Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed with Urgently Hiring make a hire 5 days faster than non-sponsored jobs.**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires

Library Assistant Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
5 min read

Library Assistants, or Library Clerks, are responsible for assisting with the administration and organization of a library. Their duties include helping library visitors find the right reference materials, processing interlibrary loans and signing up visitors for their own library card.

297391782library30.05library assistant7.39books2.04librarian1.5assistant1.092573763215817.2518.7836.50HOURLY557296122025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Library Assistant Duties and Responsibilities

A Library Assistant has various duties and responsibilities to take care of in their job. These duties are important in order to keep the library running smoothly as they assist the Main Librarian.

The following are the common duties and responsibilities of a Library Assistant:

  • Loan library materials such as books and DVDs to patrons and collect the returned materials.
  • Catalog and maintain the library materials.
  • Handle loans between libraries.
  • Organize and reshelve returned items such as periodicals, books and DVDs.
  • Handle the registration of new library cardholders and issue library cards.
  • Teach people how to use the library resources.
  • Answer any questions from patrons.
  • Perform routine tasks such as answering phone calls and organizing files.
  • Use and maintain computer library database to help locate library materials.
  • Help plan and participate in special library events such as a children’s movie nights, used book sales or other special programs.

Hire your next Library Assistant today.

Build a job description

Hire your next Library Assistant today.

Build a job description
Close

Library Assistant Job Description Examples

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
Job Description Best Practices
Optimize your new and existing job descriptions to reach more candidates
Get the Guide

What Does a 297391782library30.05library assistant7.39books2.04librarian1.5assistant1.092573763215817.2518.7836.50HOURLY557296122025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Library Assistant Do?

Library Assistants generally work at public libraries and schools to facilitate a library’s programming and provide clerical support to the Librarians on staff. They keep the book stacks organized by shelving books according to the Dewey Decimal System, making note of missing and damaged books and setting aside reserved books for library patrons. Library assistants staff the circulation desk to check out books and other resources to visitors and process fine payments. They may also assist with setting up the library for events like story time for kids or teen book club.

Library Assistant Skills and Qualifications

In order to do a good job as a 297391782library30.05library assistant7.39books2.04librarian1.5assistant1.092573763215817.2518.7836.50HOURLY557296122025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Library Assistant, they need certain skills and qualifications. These skills are what employers should look for when interviewing candidates in order to improve the overall experience of heading to the library for a patron.

The following are important skills for a Library Assistant to have:

  • Library Assistants will come in contact with the public on a daily basis, helping them find books and check them out. Interpersonal skills are very important.
  • Library Assistants also use library software daily to help people do research or look for material, as well as maintain the library’s database.
  • Library Assistants need to listen to the patrons who need their help, answer their questions clearly and teach them how to use the resources. They also have to follow instructions from librarians.
  • Library Assistants have to be detail-oriented in order to make sure information and material is filed correctly. Processing library materials requires attention to detail.

Library Assistant Salary Expectations

The average salary for a Library Assistant is $13.17 per hour. Including a salary or salary range on a Library Assistant posting can attract more suitable applicants.

Library Assistant Salary Expectations

2025-09-017.2518.7836.50HOURLY
  • Common salary: 18.78 HOURLY
  • Typical salaries range from 7.25 - 36.50 HOURLY
  • Find more information on Indeed Salaries

*Indeed data – 2025-09-01

Library Assistant Education and Training Requirements

Typically, a library assistant has a high school degree with on-the-job training. Most libraries prefer library assistants with a post-secondary certificate which provides courses in cataloging, reference and automated library systems. Library assistants usually receive on-the-job training to learn the basics of libraries.

Public library assistants work in community libraries, while academic assistants are in universities or colleges helping students and professors. There are also school library assistants for elementary to high school, and special library assistants who work in museums, government, and medical centers to provide information that is of particular interest to the organization.

Library Assistant Experience Requirements

Library Assistants can get on-the-job training from a librarian to understand the work they will be doing. It is a plus to already have previous experience as an assistant in an office, business or non-profit as there will be responsibilities that correlate with each other. In order to become a librarian, a 297391782library30.05library assistant7.39books2.04librarian1.5assistant1.092573763215817.2518.7836.50HOURLY557296122025-09-012025-09-302025-08-012025-08-312025-10-05Library Assistant is required to obtain a master’s degree in library science.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

If you are not looking to hire for the Library Assistant position just yet, then you can look at the following job description samples for similar positions:

Job Description Best Practices
Optimize your new and existing job descriptions to reach more candidates
Get the Guide

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Hire your next Library Assistant today.

Build a job description

Frequently asked questions about Library Assistants

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found