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October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). This year’s DEAM IDEA Conference, hosted by the Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN), returns on October 3rd at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary. The event highlights the need for equitable workplaces and spaces for people experiencing disability. Register now to take part in DEAM’s many events and happenings.

Library Technician

Library technicians support and assist librarians by performing technical tasks involved in library or information work. This can include collection management, cataloguing and document delivery. They also provide reference services, and may deliver programs, or manage small libraries in corporate, school or public settings.

Also Known As

Library Assistant

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 5211.1: Library Technicians and Assistants

2006 NOC-S

  • F111: Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants

2011 NOC

  • 5211: Library and public archive technicians

2016 NOC

  • 5211: Library and public archive technicians

2021 NOC

  • 52100: Library and public archive technicians

2023 OaSIS

  • 52100.01: Library Technicians
Duties
Updated Mar 04, 2021

Library technicians may work in large libraries or smaller ones. In large libraries, they provide services to the public. In smaller libraries, they often provide specialized resources and reference information to a particular client group. Therefore, their duties and responsibilities may vary considerably from one position to another. However, in general, library technicians:

  • Acquire materials (print, audiovisual and electronic) and classify, catalogue and maintain the materials
  • Process and fill requests for interlibrary loans and document delivery
  • Help clients access on-site and online services and resources such as reference materials, audiovisual equipment and electronic resources
  • Find answers to reference questions by doing a reference interview and using available resources such as online databases and other electronic resources
  • Code and input bibliographic data
  • Assist in the design and maintenance of in-house databases and web pages
  • Provide library orientation and instruction for library users
  • Create and deliver programs for children, youth, adults, seniors or other groups
  • Create and deliver programs to improve awareness of library services
  • Promote library services, resources, events and programs
  • Supervise staff, volunteers and student assistants

Under the supervision of a librarian, library technicians may be responsible for sections or departments in a larger library. In smaller libraries, technicians may assume full responsibility for library operations, including ordering materials and managing the library's budget.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 04, 2021
  • Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg

Depending on the institution or organization, library technicians may work part time, full time or shifts. Academic and public libraries often require library technicians to work evening and weekend shifts. Some lifting up to 10 kilograms may be required.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
C
Conventional
This occupation
You
S
Social
E
Enterprising
This occupation
You

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Your Work Personalities

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Library Technicians
2023 OaSIS: 52100.01

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 04, 2021

Library technicians need:

  • Strong customer service orientation
  • Communication skills
  • Self-motivation, versatility and adaptability
  • A flexible attitude
  • An ability to follow directions for detailed tasks
  • Organizational and time management skills
  • Technical skills related to using online resources, MS Office, e-technology, office equipment
  • E-service and technical trouble shooting skills
  • An ability to work alone and as part of a team
  • Research, technical assistance and information fluency skills
  • Public speaking and instructional skills

They should enjoy:

  • Helping people find information
  • Taking a methodical approach to their work
  • Being creative
  • Paying careful attention to details
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 04, 2021
  • Minimum Education 2 years post-secondary

Library technicians must be knowledgeable about library operations including computer applications, e-resources and e-technology. Most library technicians are graduates of related 2-year diploma programs. Additional post secondary education is an asset. Employers generally prefer to hire applicants who have related work or volunteer experience.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Grant MacEwan University
Red River College Polytechnic
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 04, 2021
  • Certification Not regulated

There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 04, 2021

Library technicians are employed by:

  • Public libraries
  • Public and private schools
  • College, research and university libraries
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Information brokerage firms
  • Library software production companies
  • Book, periodical and publishing firms
  • Records management departments in large organizations
  • Bookstores

Experienced library technicians may advance to supervisory positions or assume responsibility for the operations of established libraries. However, other advancement opportunities are limited. Canadian universities do not recognize library technician programs and courses for transfer credit to master's programs in library science.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Library and public archive technicians
2016 NOC: 5211

95.2% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Library and public archive technicians
2021 NOC: 52100
Cold
Job Market
< 1500
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Library and public archive technicians
2016 NOC: 5211
3.2%
Annual Growth
(Above average)
24
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 04, 2021

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Library and public archive technicians

2021 NOC: 52100
Average Wage
$30.02
Per Hour
Average Salary
$48,368.00
Per Year
Average Hours
31.5
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.4
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 52100 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $19.07 $31.97 $25.13 $24.04
Overall $20.48 $39.71 $30.02 $28.77
Top $22.00 $41.98 $32.13 $30.91

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Information, Culture, Recreation
Educational Services
Health Care & Social Assistance
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
20%
20%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
44%
44%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
2%
2%
Vacancy Rate
N/A
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Education and Library Studies
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 04, 2021

Alberta Association of Library Technicians (AALT) website: aalt.org

Special Libraries Association (SLA) website: www.sla.org

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 04, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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