Library Technician

A library technician is a person who works in a library to help librarians create, prepare and organise materials and to help users find them. Library technicians usually work under the leadership of a librarian although they can sometimes work independently. Technicians in small libraries handle multiple duties. Those in large libraries usually specialise. The work of library technicians includes, but is not limited to, directing library users to standard references, organising and keeping journals, preparing volumes for binding, managing interlibrary loan requests, preparing invoices, doing routine cataloguing and coding of library materials and recovering information from computer databases.

A librarian needs to have basic knowledge about how a library works, like understanding the calculation method. Library technicians usually know how to organise a library, store and catalogue books. It is also very helpful for a librarian to have deep knowledge of the specific library they work for, like what kind of materials they have in their library, what kind of programs the library runs and knowing the library staff and their positions. They also index to find books and other materials and they answer questions that need only a brief consultation of common reference. They collect journals, classify and shelve books or other media, remove or repair damaged books or other media, register customers and check materials in and out of the circulation process. They also contribute to replacing materials in the shelving area or files. 

Library technicians may also have graduated from a four-year college or institute. They can also be holders of a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree. Mostly education of the Library technician is practical, broad, and skills-based, so they already get job-ready upon graduation; the only training they need is specific to their particular place of employment. Tasks can vary with the type and size of the library, but can include: cataloguing and classification of books, data input to help in getting print and nonprint materials, helping in the provision of reference services and circulation methods.