How to become a Library Assistants, Clerical 2024

Library Assistants, Clerical Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.

Library Assistants, Clerical is Also Know as

In different settings, Library Assistants, Clerical is titled as

Acquisitions Assistant
Cataloging Assistant
Library Aide
Library Assistant
Library Associate
Library Circulation Assistant
Library Clerical Assistant
Library Clerk
Library Services Assistant

Education and Training of Library Assistants, Clerical

Library Assistants, Clerical is categorized in Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Experience Required for Library Assistants, Clerical

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Education Required for Library Assistants, Clerical

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Degrees Related to Library Assistants, Clerical

Training Required for Library Assistants, Clerical

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Related Ocuupations

Some Ocuupations related to Library Assistants, Clerical in different industries are

What Do Library Assistants, Clerical do?

Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
Process new materials including books, audio-visual materials, and computer software.
Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.
Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
Provide assistance to librarians in the maintenance of collections of books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, and audio-visual and other materials.
Take action to deal with disruptive or problem patrons.
Classify and catalog items according to content and purpose.
Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials.
Send out notices and accept fine payments for lost or overdue books.
Operate small branch libraries, under the direction of off-site librarian supervisors.
Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers.
Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers.
Select substitute titles when requested materials are unavailable, following criteria such as age, education, and interests.
Deliver and retrieve items to and from departments by hand or using push carts.
Place books in mailing containers, affix address labels, and secure containers with straps for mailing to blind library patrons.
Assist in the preparation of book displays.
Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.
Schedule, supervise, and train clerical workers, volunteers, student assistants, and other library employees.
Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment.
Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
Perform accounting and bookkeeping activities, such as invoicing, maintaining financial records, budgeting, and handling cash.
Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair.
Acquire books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and other library supplies by checking prices, figuring costs, and preparing appropriate order forms and facilitating the ordering process by providing such information to others.
Prepare library statistics reports.
Design or maintain library web site and online catalogues.
Plan or participate in library events and programs, such as story time with children.

Qualities of Good Library Assistants, Clerical

Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Tools Used by Library Assistants, Clerical

10-key calculators
Barcode scanners
Bookmobiles
Braile embossers
Cash registers
Delivery vans
Desktop computers
Digital cameras
Film projectors
Handheld calculators
Laminating machines
Laser facsimile machines
Laser printers
Magnifiers
Mail opening equipment
Microfiche printers
Microfiche readers
Microfilm printers
Microfilm readers
Multi function printers
Multi-line telephone systems
Multimedia projectors
Personal readers
Photocopying equipment
Scanners
Thermal book binders
Typewriters
Video teleconferencing systems

Technology Skills required for Library Assistants, Clerical

Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Photoshop
Automated circulation systems
C++
Cataloging software
Database software
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Publisher
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Word
Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) databases
Recordkeeping software
ResourceMate Plus
Video retrieval systems
Web browser software
Word processing software
WorldCat

US Universities

How to become Library Assistants, Clerical in 2024