by Dennis Nangle

Created on: February 10, 2009

In the United States, the term "Library Technician" is a relatively loose term, due to the diverse nature of individual libraries and their distinct needs. However, some semblance of structure is present in the 16 libraries of the University System of Maryland's Affiliated Institutions (USMAI). Spanning the spectrum from classic and traditional to completely virtual and almost paperless, the duties and responsibilities of Library Technician is made clearer by employing a tiered-level system.

Library Technician I employees are typically part-time student workers. While this position is commonly filled by students pursuing their undergraduate degrees in such simpatico majors as English or Education, any student with the appropriate qualifications is suitable for the job. The duties of a Tech I are primarily related to shelving and shelf maintenance; depending on the institution, Tech I employees cover the circulation desk and answer basic patron access questions as well.

The responsibilities naturally increase with the title of Library Technician II. This position bridges the gap between the Tech I position, which is casually filled and has high turnover, and the Tech III, which is a full-time, career-driven occupation. Therefore, the duties and expectations vary greatly. It can be either a full- or part-time position. The average Tech II performs similar duties to that of the Tech I employees, but has additional responsibilities and manages the Tech I workers. Library Technician II employees have the opportunity to get involved in tier 1 reference questions, handle basic interlibrary loan tasks, and run/analyze circulation statistics.

The position of Library Technician III is for those who have a significant amount of library experience and intend to pursue librarianship as a career. This is the highest level that a technician can achieve, so in several institutions much leverage is given. The Tech III employee carries out everyday circulation and interlibrary loan tasks, but also manages and delegates circ/ILL duties to the techs that work beneath them. Advanced duties like patron relations, software troubleshooting, record-keeping and workflow assessment fall to the Library Technician III. It is common for Tech III employees to also be part-time students pursuing their Master's in Library Science degrees. The only other position available to non-degree employees is the Library Associate, which is a promotion that is typically granted to Tech III employees that have advanced to performing several professional-level duties on a regular basis.

The above descriptions are merely outlines, and are in no way intended to suggest an immoveable standard for the institutions. However, having a three-tiered system benefits the USMAI greatly in terms of intralibrary communication and overall expectations for library employees. Since the USMAI freely shares its books and articles with their students, having clear outlines of each employees' varying responsibilities adds efficiency to a potentially overwhelming contact list of individuals.

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