Library Information Technology

Library technicians are in demand and enjoy an exceptionally high employment rate. Our graduates work in public libraries, academic, school or special libraries such as medical, law, corporate and government collections.

Library technicians hold supervisory positions or work co-operatively with librarians and other professionals to manage information resources – from helping people retrieve information and materials, to records management for technology-based businesses.

Graduates of the Library & Information Technology Program will find a good variety of job opportunities. According to the official Langara College employment outcomes indicator in 2002, over 90% of the graduates in the Program are currently employed in a wide range of libraries and information services: in those associated with universities, colleges and schools, and in public, institutional, business, government and professional libraries. They may also work for companies supporting information-based software programs and resources.

Library Technicians usually work with professional librarians - except in very small libraries, where they might work on their own. Technicians receive, catalogue and issue a host of library materials such as books, films, pictures, maps, microforms, tapes, and electronic resources. They must know how to locate specialized materials and how to maintain library collections. Technicians can also expect to become involved with programs and library tours for children and adults, or provide technical support to the library or information centre clients.

For more details on: employment status; salary and hours worked; job functions and tasks, job facts and employment information, visit the survey results online provided by the Library Technicians & Assistants Interest Group of the British Columbia Library Association.

Job Links

• Canadian Library Association (CLA)
• CLA Career Information
• Foothills Library Association (Southern Alberta)
• Manitoba Library Association
• Ontario Library Association
• Pacific Northwest Library Association
• Saskatchewan Association of Library Technicians
• Special Libraries Association, Western Canadian Chapter
• The Alberta Association of Library Technicians
• The Partnership National Library Jobsite of Canada

Resources

• 2011 CLA National Salary Survey Results
• Future of Human Resources in Canadian Libraries Study (PDF 3.82 MB)
• Training Gaps Analysis for Librarians and Library Technicians, Report Cultural Human Resources Council, April 2006 (PDF 4.73 MB)
• Library Technicians and Assistants Interest Group (LTAIG) 2009 Salary Survey
• The British Columbia Occupational Outlook for Library Technicians
• Skilled Immigrants Infocenter: Working in the Librarians & Library Technicians Industry