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Federal Library Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Library Clerk

San Jose, CA · On-site

$73K - $89K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Be free of any Federal, State, or local felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions related to breach of trust or moral turpitude; * Some positions may require LiveScan screening as part of the ...

Senior Library Clerk

San Jose, CA · On-site

$73K - $89K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Be free of any Federal, State, or local felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions related to breach of trust or moral turpitude; * Some positions may require LiveScan screening as part of the ...

Senior Library Clerk

San Jose, CA · On-site

$73K - $89K/yr

Collects appropriate fees and submits funds and/or documents to Federal agencies for final ... Library principles, practices, procedures, and terminology; Filing and shelving of materials, use ...

... Unit Name Leatherby Libraries Position Headcount 1 Position Title Student Library Assistant ... Federal Work Study (FWS) is required. Desired Qualifications Candidates studying history, or a ...

... Unit Name Leatherby Libraries Position Headcount 1 Position Title Student Library Assistant ... Federal Work Study (FWS) is required. Desired Qualifications Candidates studying history, or a ...

... Unit Name Leatherby Libraries Position Headcount 1 Position Title Student Library Assistant ... Federal Work Study (FWS) is required. Desired Qualifications Candidates studying history, or a ...

Showing results 41-60

Federal Library information

See California salary details

$28.1K

$72K

$122.4K

How much do federal library jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for federal library in California is $72,028.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,300.00 and $84,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a federal library, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in federal libraries often encounter challenges such as adapting to evolving government information policies, managing large and diverse collections, and meeting the varied needs of federal employees and the public. Navigating strict security protocols and handling sensitive or classified materials may also be part of the job. Building strong communication skills, staying current with library technology, and participating in ongoing professional development can help address these challenges and ensure effective service delivery.

What is a federal library?

A Federal Library is a library that is operated or funded by a federal government agency. These libraries provide information resources and services primarily to government employees, researchers, and sometimes the public, depending on the library's mission. Federal Libraries support the work of government agencies by offering specialized collections, research support, and access to digital and physical materials. Examples include the Library of Congress, the National Library of Medicine, and the National Agricultural Library.

What is the difference between Federal Library vs Public Library?

AspectFederal LibraryPublic Library
Required CredentialsMaster's degree in Library Science (MLS) or equivalent, specialized knowledge of federal collectionsMLS or equivalent, focus on community services
Work EnvironmentGovernment buildings, federal agencies, specialized collectionsCommunity centers, city or town facilities, public spaces
Employer & Industry UsageFederal government agencies, national archives, military, government researchLocal government, city or county governments, community outreach
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding federal library roles, job requirements, and career pathsLearning about local library jobs, services, and community engagement

Federal libraries serve government agencies and national collections, requiring specialized credentials and working within federal institutions. Public libraries focus on serving local communities, with a broader emphasis on public access and community programs. While both roles involve library science skills, their work environments, employer types, and user focus differ significantly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a federal librarian, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Federal Librarian, you need a master's degree in library science (MLS/MLIS), strong research abilities, and knowledge of information organization and retrieval. Familiarity with integrated library systems (ILS), digital databases, government document management tools, and cataloging standards like MARC is typically required. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and customer service skills help librarians effectively serve diverse users and collaborate with colleagues. These skills ensure accurate information access, regulatory compliance, and high-quality support for federal agency missions.

What are popular job titles related to Federal Library jobs in California?

For Federal Library jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for Federal Library jobs?

Cities in California with the most Federal Library job openings:

Infographic showing various Federal Library job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,028 per year, or $34.6 per hour.

MANAGER, POLICY RESEARCH AND LIBRARY SERVICES

Los Angeles Metro

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$109K - $164K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 98 rated public transport


Job description

Salary: $109,470.40 - $164,195.20 Annually
Location : Los Angeles, CA
Job Type: Regular Employee
Job Number: 2401528
Cabinet: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cost Center: 2411 - POLICY, RESEARCH & LIBRARY SERVICE (PRLS)
Opening Date: 08/11/2026
Closing Date: 8/25/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Non-Contract
Metro's mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.
Description
Provides advanced policy, administrative, and process research and analysis to senior management and plans and manages the overall operation of the Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Research Library and the Transportation Museum.
Recruitment Timelines: Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of September 7, 2025. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.
Examples of Duties
  • Develops, plans, and manages the overall activities of Metro's Dorothy Peyton Gray Research Library and Archive
  • Maintains extensive collection development resources and selects appropriate documents to ensure materials are up-to-date and readily available for library and archive patrons
  • Coordinates and facilitates the development and maintenance of the Library, Archive, and Museum on-line catalog and its accessibility to staff and the public via the Internet
  • Develops and maintains library website, including a bibliography of transit industry research, current event articles, and new publications acquired by the library
  • Supervises the subscription and maintenance of serial publications, interlibrary loans, and a highly specialized online cataloging procedure
  • Prepares special research projects requested by executive management
  • Prepares, reviews, and edits complex research projects, Board reports, presentations, proposals, budget and variance reports, statistical analysis, and technical information
  • Acts on behalf of the Executive Office in the absence of the Deputy Executive Officer, Policy, Research, and Library Services in leading Metro's s monthly Board agenda process
  • Assists in formulating policy and procedure recommendations for Board of Directors and senior leadership
  • Represents Metro Public Transportation Services Corporation (PTSC) and participates in meetings of the American Library Association, Special Library Association, and Los Angeles based cultural institutions
  • Establishes policymaking, planning, and organizing guidelines of library and museum activities and staff
  • Leads, plans, designs, and maintains the Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Research Library and Museum in coordination with Metro Departments, architectural staff, and design consultants
  • Develops, implements, evaluates, and supervises the museum's on-going educational program to enhance public access and understanding of the transit collection
  • Plans and implements the on-going activities of acquiring, preserving, researching, interpreting, and exhibiting a newly acquired collection of historical materials relating to Los Angeles area transit
  • Oversees the museum grant budget to ensure compliance with federal regulations and develops on-going expenditure plans for resources
  • Monitors contractual obligations of consultants to ensure compliance with policy guidelines during refurbishment of a facility to display historic artifact exhibits
  • Designs, develops, and supervises the implementation of a web-based cataloging program that includes a complete description of artifacts, photographs, and rare materials
  • Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees

May be required to perform other related job duties
Minimum Qualifications
A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:
Education
  • Master's Degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited institution

Experience
  • Six years of relevant experience or three years of relevant supervisory-level experience as a Librarian or a combination of experience as a Research Analyst, Web Master, Records Manager, Archivist, Historian, Cataloguer, Curator, Knowledge Manager, Database Manager, Public Arts Officer, or Planner

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements
  • A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.
The following are the preferred qualifications:
  • Experience managing and developing a multi-disciplinary research collection of contemporary and archival resources in print, digital and data formats for both employees and public use.
  • Experience leading a team to develop and facilitate library and archives online access computer systems, databases, and social media.
  • Experience managing library and archive research services and patron outreach programs to foster transportation information literacy.
  • Experience managing and monitoring library budgets, including developing expenditure plans, tracking expenditures, and ensuring compliance with applicable financial requirements and policies.

Essential Knowledge
Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)
  • Theories, principles, and practices of public administration, public policy development and transportation planning and/or information management
  • Standard and specialized reference and bibliographic sources
  • Library of Congress classification system, Anglo American Cataloging Rules (AACR2), Resource Description and Access (RDA), and On-Line Computer Library Center (OCLC) cataloging system
  • Research theories, principles, and techniques
  • Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing policies, trends, and developments affecting the provision of urban mass transit
  • Modern management theory and practice

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)
  • Overseeing the operations of a research library, archive, and museum
  • Developing and making available the computerized library and information systems via the web
  • Classifying and cataloging library, archive and museum materials
  • Conducting technical reference and bibliographic research
  • Researching and analyzing information from on-line information source retrieval systems
  • Communicating effectively orally and in writing
  • Interacting professionally with and performing high-level research on behalf of the Board of Directors, their respective staffs, senior management, various levels of Metro employees, elected officials and outside representatives
Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)
  • Manage grant funded research service, archives, and/or museum improvement projects
  • Handle sensitive material as well as valuable and irreplaceable artifacts and ephemera
  • Analyze and handle complex issues critical to achieving agency goals and objectives
  • Understand, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
  • Make financial decisions within a budget
  • Represent Metro before the public
  • Manage, train, and motivate assigned staff, interns, consultants, and volunteer staff
  • Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions
  • This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
  • The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
  • Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
  • This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority when classified as an Intermittent, Emergency, Annuitant, or Temporary employee, is assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Board Clerk's Office, and/or reporting directly to the LACMTA Board of Directors
  • Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
Working Conditions
  • Typical office situation
  • Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required
  • Sitting at a desk or table
  • Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
  • Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
  • Communicating through speech in the English language required
(EH)
Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with hiring practices.
Selection Procedure
Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.
Application Procedure
To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:
METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.
All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.
*Open to the public and all Metro employees
This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.
*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*
BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES
Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.
We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.
Medical/Dental/Vision Plan - Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.
Group Life Insurance - PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.
Long-Term Disability Insurance - 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.
Holidays - 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Time off with Pay (TOWP) - Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years 20 d

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