Not Very Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Library Assistant, Clerical:
34.5%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forLibrary Assistants, Clerical
$36,010 median salary•12,800 annual openings•SOC Code: 43-4121.00
Library Assistants, Clerical are less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Library assistant work is labeled "Not Very Resilient" mainly because so many of its core tasks, like cataloging, answering basic reference questions, and sending patron notifications, are already being handled by AI tools and automated systems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent decline in jobs in this field from 2024 to 2034, which is a real signal that automation is shrinking the number of positions available, not just changing how the work gets done.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreThis role is not very resilient
Library assistant work is labeled "Not Very Resilient" mainly because so many of its core tasks, like cataloging, answering basic reference questions, and sending patron notifications, are already being handled by AI tools and automated systems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent decline in jobs in this field from 2024 to 2034, which is a real signal that automation is shrinking the number of positions available, not just changing how the work gets done.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Library Assistant, Clerical
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Library Assistant, Clerical jobs?
If you've used a self-checkout kiosk or asked a chatbot for help, you've already seen how libraries are changing. Right now, AI is mostly augmenting library assistants rather than replacing them. The biggest shift is happening in behind-the-scenes work like cataloging: OCLC has added powerful new AI features to its WorldShare Record Manager and Connexion cataloging applications that help catalogers by automatically suggesting classification numbers and subject headings, saving time and improving accuracy.
In pilot testing, catalogers reported saving up to 20 minutes per title, and many described the new AI tools as a helpful "safety net" that catches missed details. Patron-facing services are also being upgraded — for example, Libby's new "Inspire Me" feature uses generative AI to recommend materials, and more than 90% of public libraries in North America use Libby [1]. Routine work like reading recommendations, basic reference questions, and notification messages is increasingly handled by software, while humans still open the building, fix the printer, and help anxious patrons in person.
The American Library Association is taking this seriously: the Public Library Association established the Transformative Technology Task Force to advise on the evolving role and impacts of transformative technology on library work, with AI as its top focus.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Library Assistant, Clerical?
Adoption is moving steadily but cautiously. On the "speed up" side, library budgets are tight — Marshall Breeding's Library Systems Report 2026 notes that "uncertainties in funding and disruptions driven by AI technologies set the stage for a difficult year" [2], pushing libraries to use AI to stretch staff time. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics already projects that overall employment of library technicians and assistants will decline 7 percent from 2024 to 2034 [3], partly reflecting automation.
On the "slow down" side, libraries care deeply about privacy, accuracy, and equity. OCLC frames its approach as "using technology to amplify human expertise, not replace it", and Library Journal reports that experts warn libraries "have to make smart choices about how and when to use it" [4]. The good news for young people: the skills that matter most — welcoming patrons, teaching digital literacy, opening and closing the building, troubleshooting equipment, and judging which AI suggestions are actually good — are exactly the human strengths libraries say they need more of, not less.
Sources
Will AI replace Library Assistant, Clerical?
In part. We think AI will eventually automate a real share of this work, but the human side of libraries will not disappear overnight.
The numbers are honest about the pressure here. Our AI Resilience Score for this role is 34.5%, which puts it in the "Not Very Resilient" range. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics already projects a 7 percent employment decline through 2034 [3], and AI tools are moving fast into cataloging, patron recommendations, and routine reference questions. Tight library budgets are pushing that shift along [2].
Still, what stays human matters. Welcoming anxious patrons, teaching digital literacy, troubleshooting equipment, and judging whether an AI suggestion is actually good are exactly what libraries say they need more of. More than 90 percent of public libraries in North America use Libby [1], but someone still has to open the building and help the person who does not know where to start.
The smarter move is to treat this role as a launching pad. The skills you build here, helping people navigate information, spotting errors in automated outputs, and working with evolving technology, transfer well into library technology, digital services, and information management. Experts are clear that libraries need people who can make smart choices about AI [4], and that is a skill worth building now.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Library Assistant, Clerical
As AI reshapes the workplace, library assistants and clerical workers need to understand its implications. A study highlights that these roles, often held by women, may face significant challenges adapting to AI advancements. However, the rise of AI can also enhance productivity by handling mundane tasks, allowing clerical staff to focus on more engaging work. For instance, a city clerk in Long Grove has successfully integrated an AI assistant, showcasing how technology can be tailored to improve efficiency. Embracing AI can lead to resilience and growth in this evolving career path.
From card catalogues to AI: Peter Webster named Saint Mary’s University’s first Librarian Emeritus
news.smu.ca • 5/23/2026
Saint Mary's is pleased to honour a distinguished career in library and information science with the naming of Peter Webster as its...
In Long Grove, AI transforms a clerk's work
www.northscottpress.com • 4/14/2026
Veteran Long Grove city clerk Rose Guyer has an assistant built from scratch. She hand-picked its skills and invented its personality.
As AI threatens to eliminate jobs, unions are drawing a line
www.theglobeandmail.com • 3/12/2026
Public-sector unions propose changes to collective agreements to add that AI should not be used to justify staffing cuts.
AI poses bigger threat in jobs with more women, study finds
www.cbsnews.com • 1/29/2026
Workers in clerical and administrative roles could have the most trouble adapting to the impact of AI on jobs, new research shows.
Say Goodbye to Mundane Tasks, Welcome to the World of AI Agents
www.ft.com • 5/28/2025
Tired of monotonous tasks? AI agents are transforming work, collaborating across business functions to streamline operations and boost productivity.
More Career Info
Career: Library Assistants, Clerical
They help organize books, assist visitors in finding materials, and manage checkouts to keep the library running smoothly.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$36,010
Jobs (2024)
84,500
Growth (2024-34)
-6.7%
Annual Openings
12,800
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.
2
Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual (AV) equipment.
3
Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers.
4
Acquire books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and other library supplies by checking prices, figuring costs, and preparing appropriate order forms and facilitating the ordering proces...
5
Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment.
6
Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers.
7
Schedule, supervise, and train clerical workers, volunteers, student assistants, and other library employees.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
