1

Associate University Librarian Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Collections Care Associate

Iowa City, IA · On-site

$17 - $23.50/hr

The University of Iowa Libraries seeks to hire a Collections Care Associate (Senior Library Associate PLC2/3A) to work in the Conservation and Collections Care department. Under the direction of the ...

Collections Care Associate

Iowa City, IA · On-site

$17 - $23.50/hr

The University of Iowa Libraries seeks to hire a Collections Care Associate (Senior Library Associate PLC2/3A) to work in the Conservation and Collections Care department. Under the direction of the ...

Our full-time associates are provided: * Comprehensive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, and Life ... Access to BluePearl University, BluePearl Science, and a library of 2,000+ journals * Continuing ...

Benefits for BluePearl Full-Time Associates: * Growth and advancement opportunities. * Opportunity ... BluePearl Library - FREE access to 2,000+ veterinary and health science journals. * BluePearl ...

Veterinary Cardiologist

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$345K - $390K/yr

Benefits for BluePearl Full-Time Associates: * Growth and advancement opportunities. * Opportunity ... BluePearl Library - FREE access to 2,000+ veterinary and health science journals. * BluePearl ...

Associate University Librarian information

See Iowa salary details

$24.4K

$58.3K

$94.4K

How much do associate university librarian jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate university librarian in Iowa is $58,287.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,500.00 and $68,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate university librarian?

Associate University Librarians are senior administrative professionals in academic libraries who assist the University Librarian or Library Director in managing library operations, developing policies, and overseeing staff and resources. They often supervise specific departments or functional areas such as collections, technology, public services, or scholarly communications. Their role involves strategic planning, budgeting, and ensuring that the library's services align with the institution's academic mission. Associate University Librarians also represent the library in university committees and collaborate with faculty and external partners.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate university librarian?

To thrive as an Associate University Librarian, you need advanced knowledge of library science, research methods, and information management, typically backed by a master's degree in library and information science (MLIS) or equivalent. Familiarity with integrated library systems (ILS), digital repositories, and scholarly databases is essential, along with a strong grasp of emerging library technologies. Leadership, collaboration, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing teams and engaging with diverse campus communities. These skills ensure efficient library operations, high-quality service delivery, and the ability to adapt to evolving academic and technological needs.

What are some common challenges faced by associate university librarians in balancing administrative duties with academic support responsibilities?

Associate University Librarians often juggle a variety of responsibilities, from overseeing library operations and managing staff to supporting faculty and student research needs. One common challenge is maintaining a balance between administrative tasks, such as budgeting and policy development, and providing direct academic support through programming or outreach. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing technologies and user expectations requires continuous professional development. Effective time management and strong collaboration with both library teams and academic departments are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring the library remains a vital resource for the university community.
Infographic showing various Associate University Librarian job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,287 per year, or $28 per hour.

Collections Care Associate

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA • On-site

$17 - $23.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Posted 13 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Perform interventions for preventive care and remediation of physical library materials across all formats and locations.

  • Manage workflows related to materials processing, including assessing shelf readiness, metadata work, rehousing, and delivery.

  • Coordinate and oversee bindery operations, manage deacidification workflows, and support materials transfer to off-site storage.


University Of Iowa rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 85 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

463rd of 631 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The University of Iowa Libraries seeks to hire a Collections Care Associate (Senior Library Associate PLC2/3A) to work in the Conservation and Collections Care department. Under the direction of the Collections Care Coordinator, the Collections Care Associate performs a variety of interventions for preventive care and remediation of physical materials, in all formats and across all library locations.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIFIC JOB TASKS

Acquire, Organize, Digitize, Preserve, and Provide Information Resources and Services 
    Perform materials processing workflows: prepare materials for patron use, including assessing for shelf readiness, metadata work, rehousing or other preventive interventions required, marking, and delivery.
    Manage centralized commercial bindery operations out of Main Library, including inventory management, packing and unpacking shipments, and conducting quality control. Coordinate with staff at other library locations for distributed bindery workflows.
    Manage deacidification workflow: plan and communicate with vendor, prepare and ship materials. 
    Request page replacements for damaged items through ILL.
    Provide collections care support for materials moving from Main Library and other library locations to remote storage at off-site high-density storage facility.
    Serve as administrative supervisor and/or provide functional supervision for 1-3 student employees in the department. Tasks include hiring, training, evaluating performance, and coordinating workflows and priorities.
    Create, update, and maintain documentation, and collect statistics for measuring impact and efficiency, making recommendations for continuous quality improvement.
    Perform annual updates on the Collection Emergency Response Plan and maintain documents on SharePoint. Maintain emergency response kits throughout all library locations. 
    Assist as needed with book repair, mending, and other collection care duties.
    Update and maintain Environmental Health and Safety forms and documentation for CCC staff. 
    Serve on disaster response and recovery team as needed in the event of materials emergency.
    Engage in other departmental duties as assigned to support preservation activities and mandates.

Instruction, Consultation, and Public Services 
    Respond to inquiries and referrals from library staff regarding collections care, prioritizing items where collections care issues may interfere with patron access.
    Acts as primary contact and manager for the departmental website. Updates information on staff, interns, events, and resources. Monitors the LIB-Pres-Cons email account and responds to inquiries.

Continuous Learning & Skills Development 
    Engage in relevant library or university-wide activities and committees. 
    Participate in additional responsibilities such as monitoring listservs, attending department meetings, training, or staff development sessions.

Required Qualifications
    Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience
    Minimum of one-year related experience
    Experience working with physical collections (e.g., libraries, archives, museums)
    Knowledge of basic collections care, preservation, or conservation principles
    Strong organizational and attention-to-detail skills for inventory, documentation, and quality control
    Ability to manage multiple workflows and prioritize tasks effectively
    Experience using basic office and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, email systems)
    Strong communication skills (written and verbal) for responding to inquiries and coordinating with vendors and internal departments
    Ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting, packing, and moving library materials


Desired Qualifications
    Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or related field
    Experience with materials processing workflows (e.g., metadata handling, preparation for circulation, rehousing)
    Hands-on experience with book repair, conservation, or preservation treatments
    Experience maintaining web content or departmental websites
    Experience with excel, data tracking, and statistics collection
    Experience working in an academic or research library environment
    Ability to train, supervise, or coordinate work of student employees or staff


Application Details: 
Applications are only accepted through the Jobs@UIOWA website.
In order to be eligible for interview, applicants must upload the following and mark them as "relevant files" when you upload the documents:

  1. Cover letter that clearly addresses how you meet each of the required and any desired qualifications of this position. To ensure strongest consideration, applicants are encouraged to review all required qualifications and state directly how they meet each of them. 
  2. Current resume 
     

This job ad will be posted for a minimum of 14 days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after that date.

Please contact andrea-rost@uiowa.edu if you have any questions about the position. 
The hiring salary range for this Senior Library Associate position is $45,500 - $52,000 based on experience.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. 
This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.


Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.


What University Of Iowa employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom