How to hire a youth services librarian

How to hire a youth services librarian, step by step

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

What does a youth services librarian do?

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your youth 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 youth 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

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

   Type of Youth Services Librarian	Description	Hourly rate
   Youth 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.	$16-34
   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:

   • Social Work
   • Mental Health
   • Community Outreach
   • Library Services
   • Collection Development
   • Library Materials
   • Group Therapy
   • Community Agencies
   • Youth Program
   • Library Resources
   • Library Programs
   • Readers Advisory
   • Public Library
   • Library System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage integrated library system including OPAC, serials control, cataloging and acquisitions.
   • Cataloge books using OCLC database.
   • Cataloge printed and non-print materials with OCLC.
   • Reorganize the entire children's picture book and fiction collections.
   • Develop, organize, cataloge and maintain library's serials collection.
   • Order and catalogue children's picture books, videos, DVDs, and parenting collections or other materials as needed.

   More youth services librarian duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the youth services librarian job description is a good way to get more applicants. A youth 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 youth services librarian in Texas may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level youth services librarian. Additionally, a youth services librarian with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average youth services librarian salary

   $49,971yearly

   $24.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level youth services librarian salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average youth services librarian salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$66,720	$32
   2	Pennsylvania	$61,361	$30
   3	Virginia	$59,496	$29
   4	Washington	$57,042	$27
   5	Oregon	$56,975	$27
   6	Massachusetts	$56,961	$27
   7	Michigan	$56,080	$27
   8	Maryland	$55,085	$26
   9	Utah	$53,888	$26
   10	New Hampshire	$48,187	$23
   11	New York	$46,303	$22
   12	North Carolina	$46,240	$22
   13	Ohio	$45,767	$22
   14	Iowa	$43,647	$21
   15	Missouri	$42,871	$21
   16	Colorado	$41,223	$20
   17	Arizona	$40,745	$20
   18	Texas	$40,185	$19
   19	Florida	$39,851	$19
   20	New Mexico	$39,532	$19

   Average youth services librarian salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of California-Berkeley	$81,864	$39.36
   2	City of Jacksonville	$68,203	$32.79
   3	UMiami Health System	$65,312	$31.40
   4	UCI Health	$58,870	$28.30
   5	Kitsap Regional Library	$58,693	$28.22
   6	Memorial Healthcare System	$58,076	$27.92
   7	Nationwide Children's Hospital	$53,948	$25.94	2
   8	San Ysidro Health Center	$53,313	$25.63	1
   9	The New York Public Library	$52,612	$25.29	12
   10	University of Nebraska System	$51,756	$24.88
   11	Arlington County, VA	$51,604	$24.81	1
   12	York County	$51,421	$24.72
   13	Library Systems & Services	$49,515	$23.81	8
   14	City of Tacoma	$49,407	$23.75	2
   15	Clermont County Public Library	$49,340	$23.72
   16	University of Maryland, Baltimore	$49,193	$23.65	11
   17	HMI	$47,440	$22.81
   18	Community Mental Health Center	$47,281	$22.73
   19	Brown County	$47,272	$22.73	1
   20	Lahey Health Behavioral Services	$46,840	$22.52

4. Writing a youth services librarian job description

   A job description for a youth services 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 youth services librarian job description:

   Youth services librarian job description example

   Looking to feed your desire to give to your community and support those who need a helping hand? Look no further! Not only is Burrell growing the amount of its resources, services, and facilities to assist as many communities as possible, it also provides plenty of opportunity for growth in your current field and the freedom to explore others. Our culture and our environment are unlike any other. We offer highly-competitive pay and a full range of top-notch full-time employee benefits such as:
   
   MedicalDentalVisionLife InsurancePaid Time OffShort Term DisabilityLong Term DisabilityRetirement PlanTuition ReimbursementStudent Loan ReimbursementEmployee Assistance Program
   Job Description:
   "We are truly in the business of saving lives"
   -Dr. C.J. Davis; President and CEO
   
   Want to know what it's like to work at Burrell?
   Click on the link below to find out -
   Burrell Behavioral Health - Join our Team! - YouTube
   
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
   CLINICAL PROVIDER
   YOUTH RECOVERY SERVICES
   Independence, Missouri (Kansas City area)
   $5,000 SIGN ON BONUS
   
   Job Overview:
   This clinical provider will work in the Youth Recovery Services program focusing on comprehensive care involving recovery services for substance use, co-occurring and trauma services. The clinician provider will help facilitate a safe, therapeutic and supportive environment. The clinician provider will provide family, individual, and group therapy and possible education groups to the youth in the program.
   
   What you'll get to do:
   Provides individual, group, family and/or other practical counseling, utilizing his/her experience and ability to meet the needs of the client and the goals of treatment, and engages in any other activities that meet those needs and goals.Within limits of experience, educational background, and Burrell time commitments, presents in public forums educational material to promote community understanding of mental health and to enhance community response to mental health problems.Carries a regular caseload, the size and nature of which is to be established with supervisory staff.According to Burrell guidelines, participates in staffing of clients to identify problems and establish goals and objectives for treatment and assumes management responsibilities for cases assigned.Participates in emergency services in order to provide rapid aid in cases of emotional crisis.Provides and/or coordinates a comprehensive follow-up to all clients for whom he/she has been responsible.Participates in and contributes to the various staff development activities of Burrell.Is sensitive and responsible to management needs, such as data collection, program evaluation, development of grant applications, maintenance of various contracts for services, etc.
   
   Requirements
   Must have a Master's degree in a Human Services field. Must be a licensed LPC or LCSW in the state of Missouri.2 years of related experience
   
   What we offer:
   Great pay, great schedule, great benefits, and an amazing culture of inclusiveness and positivity. Burrell's dedication to promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion is clearly reflected in all of our content and across all of our agency. Diversity is more than a commitment at Burrell-it is the foundation of what we do. We are fully focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different.
   
   RECOVERY SERVICES
   THERAPIST
   HP123
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.
   
   Burrell is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find youth 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 youth services librarian job on Zippia to find and recruit youth services librarian candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with youth services librarian candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 youth services librarian

   Once you've selected the best youth services 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.

   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.

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