Library Scientist Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $23.99 - $28.20 Hourly
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 39313
Department: Houston Public Library
Division: HPL - CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES
Opening Date: 08/13/2026
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 11:59 PM Central
POSITION OVERVIEW
APPLICATION ACCEPTED FROM: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
DIVISION / SECTION: Customer Experience / Central Library
Workday & Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM (rotating)***subject to change***
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Houston Public Library (HPL) is seeking energetic, flexible, team-oriented people with a passion for customer service to work as a Librarian I at the Central Library. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong communication skills, deliver outstanding customer service, and exhibit a genuine interest in engaging with individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds.
The Librarian I (Central Library) will be responsible for the following:
• Providing customer assistance to find information and library materials
• Have a strong working knowledge of electronic devices needed for library services and provide technology assistance including troubleshooting and one on one sessions.
• Support library operations, including schedules and statistics
• Serve as back-up agent for Passport Services
• Assist and promote library services and programs in the community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
The Houston Public Library (HPL) is a forward-thinking library organization, situated in the nation's fourth largest city serving a diverse population of 2.2 million people. At Houston Public Library (HPL), we understand that diversity in experiences, perspectives, knowledge, and ideas fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. HPL seeks to link people to the world, through a broadly defined platform of educational, recreational, and cultural programs and services for persons of all ages, ethnicities, and life stages throughout Houston and the surrounding region through a network of Neighborhood Libraries across the Houston area, a Central Library, and three History Research Centers.
Candidates are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter when applying.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The position occasionally requires stooping or bending. Occasional very light lifting, such as three or four reams of papers or books (up to 20 pounds or an equivalent weight) may be required. There are no major sources of discomfort, i.e., essentially normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature and air conditions. Requires the ability to make coordinated gross motor movements in response to changing external stimuli within moderately demanding tolerances; or the ability to make coordinated eye/hand movements on a patterned response space within low tolerance demands with no real speed requirements.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires a Master of Library Science degree from a school accredited by American Library Association (ALA). No experience is required.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Requires a Bachelor's degree plus 18 hours toward a Master of Library Science degree from a school accredited by ALA and one year of library experience providing reference and programming.
***A Master's of Library Science degree must be completed within two years of being hired into this classification.
PREFERENCES
• Comfortable working with diverse populations.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to motivate, develop, train and direct staff in a collaborative team environment.
• Knowledge of current trends in library services to youth and their parents and caregivers.
• Experience using the MS Office Suite and knowledge of electronic devices such as e-readers and tablets and other technologies.
• Bilingual (Spanish and English) preferred.
**Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.**
GENERAL INFORMATION
SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED
The selection process will involve application review and/or Interview. The department may administer skills assessment test.
SAFETY IMPACT POSITION - NO
If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.
PAY GRADE - 16
SALARY INFORMATION
Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during active posting period. Applications must be submitted online at:www.houstontx.gov
To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call 832-393-0473).
If you need special services or accommodations, call 832-393-0473. (TTY 7-1-1). If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.
Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.
All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided. Applicants are encouraged to attach a cover letter and resume along with their completed application when applying.
EOE Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Supplemental Insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement pension
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year
• 13 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
• Compensable Sick Leave
• Personal Leave
• Flexible schedules
• Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions
• Professional development opportunities
• Transportation/parking plan
• Section 125 pretax deductions
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html
01
Are you a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces (United States Army, Navy, Air Force, MarineCorps, or Coast Guard) for more than 90 consecutive days and received either an honorable discharge or ageneral discharge under honorable conditions?

• YES
• NO

02
Are you a current Library employee or have you ever worked for a Library?

• YES
• NO

03
Please indicate if you have one of the following requirements:

• A Master of Library Science degree from a school accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
• A Bachelor's degree plus 18 hours towards a Master of Library Science degree from a school accredited by ALA.
• None of the above

04
Please describe your customer service work experience including any experience working in libraries.
05
Which of the following experiences or skills do you have? (Check all that apply).

• Coordinating schedules.
• Tracking data or statistics.
• Managing confidential documents.
• No experience.

06
Customer service jobs such as this one can often involve stressful interactions with customers on a daily basis and requires dealing with people who may become upset with you or be disruptive and confrontational. How comfortable are you with diffusing these types of interactions?

• VERY COMFORTABLE: (I remain calm and enforce rules consistently and feel empowered to call police when necessary).
• COMFORTABLE: (I seek assistance for more difficult situations).
• NOT VERY COMFORTABLE: (I don't feel comfortable in high-stress situations and seek backup often or delegate to someone else).

07
Please indicate your proficiency level in Microsoft Word & Excel, and Internet Research:

• Beginner (ex: create basic documents and/or spreadsheets with limited experience with other functionalities).
• Intermediate (ex: insert page breaks, header/footer, and/or generate auto-calculating and basic cell formatting).
• Advanced (ex: insert table of contents, generate tables, create mail merge and/or conditional formatting, table formatting, sort/filter cells, cell data validation/consolidation).
• No experience.

08
Please indicate languages, other than English, in which you are fluent (reading, writing, and/or speaking). Check all that apply:

• Spanish
• Chinese
• Vietnamese
• Arabic
• French
• Other Languages
• I am not bilingual

09
Hom many years of (full-time) professional library experience providing reference and programming do you possess?

• Less than 1 years
• 1 Year but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 6 years
• 6 or more years of experience.

Required Question