Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a Library Science Professor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring library science professors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $80,340), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify Ph.D. in library or information science where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for library science professors
There are about 4,500 library science professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 300 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.7% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $57,200–$64,080 | $27.50–$30.81 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $80,340 | $38.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,910 | $48.51 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $129,120 | $62.08 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Information organization
- Mentoring
Nice-to-haves
- Ph.D. in library or information science
- ALA-accredited MLIS
- Online teaching certificate
- Experience with integrated library systems
Where to find library science professors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Information Science Professor, LIS Professor, Library and Information Studies Faculty, Archival Studies Professor
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your library experience.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
2. “How do you teach online?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “Describe your research.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
4. “What courses can you teach?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
5. “How do you mentor?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Teach the Reference Interview (see the steps)
- Design an Online Library Science Course (see the steps)
- Supervise a Library Practicum (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as MLIS, ALA, Metadata
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Library Science Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Library Science Professor training. Show them the path forward: Librarian → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor or Dean.
Hiring library science professors: FAQ
How much should I pay a library science professor?
The U.S. median wage for library science professors is $80,340 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($64,080), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($100,910). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a library science professor have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Ph.D. in library or information science and ALA-accredited MLIS where relevant, plus skills such as information organization, cataloging and metadata, and digital libraries.
How long does it take to train a new library science professor?
Becoming qualified typically takes 6–8 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”