How to hire a technical services librarian

How to hire a technical services librarian, step by step

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

What does a technical services librarian do?

Post a technical services librarian job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your technical services librarian job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a technical services librarian for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   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 technical services librarian 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 technical services librarian that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of technical services librarians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Technical Services Librarian	Description	Hourly rate
   Technical 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.	$17-33
   Library Technician	A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database... Show more	$13-23
   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
   • Library Resources
   • Technical Service
   • Library Materials
   • Emerging Technologies
   • Serials
   • Electronic Resources
   • OCLC
   • Technical Manuals
   • Library System
   • Reference Services
   • Cataloging
   • CSS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage integrated library system including OPAC, serials control, cataloging and acquisitions.
   • Proofread and edit MARC records, perform database clean-up, and maintain records in online catalog.
   • Coordinate cataloging, classification and processing of books and audiovisual materials.
   • Identify and refer items that need attention of the cataloging or conservation department
   • Open new patron accounts, provide customer support regarding account status and work with Polaris systems.

   More technical services librarian duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the technical services librarian job description is a good way to get more applicants. A technical services librarian salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a technical services librarian in Maine may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level technical services librarian. Additionally, a technical services librarian with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average technical services librarian salary

   $50,657yearly

   $24.35 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level technical services librarian salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average technical services librarian salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$57,606	$28
   2	Massachusetts	$57,579	$28
   3	Connecticut	$57,417	$28
   4	District of Columbia	$56,732	$27
   5	California	$55,766	$27
   6	Maryland	$55,020	$26
   7	New York	$45,770	$22
   8	Illinois	$45,325	$22
   9	Missouri	$43,445	$21
   10	Colorado	$42,204	$20
   11	Texas	$42,084	$20
   12	Louisiana	$41,959	$20
   13	Florida	$41,341	$20

   Average technical services librarian salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Yale University	$72,967	$35.08	8
   2	City of San Antonio	$64,659	$31.09
   3	University of Houston-Clear Lake	$62,436	$30.02	1
   4	Seton Hill University	$56,532	$27.18	4
   5	The University System of Maryland Foundation	$55,477	$26.67
   6	Concordia University	$53,523	$25.73
   7	The New York Public Library	$52,863	$25.41	18
   8	University of Maryland, Baltimore	$52,305	$25.15	16
   9	Pacific Architects and Engineers	$52,157	$25.08
   10	Illinois State University	$49,821	$23.95	4
   11	Johns Hopkins University	$49,688	$23.89	6
   12	University of Massachusetts Amherst	$47,601	$22.89	8
   13	Zimmerman Associates	$47,071	$22.63
   14	Missouri Southern State University	$46,538	$22.37	1
   15	Alutiiq	$46,259	$22.24
   16	Synectic Solutions	$45,338	$21.80	4
   17	Texas A&M International University	$41,133	$19.78	1
   18	Gulf Coast State College	$38,855	$18.68
   19	Sul Ross State University	$38,802	$18.65	3
   20	City of Aurora	$36,986	$17.78

4. Writing a technical services librarian job description

   A technical services 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. Below, you can find an example of a technical services librarian job description:

   Technical services librarian job description example

   Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc., is seeking a full-time Technical Librarian I in San Diego, CA.
   
   Job Summary: Provides technical librarian support to our customer involving the operation and maintenance of an engineering technical library.
   Duties and Responsibilities:
   
   * Plans and administers, and personally performs the full range of duties involving operation and maintenance of an engineering technical library utilizing a thorough knowledge of engineering functions.
   * Provide support to customers requesting drawings and technical documentation
   * Obtain and maintain access to all applicable electronic databases associated with Technical Documentation including manuals, drawings and plan files.
   * Conducts research and liaisons with planning yards with regard to drawings and documents in various programs (e.g. Ship Drawing Indexes, JEDMICS/BIW).
   * Researches, orders, receives, reproduces, scans, plots, stages and distributes technical drawings and documentation.
   * Implements the latest revision of all required technical documentation and ensures it is available when needed and integrated into all appropriate programs and systems to support all engineering and planning functions within the organization.
   
   Required Qualifications:
   
   * High school diploma or equivalent
   * At least one year's experience in administrative duties related to work being performed in this requirement.
   * Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word. PowerPoint, and Excel.
   * Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   
   * Prior U.S. Navy service.
   
   ADA Notations:
   
   * Requires walking, reaching, sitting and concentration in the presence of occasional noise
   * Job may require bending, stooping, lifting, and will be in an environment of low and high temperatures.
   * Ability to lift, carry and move objects up to 25 lbs. in weight.
   * Pursuant to the Executive Order 14042 on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, candidates must be able to provide proof they have received the COVID 19 vaccine and are considered fully vaccinated. Requests for an accommodation due to a medical or religious reason can be made by contacting Human Resources.
   
   Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries are proud to be Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers, Minority/Female/Disabled/Veterans.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find technical services librarians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your technical services librarian job on Zippia to find and recruit technical services librarian candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting technical services librarians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 technical services librarian

   Once you have selected a candidate for the technical services librarian position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a technical services librarian?