How to hire a university librarian

How to hire a university librarian, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The university 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

   A university librarian's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, university 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.

   This list presents university librarian salaries for various positions.

   Type of University Librarian	Description	Hourly rate
   University 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.	$16-37
   Collection Management Librarian	As 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
   Youth Services Librarian	Youth services librarians are people who plan and conduct the library's programs and services for children. The librarians execute their tasks under the supervision of a library director... Show more	$16-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Library Services
   • University Libraries
   • Collection Development
   • Library Resources
   • Library Operations
   • Library Materials
   • Academic Programs
   • Library Collection
   • Library System
   • Cataloging
   • Electronic Resources
   • Front Desk

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve proficiency cataloging electronic materials (audio records, video recordings, and streaming video) and continuing resources/serials.
   • Update and revise cataloging procedures in department: develop and design templates for standardize and improve workflow in cataloging operations.
   • Provide opportunities for students to use the library for class-relate research, individual investigation, independent reading, and personal inquiry.
   • Redesign and repair periodical and CD-ROM/DVD center at no cost.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, university librarians' average salary in arkansas is 46% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level university librarians earn 55% less than senior-level university librarians.
   • Certifications. A university 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 university librarian's salary.

   Average university librarian salary

   $53,277yearly

   $25.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level university librarian salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a university librarian job description

   A job description for a university librarian role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a university librarian job description:

   University librarian job description example

   **Introduction**
   
   Barnes & Noble College is a retail partner for nearly 800 colleges and universities nationwide. We offer a retail environment like no other - uniquely focused on delivering essential educational content, tools, and merchandise within a dynamic retail environment on campuses of higher education. Our teams interact directly with our customers including students, faculty, administration, alumni, and the general public to provide outstanding customer service to sell or rent books, general merchandise, and an array of products and services for an academic community.
   
   **Overview**
   
   Barnes & Noble College is seeking dynamic, friendly, and customer-focused team members to work as Temporary Booksellers for a period of 90 days or less in our stores. As a temporary employee tasks you may be expected to complete include assisting customers with locating products, answering questions, shelving and restocking the sales floor, processing cash, credit, assisting with refunds and returns, among other tasks.
   
   **Responsibilities**
   
   Our stores can carry everything from text and trade books, technology, and school supplies to clothing, regalia, and food-- everything a college student desires, their parents want, and our faculty needs. Temporary positions require availability to work on a weekly basis for a period of 90 days or less with occasional weekends, and flexibility in scheduling for opening, midday, or closing shifts.
   
   **Expectations:**
   
   + Greet customers, answer questions, and assist with the purchase of merchandise or services.
   
   + Shelve, arrange, clean, and organize product or space within the store to maintain an appealing sales floor.
   
   + Assist with processing sales transactions involving cash, credit, or financial aid payments.
   
   + Temporary positions require availability to work on a weekly basis for a period of 90 days or less with occasional weekends, and flexibility in scheduling for opening, midday, or closing shifts.
   
   **Physical Demands:**
   
   + Frequent movement within the store to access various departments, areas, and/or products.
   
   + Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods.
   
   + Frequent lifting.
   
   + Occasional reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.
   
   **COVID-19 Considerations:**
   
   Our stores comply with all applicable federal, state and local requirements and/or recommendations regarding social distancing and sanitizing. In accordance with individual campus requirements, positions may require confirmation of vaccination. The use of face masks throughout the day and while on campus may also be expected or required.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   + Candidates must be a minimum of 16 years of age to be considered for employment.
   
   + High-energy, friendly personality, with strong communication skills to interact with a variety of people.
   
   + Outstanding customer service skills to match customers to products that meet their needs.
   
   + Basic math, keyboarding, and data entry skills.
   
   + Flexibility in scheduling is necessary.
   
   **EEO Statement**
   
   **Barnes & Noble College is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.**
   
   **Job Locations** _US-LA-MONROE_
   
   **ID** _2022-4370_
   
   **Category** _Retail Sales Associate_
   
   **Position Type** _Temporary_

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting university 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.

   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 university librarian

   Once you've found the university 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.

   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.

   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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