AI exposure Office and administrative support
Will AI replace library assistants?
Library Assistants, Clerical. US occupation 43-4121.
The reading
9.8%
of the time library assistants spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of library assistants' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 187 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 75% of them.Further along than 75% of them.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Well above the typical job.Ahead of most of the workforce.
What AI already does for library assistantsWhat library assistants no longer do alone
O*NET lists 32 tasks for library assistants. AI use at work shows up in 3 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.
- Classify and catalog items according to content and purpose. mostly automated 0.99
- Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.Core task mostly automated 0.96
- Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.Core task automated and assisted 0.72
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
29 of the 32 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.Core task
- Assist in the preparation of book displays.Core task
- Deliver and retrieve items to and from departments by hand or using push carts.Core task
- Enter and update patrons' records on computers.Core task
- Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.Core task
- Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.Core task
Show the other 23
- Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.Core task
- Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment.Core task
- Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.Core task
- Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.Core task
- Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.Core task
- Prepare library statistics reports.Core task
- Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers.Core task
- Process new materials including books, audio-visual materials, and computer software.Core task
- Provide assistance to librarians in the maintenance of collections of books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, and audio-visual and other materials.Core task
- Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials.Core task
- Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair.Core task
- Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers.Core task
- Schedule, supervise, and train clerical workers, volunteers, student assistants, and other library employees.Core task
- Select substitute titles when requested materials are unavailable, following criteria such as age, education, and interests.Core task
- Send out notices and accept fine payments for lost or overdue books.Core task
- Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.Core task
- Take action to deal with disruptive or problem patrons.Core task
- 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.
- Design or maintain library web site and online catalogues.
- Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
- Operate small branch libraries, under the direction of off-site librarian supervisors.
- Perform accounting and bookkeeping activities, such as invoicing, maintaining financial records, budgeting, and handling cash.
- Plan or participate in library events and programs, such as story time with children.
How that compares
Among the 50 office and administrative support occupations, library assistants rank 30. The group averages 19.1%, and its most exposed job is Customer Service Representatives at 70.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Just above in the ranking
- 183Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary 10.0%
- 185History Teachers, Postsecondary 9.9%
- 185Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 9.9%
Just below
What this does and does not mean
Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.
A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.
Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.