Do pages (as in student helpers) in library get paid or is it volunteer work?

Question

And if so how much do they get paid?

Answer 1

This is usually volunteer work, earning them class credit or fulfilling a community service requirement.  Depending on the library, they may receive a tiny stipend, but it depends on how well funded the library is and how badly they need assistance.

Answer 2

"Usually" is a not a possible word to use in this answer.  Pages are a mix of both paid, volunteer, educational credit, and court-ordered laborers.  Each library has its own mix.  Government and academic libraries are almost exclusively paid staff.  Public libraries frequently have regional flavors based on the local economy and social structure of the place - good economies with lots of fast food and museums = fewer volunteers available.

My public library pays for about 80% of the page hours.  The pay is about 10% higher than minimum wage here.  As a "student assistant" (aka "page") at the University of Washington, I was actually paid 10% UNDER minimum wage because it was a state funded position and the state assembly felt that the law didn't apply to them.  Amazon and Microsoft came around in the 80's and early 90's, and now I understand UW pays their SA's better.