Library Support Staff Job Titles
By Denise M. Davis
Director, Office for Research & Statistics
Since 1993, the annual questionnaire for the ALA Survey of Librarian Salaries has included a “Supplementary Questions” section to gather, for one time only, information needed to answer questions from the field about library human resources. In 2004, the question asked about the most frequently used job titles for library support staff. This supplement was to inform the ALA-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) < www.ala-apa.org > in preparation for a separate Library Support Staff Salary Survey to be conducted in 2005. Beginning with the 2005 survey, both the librarian and the support staff salary surveys will coordinated by the ALA-APA as part of its mission of “improving the salaries and status of library workers.”
Thirty-seven commonly used titles (shown in Figure 1) were listed on the 2004 supplementary questionnaire. For each one, respondents were asked to check all job titles used for non-MLS staff (shown in Figure 2), and had an opportunity to provide titles not listed. In reviewing the results described below, the reader must remember that this survey did not cover all libraries. The sample was restricted to academic and public libraries with at least two ALA-MLS librarians, even though we were asking about library support staff. Eight hundred thirty eight libraries responded to the supplemental questions, or 95% of total respondents. An open-ended question asking about “other” support staff position titles yielded 4,221 cases, with 2,571 unique responses. > in preparation for a separate Library Support Staff Salary Survey to be conducted in 2005. Beginning with the 2005 survey, both the librarian and the support staff salary surveys will coordinated by the ALA-APA as part of its mission of “improving the salaries and status of library workers.”
Thirty-seven commonly used titles (shown in Figure 1) were listed on the 2004 supplementary questionnaire. For each one, respondents were asked to check all job titles used for non-MLS staff (shown in Figure 2), and had an opportunity to provide titles not listed. In reviewing the results described below, the reader must remember that this survey did not cover all libraries. The sample was restricted to academic and public libraries with at least two ALA-MLS librarians, even though we were asking about library support staff. Eight hundred thirty eight libraries responded to the supplemental questions, or 95% of total respondents. An open-ended question asking about “other” support staff position titles yielded 4,221 cases, with 2,571 unique responses.
Figure 1. Titles for Library Support Staff |
|||
| _____ | Administrative Assistant | _____ | Clerk |
| _____ | Archivist | _____ | Computer Specialist/Associate |
| _____ | Assistant/Associate Archivist | _____ | Computer Technician/Assistant |
| _____ | Assistant/Associate Director | _____ | Database Manager |
| _____ | AV/Media Services Assistant | _____ | Information Specialist |
| _____ | AV/Media Services Manager | _____ | Inter-Library Loan Specialist |
| _____ | AV/Media Services Supervisor | _____ | Library Aide |
| _____ | Branch Manager | _____ | Library Assistant |
| _____ | Branch Supervisor | _____ | Library Associate |
| _____ | Building Maintenance Assistant | _____ | Library Manager |
| _____ | Building Manager | _____ | Library Page/Shelver |
| _____ | Building Supervisor | _____ | Library Supervisor |
| _____ | Business Manager | _____ | Library Technician |
| _____ | Cataloging Manager | _____ | Network Administrator |
| _____ | Cataloging Supervisor | _____ | Technical Services Manager |
| _____ | Circulation Aide | _____ | Technical Services Assistant |
| _____ | Circulation Assistant | _____ | Technical Services Supervisor |
| _____ | Circulation Manager | _____ | Webmaster |
| _____ | Circulation Supervisor | _____ | Other (See next page) |
Figure 2 is a summary of responses for the 37 titles. In addition to the 37 pre-determined titles, libraries provided an additional 507 titles they used and recorded these as “other.” The top 20 responses by each library type are reflected in Figure 3. Figure 4 presents response frequency by position title for all libraries excluding “other.” Not surprisingly, titles associated with general administrative or clerical positions were the most common regardless of library type.
Figure 2 - Titles of Library Support Staff as Reported by Academic and Public Libraries |
||||||||||||
Library Type |
||||||||||||
|
Medium-Sized Public Library |
Large Public Libraries |
Two Year College |
Four Year College |
University |
Total |
|||||||
|
|
Count |
% |
Count |
% |
Count |
% |
Count |
% |
Count |
% |
Count |
% |
|
Administrative Assistant |
132 | 48.00% | 99 | 49.70% | 18 | 15.30% | 36 | 31.90% |
64 |
48.10% |
349 | 41.60% |
|
Archivist |
3 | 1.10% | 9 | 4.50% | 3 | 2.50% | 15 | 13.30% |
24 |
18.00% |
54 | 6.40% |
|
Assistant/Associate Archivist |
1 | 0.40% | 2 | 1.00% | 2 | 1.70% | 3 | 2.70% |
4 |
3.00% |
12 | 1.40% |
|
Assistant/Associate Director |
28 | 10.20% | 27 | 13.60% | 2 | 1.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
2 |
1.50% |
59 | 7.00% |
|
AV/Media Services Assistant |
11 | 4.00% | 3 | 1.50% | 9 | 7.60% | 9 | 8.00% |
8 |
6.00% |
40 | 4.80% |
|
AV/Media Services Manager |
7 | 2.50% | 10 | 5.00% | 6 | 5.10% | 5 | 4.40% |
6 |
4.50% |
34 | 4.10% |
|
AV/Media Services Supervisor |
6 | 2.20% | 5 | 2.50% | 3 | 2.50% | 4 | 3.50% |
10 |
7.50% |
28 | 3.30% |
|
Branch Manager |
52 | 18.90% | 65 | 32.70% | 1 | 0.80% | 1 | 0.90% |
1 |
0.80% | 120 | 14.30% |
| Branch Supervisor |
12 |
4.40% |
17 |
8.50% |
0 |
0.00% |
1 |
0.90% |
0 |
0.00% |
30 |
3.60% |
| Building maintenance Assistant |
36 |
13.10% |
17 |
8.50% |
0 |
0.00% |
0 |
0.00% |
1 |
0.80% |
54 |
6.40% |
| Building Manager |
27 |
9.80% |
12 |
6.00% |
1 |
0.80% |
0 |
0.00% |
8 |
6.00% |
48 |
5.70% |
| Building Supervisor |
15 |
5.50% |
19 |
9.50% |
1 |
0.80% |
0 |
0.00% |
2 |
1.50% |
37 |
4.40% |
| Business Manager |
46 |
16.70% |
35 |
17.60% |
0 |
0.00% |
3 |
2.70% |
6 |
4.50% |
90 |
10.70% |
| Cataloging Manager |
6 |
2.20% |
12 |
6.00% |
5 |
4.20% |
5 |
4.40% |
1 |
0.80% |
29 |
3.50% |
| Cataloging Supervisor |
5 |
1.80% |
6 |
3.00% |
2 |
1.70% |
10 |
8.80% |
6 |
4.50% |
29 |
3.50% |
| Circulation Aide |
20 |
7.30% |
11 |
5.50% |
4 |
3.40% |
4 |
3.50% |
2 |
1.50% |
41 |
4.90% |
| Circulation Assistant |
75 |
27.30% |
34 |
17.10% |
18 |
15.30% |
31 |
27.40% |
28 |
21.10% |
186 |
22.20% |
| Circulation Manager |
51 |
18.50% |
32 |
16.10% |
13 |
11.00% |
18 |
15.90% |
16 |
12.00% |
130 |
15.50% |
| Circulation Supervisor |
78 |
28.40% |
60 |
30.20% |
15 |
12.70% |
43 |
38.10% |
34 |
25.60% |
230 |
27.40% |
| Clerk |
123 |
44.70% |
88 |
44.20% |
22 |
18.60% |
6 |
5.30% |
22 |
16.50% |
261 |
31.10% |
| Computer Specialist/Associate |
16 |
5.80% |
24 |
12.10% |
2 |
1.70% |
2 |
1.80% |
9 |
6.80% |
53 |
6.30% |
| Computer Technician/Assistant |
37 |
13.50% |
39 |
19.60% |
5 |
4.20% |
1 |
0.90% |
5 |
3.80% |
87 |
10.40% |
| Database Manager |
3 |
1.10% |
7 |
3.50% |
0 |
0.00% |
2 |
1.80% |
2 |
1.50% |
14 |
1.70% |
| Information Specialist |
10 |
3.60% |
20 |
10.10% |
4 |
3.40% |
3 |
2.70% |
6 |
4.50% |
43 |
5.10% |
| Inter-Library Loan Specialist |
38 |
13.80% |
19 |
9.50% |
11 |
9.30% |
26 |
23.00% |
25 |
18.80% |
119 |
14.20% |
| Library Aide |
39 |
14.20% |
37 |
18.60% |
13 |
11.00% |
1 |
0.90% |
5 |
3.80% |
95 |
11.30% |
| Library Assistant |
155 |
56.40% |
125 |
62.80% |
46 |
39.00% |
39 |
34.50% |
55 |
41.40% |
420 |
50.10% |
| Library Associate |
50 |
18.20% |
59 |
29.60% |
8 |
6.80% |
7 |
6.20% |
15 |
11.30% |
139 |
16.60% |
| Library Manager |
8 |
2.90% |
9 |
4.50% |
0 |
0.00% |
2 |
1.80% |
1 |
0.80% |
20 |
2.40% |
| Library Page/Shelver |
192 |
69.80% |
119 |
59.80% |
1 |
0.80% |
4 |
3.50% |
3 |
2.30% |
319 |
38.10% |
| Library Supervisor |
5 |
1.80% |
7 |
3.50% |
2 |
1.70% |
3 |
2.70% |
5 |
3.80% |
22 |
2.60% |
| Library Technician |
24 |
8.70% |
30 |
15.10% |
38 |
32.20% |
8 |
7.10% |
24 |
18.00% |
124 |
14.80% |
| Network Administrator |
35 |
12.70% |
33 |
16.60% |
1 |
0.80% |
0 |
0.00% |
10 |
7.50% |
79 |
9.40% |
| Technical Services Assistant |
61 |
22.20% |
24 |
12.10% |
10 |
8.50% |
26 |
23.00% |
20 |
15.00% |
141 |
16.80% |
| Technical Services Manager |
26 |
9.50% |
18 |
9.00% |
3 |
2.50% |
4 |
3.50% |
3 |
2.30% |
54 |
6.40% |
| Technical Services Supervisor |
15 |
5.50% |
13 |
6.50% |
5 |
4.20% |
2 |
1.80% |
8 |
6.00% |
43 |
5.10% |
| Webmaster |
13 |
4.70% |
30 |
15.10% |
2 |
1.70% |
2 |
1.80% |
7 |
5.30% |
54 |
6.40% |
| Other (see next page) |
188 |
68.40% |
156 |
78.40% |
62 |
52.50% |
63 |
55.80% |
92 |
69.20% |
561 |
66.90% |
| Total Number of Libraries |
275 |
|
199 |
|
118 |
|
113 |
|
133 |
|
838 |
|
| Note: The table is for a multiple response question. The column percentage indicates the percentage of libraries in each library type which use that particular job title (e.g., the job title Webmaster was used by 4.7% of medium-sized public libraries responding (N=275). | ||||||||||||
Figure 3: 20 Top Responses, Support Staff Titles |
||||
|
Medium Sized PLs |
Large PLs |
Two Year Colleges |
Four Year Colleges |
Universities |
| Library Page/Shelver | Library Assistant | Library Assistant | Circulation Supervisor | Administrative Assistant |
| Library Assistant | Library Page/Shelver | Library Technician | Library Assistant | Library Assistant |
| Administrative Assistant | Administrative Assistant | Clerk | Administrative Assistant | Circulation Supervisor |
| Clerk | Clerk | Administrative Assistant | Circulation Assistant | Circulation Assistant |
| Circulation Supervisor | Branch Manager | Circulation Assistant | Inter-Library Loan Specialist | Inter-Library Loan Specialist |
| Circulation Assistant | Circulation Supervisor | Circulation Supervisor | Technical Servics Assistant | Archivist |
| Technical Servics Assistant | Library Associate | Library Aide | Circulation Manager | Library Technician |
| Branch Manager | Circulation Manager | Archivist | Clerk | |
| Circulation Manager | Library Aide | Inter-Library Loan Specialist | Cataloging Supervisor | Technical Servics Assistant |
| Library Associate | Business Manager | Technical Servics Assistant | AV/Media Services Assistant | Circulation Manager |
| Business Manager | Circulation Assistant | AV/Media Services Assistant | Library Technician | Library Associate |
| Library Aide | Network Administrator | Library Associate | Library Associate | AV/Media Services Supervisor |
| Inter-Library Loan Specialist | Circulation Manager | AV/Media Services Manager | Clerk | Network Administrator |
| Computer Technician/Assistant | Library Technician | Computer Technician/Assistant | AV/Media Services Manager | Computer Specialist/Associate |
| Building maintenance Assistant | Webmaster | Technical Services Supervisor | Cataloging Manager | AV/Media Services Assistant |
| Network Administrator | Assistant/Associate Director | Cataloging Manager | Circulation Aide | Technical Services Supervisor |
| Assistant/Associate Director | Technical Services Assistant | Information Specialist | Technical Services Manager | Building Manager |
| Building Manager | Computer Specialist/Associate | Circulation Aide | AV/Media Services Supervisor | Webmaster |
| Technical Services Manager | Information Specialist | Technical Services Manager | Library Page/Shelver | Cataloging Supervisor |
| Library Technician | Inter-Library Loan Specialist | Archivist | Information Specialist | AV/Media Services Manager |
Figure 4: Frequency of Title Use, All Libraries (excluding “other”) |
|||
| 100+ Libraries Use Title | 50-99 Libraries Use Title | 25-49 Libraries Use Title | 1-24 Libraries Use Title |
| Library Assistant | Library Aide | Building Manager | Library Supervisor |
| Administrative Assistant | Business Manager | Information Specialist | Library Manager |
| Library Page/Shelver | Computer Technician/Assistant | Technical Services Supervisor | Database Manager |
| Clerk | Network Administrator | Circulation Aide | Assistant/Associate Archivist |
| Circulation Supervisor | Assistant/Associate Director | AV/Media Services Assistant | |
| Circulation Assistant | Archivist | Building Supervisor | |
| Technical Services Assistant | Technical Services Manager | AV/Media Services Manager | |
| Library Associate | Webmaster | Branch Supervisor | |
| Circulation Manager | Building maintenance Assistant | Cataloging Supervisor | |
| Library Technician | Computer Specialist/Associate | Cataloging Manager | |
| Branch Manager | AV/Media Services Supervisor | ||
| Inter-Library Loan Specialist | |||
The supplemental questions allowed for an open-ended response by libraries if they had support staff position titles that were not reflected in the 36 prescribed titles. There were 4,221 cases in the “other” response, and 2,571 unique responses. Figure 5 lists the responses to “other” from more than 20 libraries. Not surprisingly, the most frequently mentioned “other” titles were quite general staff positions present in most libraries – custodian, secretary, assistants, and clerks. It also is the case that general position titles were identified by as few as one library, but the titles did not match well to the prescribed titles in the questionnaire.
Figure 5 - "Other" Support Staff Titles Reported By 10 or more Libraries |
|||
| Job Title | Libraries Reporting Use of Job Title |
Job Title | Libraries Reporting Use of Job Title |
| Custodian |
41 |
Reference Librarian |
15 |
| Secretary |
35 |
Cataloger |
14 |
| Cataloging Assistant |
30 |
Circulation Coordinator |
14 |
| Administrative Secretary |
28 |
Courier |
13 |
| Library Specialist |
27 |
Page |
13 |
| Senior Library Assistant |
25 |
Librarian I |
12 |
| Senior Library Clerk |
25 |
Acquisitions Coordinator |
11 |
| Reference Assistant |
23 |
Acquisitions Supervisor |
11 |
| Bookkeeper |
22 |
Head of Circulation |
11 |
| Library Clerk |
22 |
Interlibrary Loan Assistant |
11 |
| Account Clerk |
20 |
Librarian II |
11 |
| Accountant |
19 |
Library Assistant I |
11 |
| Acquisitions Assistant |
19 |
Library Assistant III |
11 |
| Library Assistant II |
17 |
Maintenance Supervisor |
11 |
| Library Technical Assistant |
17 |
Receptionist |
11 |
| Circulation Clerk |
16 |
Senior Clerk |
11 |
| Office Manager |
16 |
Supervising Library Assistant |
11 |
| Executive Secretary |
15 |
Volunteer Coordinator |
11 |
| Facilities Manager |
15 |
Children's Librarian |
10 |
| Graphic Artist |
15 |
Computer Operator |
10 |
| Graphic Designer |
15 |
Principal Library Clerk |
10 |
Figure 6 summarizes the top 36 prescribed functional areas identified from all responses, and “other.” This list was determined by looking at frequency of departmental and functional areas, such as reference, acquisitions, etc. Thirteen core staff classifications or rank were derived from the total of responses (prescribed titles and “other”) and also are presented in Figure 6. Both the functional areas and classifications will be used in the field-test instrument for 2005 ALA-APA Support Staff Salary Survey.
Figure 6 – Functional Areas and Classifications, Support Staff |
|
Functional Area: |
|
| Accounting | Information Services |
| Acquisitions | |
| Administrative (aide, etc.) | Interlibrary Loan |
| Adult Services | Literacy |
| Archival | Maintenance, Janitor, Custodian |
| Automation (Automated Systems – Network staff, Computer Systems, Information Systems, Information Technology, Systems Admin, Systems Operations) | Marketing |
| Bookmobile | Media Services |
| Cataloging | Outreach |
| Children’s Services | Periodicals, Serials |
| Circulation | Processing (materials processing) |
| Collection Development/Management | Public Information |
| Community Relations/Service | Public Relations |
| Development (fund raising) | Public Service |
| Facilities | Reference |
| Financial (Accounting, Budget, Finance, Fiscal, Payroll, Purchasing) | Technical Services |
| Government Documents | Volunteer Services (coordinator, supervisor, etc.) |
| Graphics | Youth Services |
| Human Resources, Personnel | Young Adult Services |
Classification: |
|
| Director | Lead |
| Manager | Technical Assistant (with levels I-V) |
| Librarian (with levels I-V) | Clerk (with levels I-V) |
| Assistant, Associate (with levels I-V, also Senior, etc.) | Office (Assistant, Manager, etc.) |
| Head | Secretary, Receptionist |
| Supervisor | Page |
| Coordinator | |