Explore the Career Kingdom:
Library Technicians
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books; remove or repair damaged books; register patrons; check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who operate bookmobiles or light trucks that pull trailers to specific locations on a predetermined schedule and assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
Other names for Library Technicians:
Accessioner, Acquisitions Technician, Audio-Visual Aide, Bibliographer, Book Shelver, Book Sorter, Bookmobile Driver, Catalog Librarian, Cataloging Technician, Circulation Technician, Classifier, Director of Audio Visual Aids, Information Services Assistant, Interlibrary Loan Assistant (ILL), Librarian Assistant, Librarian Helper, Library Aide, Library Assistant, Library Associate, Library Clerk, Library Information Technian, Library Monitor, Library Page, Library Services Assistant, Library Specialist, Library Technical Assistant (LTA), Library Technical Assistant, Cataloging (LTA, Cataloging), Library Technical Assistant, Serials/Bindery (LTA, Serials/Bindery), Library Technician, Media Center Assistant, Media Center Specialist, Patron Services Specialist, Stack Attendant, Stacker,
What do Library Technicians do?
Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
Provide assistance to teachers and students by locating materials and helping to complete special projects.
Answer routine reference inquiries, and refer patrons needing further assistance to librarians.
Guide patrons in finding and using library resources, including reference materials, audiovisual equipment, computers, and electronic resources.
Train other staff, volunteers or student assistants, and schedule and supervise their work.
Sort books, publications, and other items according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
Conduct reference searches, using printed materials and in-house and online databases.
Deliver and retrieve items throughout the library by hand or using pushcart.
Take actions to halt disruption of library activities by problem patrons.
Process interlibrary loans for patrons.
Process print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections.
Retrieve information from central databases for storage in a library's computer.
Organize and maintain periodicals and reference materials.
Compile and maintain records relating to circulation, materials, and equipment.
Collect fines, and respond to complaints about fines.
Issue identification cards to borrowers.
Verify bibliographical data for materials, including author, title, publisher, publication date, and edition.
Review subject matter of materials to be classified, and select classification numbers and headings according to classification systems.
Send out notices about lost or overdue books.
Prepare order slips for materials to be acquired, checking prices and figuring costs.
Design, customize, and maintain databases, web pages, and local area networks.
Operate and maintain audiovisual equipment such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders.
File catalog cards according to system used.
Prepare volumes for binding.
Conduct children's programs and other specialized programs such as library tours.
Compose explanatory summaries of contents of books and other reference materials.
Repair damaged books.
Collaborate with archivists to arrange for the safe storage of historical records and documents.
Design posters and special displays to promote use of library facilities or specific reading programs at libraries.
Compile bibliographies and prepare abstracts on subjects of interest to particular organizations or groups.
Do you enjoy these?
Bar code reader equipment
Cargo trucks
Cash registers
Desktop computers
Digital video disk players or recorders
Film projectors
Notebook computers
Microfiche or microfilm viewers
Microfiche reader printers
Microfiche or microfilm viewers
Special purpose telephones
Personal computers
Photocopiers
Scanners
Video cassette players or recorders
Technology used
Office suite software
Word processing software
Presentation software
Web page creation and editing software
Spreadsheet software
Document management software
Data base user interface and query software
Library software
Internet browser software
Electronic mail software