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How to hire a systems librarian

Systems librarian hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring systems librarians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a systems librarian is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new systems librarian to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a systems librarian, step by step

To hire a systems librarian, 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 systems librarian:

Here's a step-by-step systems 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 systems librarian job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new systems librarian
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The systems 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?

    A systems librarian's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, systems librarians 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 systems librarians and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Systems LibrarianDescriptionHourly rate
    Systems LibrarianLibrarians 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.$21-39
    Collection Management LibrarianAs a collection management librarian, one must perform the tasks associated with library services, especially in collection management. Collection management librarians monitor, analyze, and report collection management data... Show more$19-37
    Systems AnalystA systems analyst is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of technology systems and analyzing its efficiency for business operations and clients' needs. Systems analysts create specific modifications to operating systems and help design solutions and processes... Show more$27-46
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Library Services
    • ILS
    • CSS
    • Library Materials
    • OCLC
    • Electronic Resources
    • HTML
    • JavaScript
    • Cataloging
    • SQL
    • XML
    • University Libraries
    • PHP
    • Unix
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Create, manage, update layout/content/database for corporate website using Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
    • Perform bulk import of MARC records on the server and assist with cataloging special collections.
    • Perform routine maintenance, daily operations and software upgrades relate to internet/intranet security, DNS and email.
    • Use knowledge of documentation content and naming standards to determine require terminology and information format relate to resource cataloging.
    • Aid in the maintenance and development of the company intranet, implementing innovative technology while promoting a new company branding initiative.
    • Utilize SDLC process to aggregate multiple special billing arrangements reports into a single concise tool for internal stakeholder analysis and efficiency.
    More systems librarian duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your systems librarian job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A systems librarian salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, systems librarians' average salary in florida is 44% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level systems librarians earn 46% less than senior-level systems librarians.
    • Certifications. A systems librarian 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 systems librarian's salary.

    Average systems librarian salary

    $60,647yearly

    $29.16 hourly rate

    Entry-level systems librarian salary
    $44,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average systems librarian salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$81,449$39
    2New York$73,473$35
    3District of Columbia$69,385$33
    4Connecticut$67,212$32
    5Maryland$67,183$32
    6New Jersey$64,527$31
    7Illinois$63,816$31
    8Massachusetts$61,081$29
    9Texas$55,955$27
    10Indiana$54,893$26
    11Louisiana$49,760$24

    Average systems librarian salary by company

  4. Writing a systems librarian job description

    A systems librarian 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 systems librarian job description:

    Systems librarian job description example

    100% FTE, Exempt - Fixed Term

    Stanford Law School's Robert Crown Law Library seeks a user-centered Systems Librarian who will be responsible for proposing, implementing, and maintaining the integrated library system (ILS) and other information systems (cataloging, acquisitions, serials, circulation, reserves, and interlibrary lending) used for collections, acquisitions, discovery, and delivery.

    Working under the supervision of the Associate Director for Access Services, the Systems Librarian position is a non-career track position expected to last three-years; this fixed term is potentially subject to renewal. This position may have a flexible work location, with the possible ability to be co-located near the Stanford campus in Stanford, CA with regular days on-site and working from home as a hybrid worker. A fully remote worker arrangement may be considered for candidates residing outside the Bay Area with the appropriate background and experience. There is a preference for candidates based in the Bay Area working on a hybrid schedule.

    The position will be the in-house expert on all matters pertaining to the ILS. The major project for this position is to plan and successfully migrate from our current ILS, Sirsi Symphony Workflows, to the open-source platform, FOLIO. This position will train library staff across multiple departments on how to use FOLIO. FOLIO will be shared across campus libraries so it will be the responsibility of the Systems Librarian to collaborate with other Campus stakeholders, including Stanford Law School IT, with an emphasis on advocating for features that meet Robert Crown Law Library's unique needs. Additionally, this position will network with the greater FOLIO community, and will be responsible for incorporating the fruits of that outreach into the Law Library community's knowledge base.

    While technology is at the forefront of this position, building strong relationships with staff, giving them a platform to be heard, and being able to advocate for their needs is equally important. It will also be this librarian's responsibility to ensure that the Law Library is equally represented and included in regards to shared systems.

    Stanford Law School, on the campus of one of the world's leading research universities, offers unmatched opportunities. In this close-knit community, collaboration and the open exchange of ideas are essential to life and learning. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni all support and inspire each other to explore, excel, and contribute to the world through law. At Stanford Law School, we are driven by a passion for new ideas and a commitment to transformative solutions.

    In this position, you will:

    • Serve as the subject matter expert for the Robert Crown Law Library's existing library systems
    • Support the research and educational needs of Stanford Law School and Stanford University by ensuring that library systems and services are maintained and updated
    • Collaborate with FOLIO members at other institutions in order to advance FOLIO implementation and development efforts at Stanford Law School
    • Administer the Law Library's instance of the shared integrated library system (SirsiDynix Symphony Workflows), including the planning, evaluation and migration to FOLIO
    • Make recommendations to the leadership team and department directors on policies, operational changes, and advancements related to Robert Crown Law Library's various systems, including but not limited to systems administration decisions and ongoing maintenance in FOLIO
    • Develop training materials and job aids
    • Advise and train staff, faculty, and students to become efficient with new systems and adapted workflows
    • Advocate for FOLIO development and enhancements that support the unique needs of Robert Crown Law Library with an understanding that autonomy is a priority
    • Evaluate and improve the discoverability and usability of patron-facing systems
    • Work with Campus and Stanford Law School IT, library systems, faculty, staff, and students to troubleshoot and resolve access and other library systems-related issues
    • Adapt technologies in support of evolving library reference, instruction, technical services, and access services models
    • Serve as point of contact to library systems and emerging technology vendors
    • Participate in and present at staff meetings
    • Perform other duties as assigned

    To be successful in this position, you will bring:
    • An advanced Degree in Library Science or a relevant academic discipline with demonstrated understanding of academic libraries and two or more years of relevant experiences in a relevant library setting or a combination of education and relevant experience
    • Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies, adapt to change, and execute change management strategies and communication plans
    • Experience in technical analysis, systems deployment, complex system configuration, or project management related to library systems and services
    • A demonstrated record of innovation in developing, implementing, or promoting library services
    • At least 2 years of experience with automated library systems, preferably Sirsi Symphony Workflows or FOLIO
    • Experience with enterprise technology migrations
    • Experience with relational databases and strong SQL query writing skills
    • Familiarity with library metadata schema including MARC and RDA, as well as awareness of linked data models
    • Familiarity with library technology standards and protocols like XML and JSON, and facility with structured data, APIs, and data interchange formats
    • Experience managing EZProxy or other access authentication systems
    • Demonstrated experience using a wide variety of library systems platforms, applications, and current library-related hardware and software.
    • Effective communication and interpersonal skills
    • Substantial knowledge of the academic resource sharing ecosystem, including current trends and issues
    In addition, our preferred requirements include the following:
    • Experience with web-scale discovery layers and metasearch technologies
    • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
    • Understanding of networking, including cloud-based server technology
    • Two years experience in training staff and creating training documentation
    *Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires an accommodation to perform essential functions of the job.

    Why Stanford is for you.

    Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with

    • Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit courses. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
    • A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
    • A healthier you. Climb our rock wall or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
    • Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
    • Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

    We invite you to apply by clicking on the "Apply for Job" button. To be considered, please submit your résumé and a one-page cover letter along with your online application.

    Stanford Law School seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must successfully pass a background check prior to starting work at Stanford University.

    Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.

    Additional Information
  5. Post your job

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

    To successfully recruit systems librarians, 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 systems librarian

    Once you've selected the best systems librarian 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 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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new systems librarian. 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 systems librarian?

Hiring a systems librarian comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting systems librarians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of systems librarian recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for systems librarians is $60,647 in the US. However, the cost of systems librarian hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a systems librarian for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $21 and $39 an hour.

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