AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 25-4031.00

Will AI replace Library Technicians?

Library Technicians: AI can already handle 22 of 31 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.

Have a team in this role?

Get your free 10-role sample: send this role and up to nine others, and a founder sends a board-pack PDF within two business days.

Get your free 10-role sample Book a 15-minute call

Every task, scored

The 31 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Library Technicians, from most to least exposed. 22 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Conduct reference searches, using printed materials and in-house and online databases. 100 Observed Efficient 3.6
Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas. 90 Estimated Standard 4.0
Sort and deliver library mail and packages. 90 Estimated Efficient 3.0
Compose explanatory summaries of contents of books and other reference materials. 89 Observed Efficient 3.1
Compile and maintain records relating to circulation, materials, and equipment. 80 Estimated Efficient 3.8
Verify bibliographical data for materials, including author, title, publisher, publication date, and edition. 80 Estimated Efficient 3.6
Compile data and create statistical reports on library usage. 80 Estimated Efficient 3.5
Compile bibliographies and prepare abstracts on subjects of interest to particular organizations or groups. 80 Estimated Efficient 2.5
Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Answer routine telephone or in-person reference inquiries, referring patrons to librarians for further assistance, when necessary. 75 Estimated Standard 4.3
Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Deliver and retrieve items throughout the library by hand or using pushcart. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Process print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.1
Enter and update patrons' records on computers. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.0
Issue identification cards to borrowers. 75 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Take actions to halt disruption of library activities by problem patrons. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.8
Process interlibrary loans for patrons. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Order all print and non-print library materials, checking prices, figuring costs, preparing order slips, and making payments. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.7
Collect fines and respond to complaints about fines. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Send out notices about lost or overdue books. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Retrieve information from central databases for storage in a library's computer. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.6
Claim missing issues of periodicals and journals. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.4
Plan and conduct children's programs, community outreach programs, and other specialized programs, such as library tours. 50 Estimated Standard 3.5
Design posters and special displays to promote use of library facilities or specific reading programs at libraries. 50 Estimated Efficient 3.4
Review subject matter of materials to be classified and select classification numbers and headings according to classification systems. 40 Observed Efficient 3.7
Provide assistance to teachers and students by locating materials and helping to complete special projects. 35 Estimated Efficient 3.9
Train other staff, volunteers, or student assistants and schedule and supervise their work. 35 Estimated Efficient 3.6
Maintain and troubleshoot problems with library equipment, including computers, photocopiers, and audio-visual equipment. 30 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Check for damaged library materials, such as books or audio-visual equipment, and provide replacements or make repairs. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Organize and maintain periodicals and reference materials. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.5
Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, tape recorders, and videocassette recorders. 20 Estimated Efficient 2.8

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 3 of 31 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 28 of 31. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A standard-tier model or lower covers 87% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
68,690
Median annual wage
$44,580
Middle half of earners
$35,740 to $52,430
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
-6.8%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Library Technicians and AI

Will AI replace Library Technicians?

AI already handles 22 of the 31 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 66 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by -6.8% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Library Technicians?

66 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 3 of the 31 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 28 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Library Technicians tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Conduct reference searches, using printed materials and in-house and online databases; Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas; Sort and deliver library mail and packages. They are three of the 22 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A standard-tier model or lower covers 87% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Library Technicians, and what do they earn?

68,690 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $44,580 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of -6.8% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Library Technicians. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/library-technicians

Have a team in this role?

Get your free 10-role sample. Send this role and up to nine others, with no employee data, and a founder sends a PDF in board-pack format within two business days.

Get your free 10-role sample Book a 15-minute call

A founder replies within one business day.