Library Workers: Facts & Figures, 2007

This collection of national statistics about library workers is gathered by the AFL-CIO’s Department for Professional Employees from a variety of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ARL, ALA, and the Census Bureau.

From ALA’s American Libraries Direct (6/6/07): “This handy, annotated compilation includes employment statistics and projections, notes on diversity and pay inequity, the wage gap, institutional variance, benefits, and unionization in the library profession.”

This document is packed with interesting tidbits. For example, here are three fun facts to know and tell…

* In 2006, there were 229,000 librarians, 119,000 library assistants, and 113,940 library technicians.

* In addition to [all] library workers being poorly paid because they are predominantly female, those library workers who are women may well be paid less than those who are men.

* Most librarians work in school and academic libraries. About one-fourth work in public libraries.

Check it out at: http://www.dpeaflcio.org/programs/factsheets/fs_2007_library_workers.htm.

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us