How to hire a library specialist

How to hire a library specialist, step by step

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

What does a library specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a library specialist, 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 specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, library specialists 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 specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Library Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Library Specialist	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.	$11-20
   Technician's Helper	A technician's helper primarily performs support tasks to assist technicians in carrying out various installations and repairs, learning technical skills along the way. They usually prepare and arrange tools and equipment, set-up and clean work areas, understand blueprints and schematics, troubleshoot issues, assemble materials, and fix and replace components under the technician's supervision... Show more	$10-27
   Reference Librarian	Being a reference librarian requires good people skills, knowledge in their respective fields, and good teaching ability to handle the varied responsibilities. Job duties include the interpretation, recommendation, evaluation, and use of information resources in order to assist library patrons with their respective information requirements... Show more	$16-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Library Materials
   • Library Services
   • Library Resources
   • Library Policies
   • University Libraries
   • Electronic Resources
   • Library System
   • Public Service
   • Data Entry
   • Cataloging
   • Circulation Desk
   • Collection Development
   • Library Patrons
   • Student Assistants

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Search, edit, and incorporate new OCLC catalog records into OPAC.
   • Access and search OCLC for bibliographic records to copy catalog and process new materials.
   • Derive original cataloging and edit existing cataloging records following local and national standards.
   • Participate in group tasks as needed, including original and copy cataloging, inventory and staff development workshops
   • Convert documents to HTML for submission to the on line library.
   • Correct HTML, CSS, and Javascript relate programming errors on student websites.

   More library specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your library specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A library specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, library specialists' average salary in texas is 48% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level library specialists earn 44% less than senior-level library specialists.
   • Certifications. A library 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 specialist's salary.

   Average library specialist salary

   $15.81hourly

   $32,884 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level library specialist salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average library specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$49,200	$24
   2	New York	$44,126	$21
   3	Minnesota	$43,844	$21
   4	North Dakota	$42,575	$20
   5	Vermont	$40,630	$20
   6	Rhode Island	$40,249	$19
   7	Connecticut	$40,139	$19
   8	Maryland	$35,775	$17
   9	Colorado	$35,532	$17
   10	Oregon	$34,831	$17
   11	Nebraska	$34,757	$17
   12	Wisconsin	$34,217	$16
   13	New Jersey	$33,984	$16
   14	Utah	$33,459	$16
   15	Pennsylvania	$32,669	$16
   16	Arizona	$31,403	$15
   17	Virginia	$31,328	$15
   18	Ohio	$29,690	$14
   19	Florida	$28,732	$14
   20	North Carolina	$28,529	$14

   Average library specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Brown University	$57,110	$27.46	4
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$50,066	$24.07
   3	Stanford University	$49,895	$23.99	9
   4	Creighton University	$48,895	$23.51
   5	University of Nevada, Reno	$46,847	$22.52	1
   6	Frederick County	$40,688	$19.56	2
   7	State of Connecticut	$40,174	$19.31	3
   8	Johns Hopkins University	$39,550	$19.01	1
   9	Alachua County	$39,324	$18.91	2
   10	Mayo Clinic	$38,605	$18.56	8
   11	University of Vermont	$36,039	$17.33	2
   12	Rutgers University	$35,900	$17.26	1
   13	City of Maricopa	$34,852	$16.76
   14	Tamalpais Union High School District	$34,828	$16.74
   15	Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health	$34,773	$16.72
   16	Lafayette School District	$34,436	$16.56
   17	Amazon	$34,354	$16.52	10
   18	UCHealth	$34,014	$16.35
   19	State of West Virginia	$34,007	$16.35	15
   20	Aspirus	$33,438	$16.08	1

4. Writing a library specialist job description

   A good library specialist 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 specialist job description:

   Library specialist job description example

   The City's Libraries provide a wide range of public services, from a diverse selection of collection materials, and technology opportunities both inside and outside library facilities, to a variety of free programs for users of all ages, interests, and abilities. Visit the department website to learn more about the Library Services Department.
   
   The City of Palo Alto's Library department is looking to hire multiple Library Specialists.TheLibraryis seeking a dynamic library professional to provide excellent customer service to our community, collaborate on projects to improve and expand services, and contribute to a culture of innovation, creativity, and quality service. The Palo Alto City Library is a five-branch library system serving a community that seeks high-quality, innovative, and dependable library services.
   This is a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) position.
   
   Essential Duties
   
   Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not
   
   limited to, the following:
   
   Public Services
   
   * Performs assigned duties required to effectively operate circulation systems and procedures.
   
   * Performs all routine circulation tasks required to serve public.
   
   * Collects, records, tabulates and deposits monies received daily from all library facilities, complying with cash handling procedures.
   
   * Schedules, trains, and coordinates work of clerical, temporary and volunteer staff in variety of routines.
   
   * Oversees the work of Library Clerks and Library Pages to maintain workflow.
   
   * Assists customers with library database and the process of downloading library e-books.
   
   * Processes LINK+ materials from other library systems and assists customers locating book through the LINK+ catalog.
   
   * Other duties and projects as assigned
   
   To view the full job description,clickhere.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:
   
   * High school Diploma or equivalent
   
   and
   
   * Two years of work experience
   
   Ideal Candidate:
   
   * Great customer service skills
   * Flexible and adaptable to change
   * Keeps calm and professional in difficult situations
   * Strong communication skills
   * Able to work weekends and nights
   
   Vaccination Status:The City of Palo Alto recently implemented a COVID19 vaccination policy, which requires employees reporting to work onsite to be vaccinated or regularly tested. Upon your start date, you will be asked your COVID19 vaccination status. If vaccinated, we will ask to see a copy of your vaccination card. A member of our Benefits team will explain the policy in more detail once onboarded.
   
   The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit library specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect library specialist 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new library specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 specialist?