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How to hire a library media specialist

Library media specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring library media specialists in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a library media specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per library media specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 6,067 library media specialists in the US, and there are currently 9,216 job openings in this field.
  • Decatur, GA, has the highest demand for library media specialists, with 4 job openings.

How to hire a library media specialist, step by step

To hire a library media specialist, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a library media specialist:

Here's a step-by-step library media specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a library media specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new library media specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a library media specialist do?

A Library Media Specialist is in charge of managing and handling a library's media resources and providing visitors and staff assistance. They may work for public libraries, learning institutions, or other facilities with libraries. Their responsibilities usually include helping visitors locate media materials, preparing and processing resources, arranging items according to protocols, and overseeing computer equipment to ensure that they are in good condition. They may also maintain the cleanliness of libraries and implement its policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a library media specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The library media specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a library media specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a library media specialist that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of library media specialists.

    Type of Library Media SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Library Media Specialist$14-26
    LibrarianLibrarians are trained in the field of information science so they can assist people in search of information. They direct and develop information systems and programs for the public... Show more$18-35
    Library TechnicianA library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database... Show more$13-23
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Professional Development
    • Library Materials
    • K-12
    • Library Resources
    • Instructional Materials
    • Instructional Technology
    • Library Collection
    • Public Schools
    • Collection Development
    • Library Programs
    • Library Services
    • Research
    • K-5
    • Library Catalog
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Assist children on the autism spectrum academically and socially to achieve integration into a mainstream educational environment.
    • Collaborate with teachers on student research projects by teaching information literacy skills emphasizing on inquiry and organization using some technology.
    • Teach pre-K through 5th grade.
    • Initiate and run a summer sewing camp.
    • Create and run an alternative high school library.
    • Facilitate intervention with a small group of kindergarten students.
    More library media specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your library media specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A library media specialist salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, library media specialists' average salary in arkansas is 21% less than in hawaii.
    • Seniority. Entry-level library media specialists earn 44% less than senior-level library media specialists.
    • Certifications. A library media specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a library media specialist's salary.

    Average library media specialist salary

    $41,529yearly

    $19.97 hourly rate

    Entry-level library media specialist salary
    $31,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average library media specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$45,969$22
    2New York$44,758$22
    3New Jersey$44,598$21
    4Maryland$44,584$21
    5Connecticut$43,759$21
    6Nevada$43,577$21
    7Michigan$42,784$21
    8New Hampshire$42,090$20
    9Ohio$42,070$20
    10Minnesota$40,226$19
    11Texas$39,144$19
    12Kansas$37,650$18
    13Missouri$37,518$18

    Average library media specialist salary by company

  4. Writing a library media specialist job description

    A library media specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a library media specialist job description:

    Library media specialist job description example

    • Develop a school library media program that addresses 21st century skills, including life and career development, learning and innovation, and information, media, and technology literacy.
    • Create and maintain a school library center that provides a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, readily accessible, and conducive to student learning.
    • Actively promote reading, information literacy skills, and information resource use through activities including book clubs, reading programs, reading initiatives, and other special events.
    • Instruct students and staff in information and technology literacy skills, including reading for understanding, the research process, engaging inquiry, collaboration, critical thinking, developing multiple literacies, and understanding copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property.
    • Cooperate and network with other libraries, librarians, and agencies to provide expanded access to resources for students and teachers.
    • Develop policies and procedures that ensure maximum accessibility, efficient operation, effective services and facility use. This includes policies and procedures for physical access, electronic access, selection, acquisition, circulation, resource sharing, and materials challenges.
    • Establish annual and long-term measurable goals for the school library media program that are aligned with the district and school mission and objectives.
    • Lead colleagues through staff development programs that incorporate best practices in the use of information resources, multi-media technology applications, and online learning.
    • Work as an instructional partner by collaborating with teaching staff in preparing and delivering lessons that incorporate effective use of information resources and build information literacy and reading skills.
    • Develop and maintain a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, students, and teaching and learning styles inherent within the school community.
    • Implement and maintain automated catalog, circulation system, and textbook check-out services, including student obligations and responsibilities for materials.
    • Collect and analyze data to periodically evaluate the school library media program for continuous improvement against measurable goals and communicate program results with administrators, staff, and the community.
    • Supervise and evaluate support staff, which may include educational media assistants, computer education assistants, paraprofessionals, and student assistants.
    • Maintain frequent and timely communication with stakeholders through an effective online school library media program presence and other formats such as presentations, e-mail, newsletters, reports, and articles.

    Education and Experience Requirements:

    • Master's degree from a program at a regionally accredited college or university that would lead to NYS certification as a library media specialist

    OR

    • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university; satisfactorily complete a school library media practicum, 1 year of full-time teaching experience, or 1 year of full-time school library media-related experience;
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right library media specialist for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your library media specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit library media specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with library media specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new library media specialist

    Once you've found the library media specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new library media specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a library media specialist?

Before you start to hire library media specialists, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire library media specialists pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Library media specialists earn a median yearly salary is $41,529 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find library media specialists for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $14 and $26.

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