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 record2
Assist with interlibrary loans
+Process a new interlibrary loan request from Dr. Patel for The Cambridge History of Medicine, verify our…
Assist with interlibrary loans
+Process a new interlibrary loan request from Dr. Patel for The Cambridge History of Medicine, verify our holdings and borrower eligibility, request the item from the nearest lending library with a two-week loan, and add tracking notes to the patron record.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Answer routine reference questions
+Answer the front-desk reference question from Ms. Gomez about local business directories, pull the relevant…
Answer routine reference questions
+Answer the front-desk reference question from Ms. Gomez about local business directories, pull the relevant subject guide and three recommended titles, and print a one-page list to hand to her at the desk.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Move2
Assist in managing bookmobile programs
+Prepare the bookmobile route packet for next Wednesday, confirm the stops and holds requests from Pinecrest…
Assist in managing bookmobile programs
+Prepare the bookmobile route packet for next Wednesday, confirm the stops and holds requests from Pinecrest and Oakview schools, load 40 mixed juvenile and adult titles, and leave a pick-up list with the driver.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Organize and reshelve library materials
+Triage the returns cart, inspect and repair any damaged spines, update the catalog locations for 120 items…
Organize and reshelve library materials
+Triage the returns cart, inspect and repair any damaged spines, update the catalog locations for 120 items moved from sorting to shelves, and reshelve by call number before afternoon service begins.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Care1
Check materials in and out for patrons
+Check in the morning drop of 65 items, scan each barcode to clear patron accounts, note any overdue fines for…
Check materials in and out for patrons
+Check in the morning drop of 65 items, scan each barcode to clear patron accounts, note any overdue fines for billing, and place holds-ready items on the holds shelf labeled for pickup.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work19
Help organize library collections
+Start the reclassification project for the local history section: review 200 titles, assign new subject…
Help organize library collections
+Start the reclassification project for the local history section: review 200 titles, assign new subject headings where needed, create a spreadsheet of changes with current and new call numbers, and schedule shelf shifts for Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsWikipedia
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Issue identification cards to borrowers.
+Issue new borrower ID cards for walk-in applicants today: check proof of address and photo ID, enter name,…
Issue identification cards to borrowers.
+Issue new borrower ID cards for walk-in applicants today: check proof of address and photo ID, enter name, date of birth and barcode into the patron record, print two laminated cards and record the issue in the register before closing time.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessO*NET
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Verify bibliographical data for materials, including author, title, publisher, publication date, and edition.
+Verify bibliographic records for recent donations: confirm author name spelling, title, publisher,…
Verify bibliographical data for materials, including author, title, publisher, publication date, and edition.
+Verify bibliographic records for recent donations: confirm author name spelling, title, publisher, publication date and edition against the title page and national catalogue, correct the catalogue entry, and note the source of verification in the record.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft AccessO*NET
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Claim missing issues of periodicals and journals.
+Claim missing journal and periodical issues for the past quarter: list titles and missing issue numbers,…
Claim missing issues of periodicals and journals.
+Claim missing journal and periodical issues for the past quarter: list titles and missing issue numbers, email the subscription office with proof of non-receipt and our subscription details, and log follow-up actions in the claims folder by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Compose explanatory summaries of contents of books and other reference materials.
+Write concise content summaries for the new reference acquisitions: read introduction and table of contents,…
Compose explanatory summaries of contents of books and other reference materials.
+Write concise content summaries for the new reference acquisitions: read introduction and table of contents, draft 150–200 word explanatory abstracts highlighting scope and key entries, add subject headings, and attach the summaries to the catalogue records before shelving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft AccessO*NET
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Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders.
+Service the AV trolley and equipment before tomorrow's class: test projector, tape and playback units,…
Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders.
+Service the AV trolley and equipment before tomorrow's class: test projector, tape and playback units, replace worn cables, clean heads, label settings, and log maintenance actions so staff can check them out reliably.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Sort and shelve books and media
+Sort the returns bin and reshelve items by classification number: inspect for damage, re-shelf in call number…
Sort and shelve books and media
+Sort the returns bin and reshelve items by classification number: inspect for damage, re-shelf in call number order, update items' shelf location in the system as you go, and place hold requests on items requested by patrons.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptions
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Deliver and retrieve library items
+Deliver the three requested books and the large-print magazine to Mrs. Patel at the East Wing desk, log their…
Deliver and retrieve library items
+Deliver the three requested books and the large-print magazine to Mrs. Patel at the East Wing desk, log their barcodes to her record, collect the overdue mystery novel she left on hold, and return both items to shelving cart B by 5pm today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Remove or repair damaged library materials
+Strip the damaged spine tape from the children's picture book, note its barcode and damage type in the repair…
Remove or repair damaged library materials
+Strip the damaged spine tape from the children's picture book, note its barcode and damage type in the repair log, resew and rebind with archival tape, then move the repaired copy to the repair-ready shelf and flag the discardable copy for withdrawal on Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Compile records and maintain library databases
+Consolidate last month's new acquisitions into the master record: add titles, barcodes and locations to the…
Compile records and maintain library databases
+Consolidate last month's new acquisitions into the master record: add titles, barcodes and locations to the holdings register, remove duplicates, and save the cleaned export so the systems librarian can import it before Monday's inventory.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Support in cataloging and classifying materials
+Create and apply classification headings for the twenty anthropology pamphlets: assign call numbers, enter…
Support in cataloging and classifying materials
+Create and apply classification headings for the twenty anthropology pamphlets: assign call numbers, enter subject headings into the catalog records, attach spine labels, and place them on the new-arrivals display facing forward by tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Process interlibrary loans for patrons.
+Request the interlibrary loan of the requested monograph for Dr. Morgan, send the request with the correct…
Process interlibrary loans for patrons.
+Request the interlibrary loan of the requested monograph for Dr. Morgan, send the request with the correct ISSN and patron pickup instructions to the lending library, note the expected arrival date on his account, and follow up in three business days if no confirmation.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Collect fines and respond to complaints about fines.
+Collect the outstanding fines from student accounts flagged this week, post payments to each account with…
Collect fines and respond to complaints about fines.
+Collect the outstanding fines from student accounts flagged this week, post payments to each account with receipt numbers, respond to Aisha Karim's complaint explaining the late-return policy and offer a one-time waiver where appropriate, and update the fines ledger by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Organize community outreach or fundraising events
+Organise the community fundraising book fair for Saturday, secure volunteers and a children's storyteller,…
Organize community outreach or fundraising events
+Organise the community fundraising book fair for Saturday, secure volunteers and a children's storyteller, confirm the donation box and online giving link, book the meeting room for setup on Friday evening, and publish the event blurb to circulation lists by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Handle technical services like cataloguing
+Complete cataloguing for the 120 new arrivals: assign classification numbers, create brief MARC-style…
Handle technical services like cataloguing
+Complete cataloguing for the 120 new arrivals: assign classification numbers, create brief MARC-style records, attach spine labels, and update the acquisitions register so the circulation desk can loan them tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessWikipedia
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Help run specific departments in larger libraries
+Run the children’s section for the month: schedule storytimes, reorder low-stock picture books, brief…
Help run specific departments in larger libraries
+Run the children’s section for the month: schedule storytimes, reorder low-stock picture books, brief shelving assistant on themed displays, and produce a short usage report for the department head by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Help clients find the materials they need
+Locate and reserve the three biographies requested by the patron, check their loan status and formats,…
Help clients find the materials they need
+Locate and reserve the three biographies requested by the patron, check their loan status and formats, prepare photocopies of the requested chapters if necessary, and email pickup availability to the patron by the end of the day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Check out library materials
+Process the patron at the desk: check their card, scan and record the four items for loan, confirm due dates…
Check out library materials
+Process the patron at the desk: check their card, scan and record the four items for loan, confirm due dates and fines if any, print the receipt and remind them of the return slot before they leave.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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Restock the shelves
+Restock the fiction shelves after opening: pull holds shelf, reshelve returned items by classification order,…
Restock the shelves
+Restock the fiction shelves after opening: pull holds shelf, reshelve returned items by classification order, straighten displays and update the reshelving log so volunteers know what remains.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
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