Number Employed in Libraries

Number of employees in the American library workforce

91´«Ã½

91´«Ã½ Library Fact Sheet 2

NEW RESOURCE: Statistics about US Libraries and about libraries in other countries may be found on the .

The library work force includes librarians and other professionals, paraprofessionals, clerical and technical personnel. Statistics are not available for each category of personnel in each type of library. Instead this fact sheet summarizes the latest available statistics on the two major categories -- librarians and other professionals, and other paid staff -- in the three types of libraries for which reliable national figures are available from and the .

The numbers for public libraries below come from the IMLS , from the latest report in the series, . The numbers for academic and school libraries below come from the NCES and the surveys: ; for staff in school libraries in public and private schools; and for staff in school library media centers in BIE (Bureau of Indian Education) schools.

Number of Paid Library Staff in the United States
Librarians Other Paid Staff Total Paid Staff
Academic Libraries

26,606

59,145

85,751

Public Libraries

46,808

90,043

136,851

Public School Libraries

78,570

47,440

126,010

Private School Libraries

14,090

3,770

17,860

Bureau of Indian Education School Libraries

90

80

170

Total

166,164

200,478

366,642

Note for school libraries: Please be aware that the numbers reported for the school libraries include part-time staff in those positions.

Comparable figures for employment in special libraries (e.g. libraries serving businesses, scientific agencies, hospitals, law firms, and nonprofit organizations) are not available. It is worth noting that .

NOTE: Previous versions of this fact sheet can be accessed via the using the original URL <>. Be mindful of the small mathematical error on these earlier versions in the counting of the Academic Libraries Other Paid Staff; the amount should be 70,284 and not 70,291.

Last updated: August 2018

For more information on this page, contact the 91´«Ã½ Library Reference Desk by telephone: 800-545-2433, extension 2153; fax: 312-280-3255; e-mail: library@ala.org; or regular mail: 91´«Ã½ Library, 91´«Ã½, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611.