How to hire a public services librarian

How to hire a public services librarian, step by step

Here's a step-by-step public services librarian hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The public services librarian 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect public services librarian also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of public services librarians.

   Type of Public Services Librarian	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Services Librarian	Librarians help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of library they work in, such as public, school, and medical libraries.	$16-33
   Instruction Librarian	The primary role of an instruction librarian is to create educational experiences. Instruction librarians design instructional materials and develop learning objects, assessment tools, and learning outcomes in different learning environments... Show more	$16-34
   Librarian	Librarians 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Library Services
   • Collection Development
   • Reference Services
   • Library Policies
   • Technical Publications
   • Technical Manuals
   • Library System
   • Library Materials
   • Public Service
   • Public Library
   • Interlibrary Loan
   • Aircraft Maintenance
   • Library Technology
   • Library Resources

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage integrated library system including OPAC, serials control, cataloging and acquisitions.
   • Perform original and copy cataloging of new acquisitions.
   • Perform various technical services including cataloging, weeding, and authority control.
   • Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.
   • Provide client services such as inter-library loans, ordering of new materials and instruction on use of library OPAC.

   More public services librarian duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, public services librarians' average salary in arkansas is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level public services librarians 50% less than senior-level public services librarians.
   • Certifications. A public services librarian 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 public services librarian's salary.

   Average public services librarian salary

   $49,867yearly

   $23.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public services librarian salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 17, 2026

   Average public services librarian salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$62,964	$30
   2	Virginia	$59,276	$29
   3	Connecticut	$56,749	$27
   4	District of Columbia	$56,438	$27
   5	Minnesota	$55,540	$27
   6	New York	$52,779	$25
   7	Massachusetts	$50,238	$24
   8	Illinois	$46,253	$22
   9	Georgia	$46,178	$22
   10	Texas	$45,762	$22
   11	Wisconsin	$44,986	$22
   12	Florida	$42,686	$21
   13	Indiana	$42,399	$20
   14	Colorado	$41,904	$20
   15	Louisiana	$41,501	$20

   Average public services librarian salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Yale University	$77,193	$37.11	7
   2	Northern California Power Agency	$75,127	$36.12	3
   3	City of Mesquite, TX	$68,279	$32.83	2
   4	Ohlone College	$67,347	$32.38
   5	Deloitte	$65,352	$31.42	125
   6	Lincoln Memorial University	$62,327	$29.96	6
   7	Indianapolis Public Library	$50,765	$24.41	1
   8	University of Wisconsin System	$50,352	$24.21	3
   9	Kelly Services	$46,998	$22.60	75
   10	California State University, Fresno	$46,104	$22.17
   11	Trinity College	$45,495	$21.87
   12	Zimmerman Associates	$45,453	$21.85	2
   13	Sweetwater Union High School District	$42,119	$20.25
   14	Americorps	$41,903	$20.15	15
   15	Maine	$39,301	$18.89	5
   16	City of Richmond	$38,333	$18.43

4. Writing a public services librarian job description

   A good public services librarian 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 public services librarian job description:

   Public services librarian job description example

   Tulane AmeriCorps VISTA members work with Tulane University students, faculty, and staff to assist local community partners in building capacity and sustainability towards their individual organizational mission. Each Tulane VISTA member works full-time with one local nonprofit agency in the metropolitan New Orleans area. VISTA placements include non-profit organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations- and a recent program expansion created a new VISTA cohort focused on homelessness prevention. VISTA members in this new cohort will work within a collaborative team to support the homeless population including affordable housing and supportive services with multiple organizations. On both the traditional and homeless focused cohorts, Tulane VISTA members help develop capacity in their communities, generate resources through grant writing or fundraising efforts, assist in building partnerships, and coordinate volunteers in support of their agency's mission. More information about current openings is available at tulanevista.wordpress.com. The Tulane VISTA program is unique in that our members return to campus every Friday for a weekly meeting. These meetings are designed for VISTA members to share their progress and develop collaborations, undergo professional development and leadership training, and once a month, join together as a cohort to do a service project in the local community. Tulane University's Center for Public Service (CPS) was established to develop and forge long-term partnerships with the local community and oversee the public service graduation requirement for undergraduate students. The program arranges service-learning and internship experiences for students in a wide variety of community agencies (schools, hospitals, city government, environmental, business, non-governmental agencies) in the city of New Orleans. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.
   
   Member Duties : During the course of the year, VISTA members will work with a nonprofit organization in New Orleans, helping to develop capacity in their community, generate resources through grant writing or fundraising efforts, assist in building partnerships, and coordinate volunteers in support of their agency's mission. Tulane VISTA members serve as liaisons between the Tulane Center for Public Service and their nonprofit sites, helping to recruit Tulane students to serve as volunteers and interns at their sites, and utilizing other university resources to support their work. Tulane VISTA members are constantly developing their own leadership and professional development skills to enhance their effectiveness, while working with their local communities to develop meaningful, sustainable outcomes at their sites.
   
   Program Benefits : Training , Health Coverage* , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Education award upon successful completion of service , Housing , Relocation Allowance , Living Allowance .
   Terms :
   
   Permits working at another job during off hours .
   
   Service Areas :
   
   Neighborhood Revitalization , Community and Economic Development , Health , Children/Youth , Community Outreach , Education , Environment , Housing , Entrepreneur/Business , Hurricane Katrina .
   
   Skills :
   
   None

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find public services librarians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any public services librarians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level public services librarians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your public services librarian job on Zippia to find and recruit public services librarian 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 public services librarians, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 public services librarian

   Once you've found the public services librarian 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new public services librarian 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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