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Library & Archives Assisting

Types of Degrees Library & Archives Assisting Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Library & Archives Assisting can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	26
Associate’s Degree	161
Master’s Degree	253

What Library & Archives Assisting Majors Need to Know

Programs in Library & Archives Assisting build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Library & Archives Assisting graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Library & Archives Assisting emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Administrative — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Library & Archives Assisting program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 3 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Library & Archives Assisting careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Speech Recognition — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Library & Archives Assisting graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.8 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.6 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.5 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.5 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.5 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Library & Archives Assisting professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Adobe Dreamweaver	Web page creation and editing software	—
Ex Libris Group Aleph	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
HandyFile Find and Replace Text Aid Kit	Word processing software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Inmagic TextWorks	Data base user interface and query software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Microsoft Publisher	Desktop publishing software	—
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Library & Archives Assisting graduates include:

• Stack Attendant
• Librarian Helper
• Page Technician
• Bindery Library Technical Assistant
• Bibliographer
• Media Specialist
• Shelver
• Elementary Library Media Specialist
• Library Monitor
• Library Technical Assistant (LTA)
• Library Aide
• Textbook Associate
• Circulation Clerk
• Library Specialist
• Library Information Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Library & Archives Assisting graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	29.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	27.7%
Postsecondary certificate	17.1%
High school diploma or equivalent	15.0%
Some college courses	8.8%
Master’s degree	1.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Library & Archives Assisting?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 83.9% of Library & Archives Assisting degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	390	83.9%
Men	75	16.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Library & Archives Assisting graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	221	47.5%
Asian	42	9.0%
Hispanic or Latino	151	32.5%
Black or African American	14	3.0%
Two or More Races	17	3.7%
Race Unknown	20	4.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Library & Archives Assisting Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Library & Archives Assisting graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$31,514
4 years	$21,685
5 years	$26,675

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $26,675 — roughly -15% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Library & Archives Assisting Programs

Distance learning is tracked by IPEDS for Library & Archives Assisting. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	6	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Library & Archives Assisting Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Library & Archives Assisting graduates earn a median of $21,685 four years after completion — about 43% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Library Science	25
Library Science and Administration	25.01
Library Science, Other	25.99
LIBRARY SCIENCE	25.00

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.