How to hire a library technical assistant

How to hire a library technical assistant, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the library technical assistant you need to hire. Certain library technical assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a library technical assistant 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 technical assistant that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Library Technical Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Library Technical Assistant	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.	$12-21
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Library Materials
   • Circulation Desk
   • Library Services
   • Library Equipment
   • Check-In
   • Cataloging
   • Library Patrons
   • Library Cards
   • Front Desk
   • Computer System
   • OCLC
   • Student Assistants
   • Serials
   • Library Collection

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage paperwork associate with HVAC procedures.
   • Check in and out books, journals, DVDS, etc.
   • Operate, maintain and troubleshoot computer equipment as required.
   • Search OCLC [library record database] as well as Internet for hard to find records.
   • Upgrade to full level, OCLC and RLIN bibliographic records for monographs that lack usable subject and/or classification numbers.
   • Perform elementary descriptive cataloging using automate bibliographic database.

   More library technical assistant duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, library technical assistants' average salary in missouri is 44% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level library technical assistants 43% less than senior-level library technical assistants.
   • Certifications. A library technical assistant 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 technical assistant's salary.

   Average library technical assistant salary

   $16.07hourly

   $33,427 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level library technical assistant salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average library technical assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$45,383	$22
   2	California	$41,723	$20
   3	Connecticut	$41,547	$20
   4	New Hampshire	$41,195	$20
   5	Maryland	$36,114	$17
   6	Oregon	$33,164	$16
   7	Illinois	$32,215	$15
   8	Florida	$30,360	$15
   9	South Carolina	$28,702	$14
   10	Georgia	$26,591	$13

   Average library technical assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Saint Anselm College	$42,964	$20.66
   2	University of Central Florida	$39,345	$18.92	7
   3	Friends School of Baltimore	$38,031	$18.28
   4	Fredericksburg School District	$36,205	$17.41
   5	S.C. Department of Commerce	$33,134	$15.93
   6	New Britain Public Library	$32,110	$15.44
   7	My Florida Regional Mls	$31,687	$15.23
   8	Triton College	$30,649	$14.74	2
   9	Township High School District 113	$29,699	$14.28
   10	The New York Public Library	$28,396	$13.65	12
   11	Georgia State University	$28,292	$13.60	4
   12	State Of Florida	$26,891	$12.93	8
   13	Florida Dept. of Health	$26,552	$12.77
   14	Florida Department of Transportation	$26,270	$12.63
   15	University of South Carolina	$25,753	$12.38	8

4. Writing a library technical assistant job description

   A library technical assistant 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. Below, you can find an example of a library technical assistant job description:

   Library technical assistant job description example

   The Library Technical Assistant, Online Learning & Technology Services Unit, provides information assistance and customer service and provides training to Atlanta University Center faculty, staff, and students. The duties and tasks will be performed under the supervision of the Online Learning & Technology Services Unit Head.
   PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Provides information assistance to users at service points on a rotating schedule, including evenings, nights, and weekends: o responds to phone, email, and in-person customer inquiries regarding Technology Design Studio services;
   o assists users with scanning/faxing/printing/copying services; schedules appointments for group study, audio-visual editing suites, and presentation-practice rooms;
   o assists in providing training to AUC faculty, staff, students, and library staff on PCs, iMacs, and learning new software and technologies;
   o assists with classroom technology setups for Main Level classrooms (208, 215, and 202ABC); and
   o monitors use of Bloomberg Finance Lab • Troubleshoots hardware and software problems in the Technology Design Studio area; refers complex problems to the Office of Information Technology.
   • Assists in creating and maintaining customer informational materials, unit forms, and/or procedural documents
   • Assists in the creation of online tutorials for learning technologies, software, and hardware
   • Conducts training on how to use specialized software and hardware available in the Technology Design Studio area
   • Records user interaction statistics
   • Performs other duties or special projects as required or as assigned by a supervisor.
   QUALIFICATIONS: • High school diploma or GED
   • Two (2) years of relevant customer service experience Preferred Education:
   
   
   WHAT YOU BRING TO THE ROLE: • Experience working with integrated library systems.
   • Experience with web resources available in an academic and/or public library.
   • Experience teaching and/or training.
   • Experience in the public services department in an academic library.
   • Analytical, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills.
   • Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
   • Strong computer skills including iMacs and applicable software; Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Suites, Audio/Visual Editing Suites.
   WHAT WE OFFER:
   Salary commensurate with experience; benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, company paid disability plans, company match retirement plan (TIAA-CREF) APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
   Interested applicants should submit a letter of application and resume online to the Human Resources Department at this link. The AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more about our Library, visit us online at www.auctr.edu.
   Physical Requirements:
   The physical demands are minimal and typical of similar jobs in comparable organizations.
   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job duties of the position.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right library technical assistant 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 technical assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit library technical assistant 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 technical assistants, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 technical assistant

   Once you've selected the best library technical assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire a library technical assistant?