70/100
HighHow much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.
55/100
ModerateHow likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.
Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured
Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.
Task-level evidence
What is driving the score?
Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.High74
Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.High74
Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.High75
Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.Medium75
Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.High72
Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.High73
Provide assistance to librarians in the maintenance of collections of books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, and audio-visual and other materials.Medium74
Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.High72
Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.High74
Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.High71
Operate small branch libraries, under the direction of off-site librarian supervisors.Medium72
Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment.Medium71
Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers.Medium74
Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers.Medium73
Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials.Medium75
Send out notices and accept fine payments for lost or overdue books.Medium75
Plan or participate in library events and programs, such as story time with children.Medium74
Perform accounting and bookkeeping activities, such as invoicing, maintaining financial records, budgeting, and handling cash.Medium73
Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.High39
Deliver and retrieve items to and from departments by hand or using push carts.Medium75
Schedule, supervise, and train clerical workers, volunteers, student assistants, and other library employees.Medium70
Process new materials including books, audio-visual materials, and computer software.Medium72
Select substitute titles when requested materials are unavailable, following criteria such as age, education, and interests.Medium75
Acquire books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and other library supplies by checking prices, figuring costs, and preparing appropriate order forms and facilitating the ordering process by providing such information to others.Medium73
Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair.Medium19
Where AI can do more
Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.
- Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.75
- Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.75
- Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials.75
- Send out notices and accept fine payments for lost or overdue books.75
Where people still matter
These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.
- Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair.01
- Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.02
- Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.03
- Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.04
- Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.05
Where else this work leads
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.
File Clerks
Closely related work
Compare these careers →Receptionists and Information Clerks
Related work
Compare these careers →Archivists
Shares some work
Compare these careers →Curators
Shares some work
Compare these careers →Management Analysts
Shares some work
Compare these careers →Proofreaders and Copy Markers
Shares some work
Compare these careers →Beyond AI capability
Adoption and labour-market outlook
Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.
Methodology & sources
O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.
Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →