Will AI replace Library Assistants, Clerical?
Estimated risk score: 64 out of 100
Moderate replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (45 to 83).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 33 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 43-4121.00 · Office and Administrative Support
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 19 of its 33 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
- Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
- Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.
- Prepare library statistics reports.
- Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers.
- Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 9 of its 33 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Deliver and retrieve items to and from departments by hand or using push carts.
- Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair.
- Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
- Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment.
- Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
- Take action to deal with disruptive or problem patrons.
What the job is
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.
Also called: Media Assistant, Microfilm Clerk, Stacks Assistant, Film Library Clerk, Shelving Assistant, Librarian Assistant, Reference Assistant, Technical Assistant.
Closest jobs we score by hand
In the same field (Office and Administrative Support). Different jobs, each scored by a person.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate