Library and Archives assistants are a critical part of the library and archival system. They assist professional librarians and archivists in the day to day duties of operating a library or archive. Library assistants may be responsible for stocking shelves, offering instruction on various library services, assisting patrons and managing library assets such as books and periodicals.
Archival assistants will help with the preparation, cataloging, and storage of archive materials. They may be working with unique and valuable documents like first edition books, historical records or other meaningful works of art alongside professional archivists.
While professional librarians often need a master's degree in library science, assistants can often have a less formal education. An education in teaching can help you become a full-fledged librarian while any other related degree can help if you'll be happy as an assistant.
Similar to librarians, archivists often need master's degrees in their related fields. Assistants can likewise get by with fewer years of education although a bachelor's degree will be desired. Courses in the humanities and liberal arts are beneficial to both positions as degrees in these programs can help you think creatively and objectively.
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Library & Archives Assisting Degrees in the United States
#324Most Popular Major
473Degrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
Library & Archives Assisting was the 324th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 473 degrees in this year alone.
This year's Best Library & Archives Assisting Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom archives rankings further below.
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Requirements for Getting a Degree in Library & Archives Assisting
Librarians and archivists have similar sets of required overlapping skills such as attention to detail and communication. Library assistants will need to have excellent verbal and interpersonal skills as helping patrons is a large part of their responsibilities.
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Getting Accepted Into a Library & Archives Assisting Program
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most archives degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional archives certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Library & Archives Assisting Degree Types
There are many different archives degree levels. You can get anything from a in library & archives assisting to the highest archives degree, a . Depending on the library & archives assisting degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to archives, with approximately 29.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to archives tend obtained the following education levels.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree
29.6%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)
27.7%
Post-Secondary Certificate
17.1%
High School Diploma
15.0%
Some College Courses
8.9%
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About 59.1% of workers in careers related to archives obtain at least associate degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in library & archives assisting careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the archives career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for Archives Majors
Below AverageNumber of Jobs
$31.5kAverage Starting Salary
9% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
Solid Growth Projected for Archives Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your archives degree? Library & Archives Assisting careers are expected to grow 9.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to library & archives assisting.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Library Technicians
108,200
9.1%
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How Much Money Do Archives Grads Make?
Recently graduated library & archives assisting students earned an average of $31,514 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $31,514 to as high as $31,514. As you might expect, salaries for archives graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Archives Majors
Salaries for library & archives assisting graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers archives grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Library Technicians
$36,080
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Getting Your Library & Archives Assisting Degree
With over 64 different archives degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased archives school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for Library & Archives Assisting
by our College Data Analytics Team
