Library and public archive technicians
Career Overview
Library and archive technicians and assistants help users to access library and archive resources, do records management, processing and storage, assist in describing new acquisitions, do archive processing and storage and provide general support for client information needs.
Library technicians and archive technicians are two distinct occupations. In addition to the duties described above, library technicians also help users with interlibrary loans and online reference searches, as well processing the checkout and return of books and other library materials. Archive technicians also assist archivists in a number of other professional capacities.
Library and archive technicians:
- Work in libraries, archives, records management branches and other establishments with library or archive services
- Must be meticulous and well organized
- Must have excellent interpersonal, communication and computer skills
- Should also have a commitment to customer service
Job Titles
Duties
Library technicians:
- Assist library users in accessing books, films, photographs, maps, documents, electronic materials and other library materials
- Catalogue new library acquisitions under the direction of a librarian
- Perform manual and on-line reference searches and make interlibrary loans for users
- Assist librarians in giving tours and providing children's and other specialized library programs
Archive technicians:
- Help with developing inventories, forms and with preparing preliminary finding aids
- Set up and update classification plans and records scheduling and disposal plans
- Codify and classify archival material
- Record archival materials on microfilm or databases
- Transfer materials from current to semi-current status or put into permanent storage
- Apply standards and policies for storage of archival materials
- Purge, sort, reduce and sample archives
- Do research and retrieve archival materials
- Instruct and help users
- Make sure computerized document systems are used
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
960% Employed Full Time
47%Library technicians often work in public and special libraries, including libraries of schools, colleges, universities, law firms, and medical offices.
Archive technicians and assistants work in the documentation centres of municipal, provincial and federal departments.
Employees usually work 35–40 hours per week. Work days and schedules can vary since some libraries have extended hours and weekend service.
Computers are central to library-related work. Workers may experience computer-related fatigue and physical stress. Archive technicians may also be exposed to odours and non-toxic dusts.
Career Pathways
Junior positions are available in various types of libraries and can range from work as a circulation clerk to a cataloguer or reference clerk.
Recent graduates may also obtain positions in schools and school districts. Many graduates may be expected to take on a variety of duties, ranging from working under the supervision of a librarian to running a small private library or resource centre.
Recent graduates may also work as information technicians, circulation assistants and as librarians in some special libraries.
Archive technicians with a graduate degree may advance to the position of archivist.
Workers with experience and further education may progress to senior technician or management positions.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
A university degree or a diploma in library and information technology or a diploma in archival studies may be required to work in these occupations. Other training and requirements may include:
- A Library and Information Technology diploma at the minimum
- Work experience in a library-related position
- Computer skills and the ability to use computerized cataloguing and database systems
Many library technicians work in specialized areas such as records management, children's and young adult's services, and digital libraries. Therefore, it is recommended that graduates seeking specialized positions take specific classes in the appropriate field. Individuals are also encouraged to take courses that focus on the type of library that they are interested in working in. These courses are generally half-day or one-day courses.
There are currently two training programs offered for library technicians in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Library Studies Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Choosing and using training, instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
960Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 25 | 2.6% |
| Kootenay | 25 | 2.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 615 | 63.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 3.1% |
| Northeast | 20 | 2.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 105 | 10.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 145 | 15.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
420Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 260 | 1.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.8% |
| Northeast | 10 | 2.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 50 | 1.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 1.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Educational Services | 230 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 150 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Most of the new jobs that will be available over the next several years are expected to come from replacing retiring workers.
Industry sources report there is an increasing expectation that library workers have a diploma, and that there is a higher demand for workers who have specialized experience that matches a special library.
With very little turnover in the law library field, recent graduates may have difficulty finding jobs in that area.
As experienced workers retire, more job openings are expected in the Vancouver area where most of the special libraries are located.
Related fields, such as information brokering, consulting (information access and validation) and database marketing, offer alternative job opportunities. Those with knowledge or education in fields such as administration, computer science or engineering will have an advantage.
Technological advances have greatly affected the field of information management, As a result, advanced technical skills, such as web development and management are now in great demand.
Resources
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Association of Canadian Archivistswww.archivists.ca
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British Columbia Library Associationwww.bcla.bc.ca
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British Columbia Library Association - Library Technicians' and Assistants' Interest Groupbclaconnect.ca/ltas
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Canadian Library Associationcla.ca
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Vancouver Association of Law Librarieswww.vall.vancouver.bc.ca
