Library assistant
Help librarians complete the day-to-day tasks within a library.
Also known as: information assistant, library para-professional
About the job
What it's like
Former President of the New York Public Library Timothy Healy said, 'The most important asset of any library goes home at night – its staff!'
As a library assistant, you'll support the day-to-day running of a library. Working alongside librarians, you'll help people find and borrow the information they're searching for.
You'll work with lots of different materials, including:
books and journals
newspapers, leaflets and pamphlets
maps and photographs
video, film, DVDs and CDs
microfiche and computer databases
In a public library, you might help with community events like story readings for children. Library assistants also work in libraries within large businesses, as well as in universities, colleges and schools.
Your tasks might include:
helping customers find and use print, online or image resources
checking materials in and out – you'll also deal with counter, phone and email enquiries
adding new resources to the library's catalogue
putting returned items back on shelves and arranging repairs for damaged materials
entering customers' membership details on a record management system
assisting with events and activities, like storytelling author talks or computer skills sessions
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) – find more information about library-based careers
NHS Scotland Careers – learn how to become a library and knowledge services assistant within the health service
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- sorting
- filtering
- respecting
- researching
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
English
English and Communication
Information and Communications Technology - ICT
Social Subjects
You don't need any specific qualifications to work as a library assistant.
Work
Become a library assistant by applying directly with an employer. You can use the My World of Work job search to find vacancies.
Employers will likely expect you to have some National 4 or 5 qualifications. Your application will stand out if you've held a paid or voluntary role within a(n):
library
archive
information service
Experience working in an administration, customer services or computing is also useful when applying for jobs.
To build the experience you need, you can explore voluntary opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Once you've built experience as a library assistant, you can apply for membership of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and work towards their Certification in Library and Information Practice award. This can be a useful stepping stone towards becoming a fully-qualified librarian.
Your employer may expect you to study additional qualifications alongside your work.
You might work with children as part of your role. This means you'll need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland.
