How to hire a library page

How to hire a library page, step by step

Here's a step-by-step library page 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 page job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new library page
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a library page do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a library page, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A library page's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, library pages from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of library pages and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Library Page	Description	Hourly rate
   Library Page	Library technicians and assistants help librarians with all aspects of running a library. They assist patrons, organize library materials and information, and perform clerical and administrative tasks.	$11-18
   Library Clerk	Library clerks help librarians by primarily doing sorting, shelving, updating database and files, and cataloging several library materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, and multimedia resources. They check books and other resources in and out of the library assist in the procurement of library supplies, work with audio-visual equipment most of the time... Show more	$11-18
   Library Aide	A library aide is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of libraries. Typical duties include assisting customers in finding books, shelving books according to categories, and updating and maintaining customer profiles... Show more	$10-17

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Library Patrons
   • Library System
   • Photocopying
   • Shelve Library Materials
   • Public Library
   • Library Programs
   • CDS
   • Check-In
   • General Appearance
   • In-Person Inquiries
   • Book Carts
   • Circulation Desk
   • Dewey Decimal System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform check-in and check-out of library books on a daily basis.
   • Coordinate seating for VIP guests.
   • Gain familiarity with a vast array of works of fiction and nonfiction.
   • Issue library cards, check-in and check-out library materials, answer incoming calls.
   • Sort & organize various library materials consisting of books, magazines, CDs, etc.
   • Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, DVDs, etc.

   More library page duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your library page job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A library page can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, library pages' average salary in arkansas is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level library pages 41% less than senior-level library pages.
   • Certifications. A library page with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a library page's salary.

   Average library page salary

   $14.53hourly

   $30,218 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level library page salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average library page salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$38,669	$19
   2	Massachusetts	$38,400	$18
   3	New York	$37,092	$18
   4	New Hampshire	$36,353	$17
   5	Minnesota	$35,184	$17
   6	Arizona	$29,387	$14
   7	Michigan	$28,837	$14
   8	Colorado	$28,487	$14
   9	Wisconsin	$28,446	$14
   10	Iowa	$28,182	$14
   11	North Carolina	$25,839	$12
   12	Florida	$25,775	$12
   13	Alabama	$25,342	$12
   14	Ohio	$24,977	$12
   15	Missouri	$23,626	$11

   Average library page salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ramsey County	$39,836	$19.15
   2	Metro Nashville	$39,521	$19.00
   3	Forsyth County	$37,590	$18.07
   4	Nashua Country Club	$36,947	$17.76
   5	Prince William County	$36,796	$17.69	1
   6	City of Santa Monica	$33,691	$16.20
   7	City Of West Des Moines	$33,325	$16.02
   8	City of Thousand Oaks	$33,115	$15.92
   9	Ashland MA Police	$33,096	$15.91
   10	Morgan	$32,330	$15.54
   11	City of New London	$31,976	$15.37
   12	Lee County	$31,703	$15.24
   13	Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept	$31,437	$15.11
   14	Concord	$31,424	$15.11
   15	City of Maricopa	$31,234	$15.02
   16	City of Dearborn	$30,308	$14.57
   17	City of Madison	$28,822	$13.86
   18	City of Mesa	$28,673	$13.79
   19	Mid-Continent Public Library	$27,908	$13.42
   20	City of Boise	$27,779	$13.36

4. Writing a library page job description

   A good library page job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a library page job description:

   Library page job description example

   CURRENT Jefferson County employees Do NOT apply here Apply in Workday using Find Jobs
   
   Jefferson County Government, CO
   Close Date: 01/01/23
   
   Part time-$12.56-$47.69
   
   Category:Administrative,
   Business Programs and Services
   
   Jefferson County Public Library is committed to providing an inclusive workplace. We seek individuals with the same passion and commitment to providing equal access to information and opportunities for our community. We value diversity and strive to incorporate our values: innovation, accountability and excellence in all our work and interactions.OUR PROMISEJefferson County Public Library will always be here to connect you to the people, ideas and inspiration for whatever's next in life. Define your destination, and we'll help you get there. So you can always be learning. Always be creating. And always be discovering something new.MISSIONWe help to build an educated and vibrant community by providing equal access to information and opportunities.VISIONWe will be the essential destination where all generations connect, discover, and create.VALUESWe serve with care; everyone is welcome here. We meet you where you are, give you our full attention, and strive to exceed your expectations. Our core values are Innovation, Accountability, and Excellence.
   
   We are hiring organized and detail oriented individuals to join our Page teams! You will ensure library materials are shelved accurately and create a positive and inviting atmosphere for all patrons. Your work will be with staff and volunteers and you will contribute to the care of the library collection. If you are ready to make a positive impact on the Library's success, then one of these part time positions may be the job for you!
   
   This is a quarterly job posting for Page positions. Vacancies open throughout the year at each of our locations: Standley Lake, Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood, Library Service Center, Belmar, Columbine, Evergreen, Wheat Ridge and Conifer as well as the Bookmobile housed at the Lakewood Library. The Library Service Center is not a patron library and is located in Wheat Ridge.
   
   Applications for this posting are placed in an applicant pool and will be reviewed as vacancies open. Applications remain active until this job posting closes. Only applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted (by phone or email). An applicant may be interviewed for a Page position at more than one location.
   
   Be ready for the physicality of the position - standing, lifting, carrying, kneeling, and reaching as you sort, shelve, and organize materials.Collaborate with fellow Pages to ensure successful materials processing and back room functions of the library. We circulate over 7 million items each year!Be an organizer of materials as well as sorting and shelving to ensure items are accurately placed - your efforts impact how easily our patrons find items on library shelves.Showcase our displayed materials so they are visually appealing to patrons.Provide exceptional customer service by being welcoming and friendly.Occasionally help patrons locate materials, answer directional questions, or assist patrons at the self-check kiosk.Troubleshoot equipment to ensure it operates correctly.Be an active participant in staff meetings and required trainings.Position must comply with laws governing patron privacy and confidentiality under CRS24-90-119, and the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association, as well as ADA governing public access to space and technology.Persons hired in this position must be able to perform all the essential tasks required by the position. The above statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required. JCPL retains the right to modify or change the duties or essential and additional functions of the job at any time without notice.
   
   The hiring range for this position is at or near $12.56.Minimum age: 16, as of the date of your application.Ability to stand, bend, crouch, stretch, and push book carts for four or more hours in this physical job.Ability to put things in numerical and alphabetical order and pull items (books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, etc.) from sorter bins.Ability to be organized, detail oriented, visually creative and have a knack formerchandising our materials on display.Ability to exert 20-50 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly.Available to work 12 - 16 hours per week which may include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.Page shifts are 4 hours/day. Shift times differ by location but are generally morning, afternoon and evening.
   
   :
   
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   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right library page 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 page job on Zippia to find and recruit library page candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit library pages, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   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 page

   Once you've decided on a perfect library page candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new library page. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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