Formal Library Training
Of the 261 respondents from British Columbia, 56.7% of them completed a 2 year LT training program while 35.25% indicated that they had received on the job training or continuing education.
The vast majority of respondents reported attending post-secondary institutions in British Columbia: 50% attended Langara College, 20% attended UCFV, and 5% took the joint Langara/UCFV program. There were also respondents who attended SAIT Polytechnic (4%) and Grant MacEwan College (3%), both of which are in Alberta, as well as various other institutions such as Seneca College in Ontario (2%), School of Economics in Poland, University of Natal South Africa – Pietermaritzburg and the National Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Employment Status
The vast majority of respondents (87%) indicated that they are currently working in a library setting. Another 14% are currently students in a library technician program, 6% are seeking work in a library setting and 4% are volunteering in a library setting.
60% of respondents indicated that they are employed in a permanent full-time position, 24% are permanent part-time, 12% are currently on-call and 14% are in contract positions both full and part-time. There were also three respondents who indicated that they are self-employed.
Average Hourly Wage by Library Type
Staff in legal libraries top the hourly wage scale, earning an average of $23.73, with self-employed library technicians coming in second at $23.40. Staff in corporate, medical, and government libraries follow at $23,22, $23.20 and $23.18 respectively. The elusive “Other” library workers earn the next highest at $21.86, followed by those in public libraries at $21.36 and those in media libraries at $20.96. The largest number of respondents are employed at academic libraries, who earn $20.55. They are followed closely by school library staff at $20.54. The lowest average hourly wage is earned at non-profit libraries ($17.84).
Average Hourly Wage by Years of Experience
Respondents with 11 to 15 years of experience were the top earners, averaging $23.81 an hour. Those in the next year range (36 to 40 years’ experience) earn $22.54 an hour, followed closely by workers in the 26 to 30 years’ range, who earn $22.51 an hour.
The next highest were staff in the 21 to 25 years’ experience range, earning an average of $22.31 an hour. Those with 16 to 20 years’ experience earn an average of $21.87 an hour.
The respondents with no library experience earned the next highest at $21.71 an hour, followed closely by those with six to 10years’ experience (at $21.54 an hour). Workers with 31 to 35 years’ experience earn an average of $20.78, while those with one to five years’ experience earn an average of $20.54 an hour.
The lowest hourly earners based on years of experience were those who had worked less than a year, at an average of $17.83 an hour.
** The hourly wage was rounded to the nearest cent.
Job Titles
Library technician was the most frequent job title among respondents at 32%. The next most frequent job title was Library Assistant with 30%. The next two job titles are tied with 6% Library Clerk and Librarian.
Other job titles provided: Information Assistant, Community Librarian, Researcher, Research Specialist, Supervisor, Graphic Design & Clerical Support, Data Manager, Audiovisual Technician, Circulation Assistant, System Support Technician, Digital Asset Coordinator, Library Paraprofessional, Community Branch Supervisor, Youth Services Technician, Cataloguing Technician, Operations Supervisor – Technical Services, Secretary, Library, Configuration Manager, Instructional Media Centre Technician, Instructional Assistant, Library Manager, Circulation Supervisor, Auxiliary, Chief Librarian. Bookshelver.
Volunteering
47% of respondents indicated that they had volunteered in a library setting. The vast majority of respondents volunteered in a school library setting. Other libraries volunteered in were: church libraries, medical libraries, Jewish public library, museum & art gallery libraries, non-profit organization libraries, small public libraries, small academic libraries and the Expo 86 library.
Duties peformed included: shelving, shelf-reading, circulation, filing, card filing, newspaper clippings, story time, reference, reader’s advisory, displays, av-bookings, cataloguing, processing, clerical, collection maintenance.
53% of respondents have not volunteered in a library setting.
Respondents left a variety of comments, including gratitude for the work LTAIG is doing and comments regarding wording of questions or clarifications. Here is what some of you had to say*: