847 at the main desk, explain the fee breakdown calmly, accept…
Collect fines and respond to complaints about fines.
+Collect the overdue fine from student number 21847 at the main desk, explain the fee breakdown calmly, accept payment and issue a receipt, then log the payment and file the complaint note if they dispute the charge for supervisor review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Issue identification cards to borrowers.
+Issue new photo ID cards to student and faculty borrowers named on this week’s request list, check current…
Issue identification cards to borrowers.
+Issue new photo ID cards to student and faculty borrowers named on this week’s request list, check current borrowing privileges and fines before encoding, print durable ID cards with expiry dates set to two years, and place completed cards in the circulation tray by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Verify bibliographical data for materials, including author, title, publisher, publication date, and edition.
+Verify bibliographical details for the incoming donation batch of twenty titles by confirming author names,…
Verify bibliographical data for materials, including author, title, publisher, publication date, and edition.
+Verify bibliographical details for the incoming donation batch of twenty titles by confirming author names, exact titles, publisher, publication date and edition against the national library catalogue, correct catalogue entries where they differ, and flag any items needing publisher confirmation.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Claim missing issues of periodicals and journals.
+Claim the three missing journal issues listed on the periodicals gap report by contacting the publishers and…
Claim missing issues of periodicals and journals.
+Claim the three missing journal issues listed on the periodicals gap report by contacting the publishers and subscription agents, record claim numbers and expected delivery dates, update the periodicals log, and follow up any unfulfilled claims after two weeks.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Compose explanatory summaries of contents of books and other reference materials.
+Write concise explanatory summaries for ten reference books on the new acquisitions shelf, capturing scope,…
Compose explanatory summaries of contents of books and other reference materials.
+Write concise explanatory summaries for ten reference books on the new acquisitions shelf, capturing scope, key topics, and target readers in 150–200 words each, save the summaries to the local reference summaries file, and attach them to the catalogue records.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders.
+Inspect and service the reading-room projector and two tabletop cassette players: clean lenses and heads,…
Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders.
+Inspect and service the reading-room projector and two tabletop cassette players: clean lenses and heads, replace worn belts, test playback with sample media, log maintenance actions and schedule next check in three months; report any parts needing procurement.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Sort and shelve books and media
+Reshelve the returned books and media from the returns trolley by Dewey call number, straighten shelf…
Sort and shelve books and media
+Reshelve the returned books and media from the returns trolley by Dewey call number, straighten shelf signage, repair or withdraw any damaged items you find, and update the shelf-listing so the online availability reflects the new locations before close of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Organize community outreach or fundraising events
+Plan and book a community fundraising evening at the reading room for Friday 6 October, reserve the meeting…
Organize community outreach or fundraising events
+Plan and book a community fundraising evening at the reading room for Friday 6 October, reserve the meeting space, draft a one‑page flyer with date, ticket price and donor tiers, and email the volunteer list to confirm attendance.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Handle technical services like cataloguing
+Run authority checks and add ten new local history pamphlets to the catalogue, assign subject headings,…
Handle technical services like cataloguing
+Run authority checks and add ten new local history pamphlets to the catalogue, assign subject headings, verify call numbers match our system, and update the accession log with supplier and invoice details before shelving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessWikipedia
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Help run specific departments in larger libraries
+Prepare the monthly departmental report for Special Collections: list seven newly processed boxes, note two…
Help run specific departments in larger libraries
+Prepare the monthly departmental report for Special Collections: list seven newly processed boxes, note two equipment repairs, highlight one access issue, and circulate the PDF summary to the department head and supervising archivist by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookWikipedia
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Help clients find the materials they need
+Locate three requested oral histories on local industry, pull their finding aids and call numbers, prepare…
Help clients find the materials they need
+Locate three requested oral histories on local industry, pull their finding aids and call numbers, prepare reproduction rules and a copy request form, then notify the researcher with viewing instructions and available timeslots.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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Check out library materials
+Process the morning circulation: check out 28 items to patrons on the community account, scan their…
Check out library materials
+Process the morning circulation: check out 28 items to patrons on the community account, scan their membership cards, note any overdue fines paid, and print a receipt bundle for the desk before closing at 5pm.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Restock the shelves
+Complete the afternoon shelving run: reclassify and reshelf 120 monographs using the classification list,…
Restock the shelves
+Complete the afternoon shelving run: reclassify and reshelf 120 monographs using the classification list, correct ten mislabelled spine labels, and submit a short discrepancy note to collections control if items remain missing.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses