Librarian: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a librarian?

Hiring a librarian ensures library resources are used optimally by residents and their children to further their research and knowledge needs. A great librarian can:

• Help library patrons find specific reference materials 
• Manage and maintain library inventory, perform regular audits and update records accordingly
• Develop and implement different library programs to attract diverse visitor demographics

What are the types of librarians?

Librarians can have specialties or serve in specific sections of a library. Here are some of the types of librarians:

• School librarians: Elementary, middle and high schools often hire librarians to help students find books. They also plan library-related activities and teach students how to use the library.
• Public librarians: These librarians work in public libraries run by a city. They interact with the public, helping them find books and get library cards. They also organize the collection. Some public libraries hire youth services librarians who specialize in children’s and young adult books.
• Academic librarians: Academic librarians work at college and university libraries. They help college students find materials for research papers and projects.
• Specialty librarians: These librarians work in libraries that hold special collections. The library might focus on a particular type of material based on the location. Examples include a medical, law or zoo library. 

Where to find librarians

To find the right librarian for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Join library associations. Get involved in local and nationwide library organizations to network with librarians. Contributing articles, volunteering at events and being on committees are ways to meet more people in the association.
• Attend librarian conferences. Attend conferences and learning events for librarians. You’ll get to meet librarians and start relationships that could turn into job offers.
• Work with library science programs. Find a local college that has a degree program for librarians and participate as a class speaker or post jobs on campus.
• Host internships. Invite library students to work at your facility through an internship. You can test out new graduates to see if they’re a good fit.
• Post your job online. Try posting your librarian job on Indeed to find and attract quality librarian candidates.

Skills to look for in a great Librarian

Librarians should ideally possess strong customer service skills along with a good knowledge of books, authors and the literary world.

• Master’s Degree in Library Science an asset (Bachelor’s acceptable)
• Proven experience of more than 5+ years working in a public library
• Experience of updating computerized library databases
• Ability to clear background check and drug screening
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Excellent knowledge of the books, authors and the literary world

Writing a librarian job description

A thoughtful job description can help you find qualified librarian candidates. A librarian job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your librarian job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting . These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on librarian jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Library
• Librarian
• Education
• Books
• History
• Book
• Virtual librarian
• Remote librarian
• School librarian
• Law librarian

Interviewing librarian candidates

Hiring the right person as a librarian can help the library be engaged with residents and further the advancement of learning and knowledge in the community. Strong candidates for librarian positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Experience managing library resources and electronic databases
• Experience in customer service 
• How they’ve enhanced the growth and learning of a community by serving its residents and children

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of librarian interview questions for examples (with sample answers).