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Library Jobs in Chelsea, AL (NOW HIRING)

EBSCO Industries, Inc.

Sr. Graphic Designer

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

Build and maintain a modular component library for lifecycle messaging including reusable design blocks and patterns that scale that the developer can implement once and reuse everywhere. Own handoff ...

EBSCO Industries Inc

Sr. Graphic Designer

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$60K - $82K/yr

Build and maintain a modular component library for lifecycle messaging including reusable design blocks and patterns that scale that the developer can implement once and reuse everywhere. Own handoff ...

Shipt

Director of Product Design

Birmingham, AL

Impact Shipt's design system is moving past being a static component library. We are building a design platform: the operating system that every Shipt product surface runs on. Tokens, components ...

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All JobsLibrary JobsLibrary Jobs in Chelsea, AL

Library information

See Chelsea, AL salary details

$7

$14

$26

How much do library jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for library in Chelsea, AL is $14.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $10.67 and $15.91 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can you get hired at a library with no experience?

Library positions such as library assistants or clerks often do not require prior experience and may provide on-the-job training. Having good organizational skills, customer service abilities, and familiarity with library systems can improve chances of hiring, even without previous experience. Entry-level roles typically focus on supporting library operations and customer needs.

Is it hard to get hired as a librarian?

Getting hired as a librarian typically requires a master's degree in library science or information studies and relevant experience. Competition can vary depending on the location and type of library, but strong organizational skills and familiarity with library management systems improve job prospects.

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

To thrive as a Librarian, you typically need a Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS or MLIS), strong research skills, and organizational abilities. Familiarity with library management systems, digital archives, and cataloguing tools like MARC or Dewey Decimal Classification is essential. Excellent communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills help librarians engage diverse patrons and collaborate with colleagues. These competencies ensure effective resource management, support lifelong learning, and enhance community access to information.

What kind of jobs do libraries offer?

Libraries offer a variety of jobs including librarian, library assistant, archivist, cataloger, and technical services staff. These roles often require skills in organization, customer service, and familiarity with library management systems or cataloging tools. Positions may be full-time, part-time, or seasonal, and some roles require relevant certifications or degrees in library science.

Can you work at a library without being a librarian?

Yes, many library jobs do not require a librarian certification and include roles such as library assistants, clerks, or technicians. These positions often involve tasks like shelving, checking out materials, and helping patrons, and may require customer service skills and familiarity with library systems. Certification is typically not necessary unless applying for professional librarian roles with specific qualifications.

What do library workers do?

Library workers assist patrons in finding and borrowing materials, organize and maintain collections, and help with research and technology use. They may also plan educational programs, manage digital resources, and support community events. The specific duties depend on the role, such as librarian, library assistant, or technician, but all focus on making information accessible to the public.

What Qualifications Do I Need to Get a Job in a Library?

Different library jobs have varying qualifications. To become a librarian, you need a master’s degree in either library science or information studies. This is important if you work with students in an academic setting. You also need some research experience and a strong awareness of research procedures and tools. Library technicians and assistants need to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate and strong administrative skills. If you are seeking a job in library computer support, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in information technologies.

What are some common challenges faced by library staff when adapting to digital resources and technology?

Library staff often encounter challenges such as staying current with rapidly evolving digital platforms, assisting patrons with varying levels of tech literacy, and integrating new technologies with existing catalog systems. Balancing traditional library services with digital resource management requires ongoing training and flexibility. However, many libraries provide professional development opportunities and foster a supportive team environment to help staff successfully navigate these changes.

What jobs can you work at a library?

Jobs at a library include librarian, library assistant, library technician, archivist, and library clerk. These roles involve tasks such as managing collections, assisting patrons, cataloging materials, and maintaining library operations, often requiring relevant education or certifications. Staff typically work during library hours and use tools like library management software.

Is librarian a low stress job?

Librarians typically experience moderate stress levels, as their work involves managing collections, assisting patrons, and maintaining organization. Factors such as workload, library size, and public interaction can influence stress, but the job generally offers a calm environment with regular hours. Certification and strong organizational skills are often required for success in this role.

What is the difference between Library vs Archivist?

AspectLibraryArchivist
Required CredentialsLibrary degree or certification, MLS/MLISArchival certification, MLS/MLIS often preferred
Work EnvironmentPublic, academic, or special librariesArchives, museums, historical institutions
Industry UsageInformation management, education, public servicePreservation, historical records, cultural heritage

Libraries and archivists both manage information resources, but libraries focus on providing access to current materials for the public or specific groups, while archivists preserve historical records and rare collections. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

More about Library jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Library jobs in Chelsea, AL? The most popular types of Library jobs in Chelsea, AL are:
What cities near Chelsea, AL are hiring for Library jobs? Cities near Chelsea, AL with the most Library job openings:
Library jobs near you

Senior Director of Research

Heron Foundation

Birmingham, AL • On-site

$184K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Senior Director of Research
Reporting to the Managing Director of Programs.
Position based in Birmingham, Alabama.
About Heron
Founded in 1992, Heron is dedicated to helping people and communities to help themselves. Heron works directly with local organizations that are embedded in, deeply trusted by, and inherently driven by the voice and vision of their neighbors. Heron partners with communities to source relevant and actionable research, nurture a learning collaborative of peers, help communities reclaim their narrative of place and self, foster stronger collective agency and social bonds, and provide long-term financial support. Heron works mainly in rural communities experiencing persistent poverty, systemic challenges, historic disinvestment, and a legacy of disenfranchisement.
Over the coming 8-10 years, Heron will pursue an exciting, innovative set of strategies to
(1) empower dozens of distressed rural communities across the country, (2) help rewrite the playbook for national funders working in rural community advancement, and (3) position Heron, not as a traditional grantmaking private foundation, but as a resourceful, experienced, and well-regarded rural community advancement agency, poised to perform this important work effectively well into the future. Heron will:
  • Provide our community partners with extensive data and research, technical assistance, communications support, and networking opportunities.
  • Share its growing knowledge broadly to help increase capital flow to the direct control of rural communities.
  • Invest significant financial capital into local organizations leading community-driven projects and initiatives to advance the vitality and well-being of their community.

About the Job
Heron is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Director of Research to build and lead its Community Research function - a cornerstone of Heron's work to support healthy and resilient rural communities. As Heron transfers the majority of its financial capital to local community partner organizations and establishes a national learning network, the Senior Director of Research will develop the data infrastructure, analytical frameworks, and knowledge resources that enable communities to understand their conditions, set priorities, track progress, and drive meaningful change. This position will be based in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Senior Director of Research will oversee the development and execution of six interconnected research program areas:
  1. Tracking communities experiencing persistent poverty
  2. Building and maintaining the Heron Community Data Library
  3. Assessing external trends and threats
  4. Identifying healthy community systems and prospective community partner organizations
  5. Creating comprehensive community profiles
  6. Curating project support resources.

This is a unique opportunity for a research leader to shape how communities understand and strengthen their stores of human, natural, civic, and economic capital-and to help demonstrate that community-driven development, grounded in rigorous data and local voice, can break cycles of persistent poverty.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Research Agenda
  • Lead the development and execution of Heron's comprehensive research agenda across six program areas.
  • Serve as a key thought partner to executive leadership on research strategy, community selection, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Build Heron's reputation as a credible, innovative source of research and data on rural community health, persistent poverty, and community capitals.
  • Build and lead a high-performing research team, including hiring and managing a data analyst and additional research staff.
  • Collaborate closely with Community Partnerships Network, Outreach, and Investment teams to ensure research informs all aspects of Heron's work.

Heron Community Capitals Database
  • Launch and continuously refine the Heron Community Data Library-an expert-advised set of community vitality indicators linked to human, natural, civic, and economic capital for every U.S. county.
  • Partner with research institutions and experts to ensure data quality, accessibility, and usability.
  • Create user-friendly tools and guides that enable community partners and other communities to access, interpret, and apply community capitals data.

Communities Experiencing Persistent Poverty
  • Maintain a comprehensive catalog of communities facing persistent poverty in the U.S.
  • Establish rigorous, equity-centered parameters for identifying candidate communities for Heron partnerships.
  • Track and report on the health of these communities over time using expert-supported methodologies.
  • Collaborate with staff to identify and recommend priority communities for development.

Community Profiles & Deep Research
  • Lead the creation of comprehensive community health profiles for each Heron partner community in collaboration with community members, regional experts, and Heron staff.
  • Ensure community voice shapes the research process and final products through meaningful engagement and co-creation.
  • Update profiles every several years to track progress and changing conditions.

External Trends & Threats Analysis
  • Develop reports that help communities anticipate and prepare for trends such as climate change, demographic shifts, and economic disruption.
  • Engage experts to inform trend analysis and community resilience planning.
  • Create expert-informed frameworks and toolkits communities can use to assess their vulnerability and build adaptive capacity.

Healthy Community Systems & Community Partners
  • Research and document the critical systems (health, education, infrastructure, enterprise) and local community-based organizations that sustain community health.
  • Develop a rubric for identifying and assessing community partner organizations based on their permanence, community embeddedness, and collaborative approach, among other critical domains.
  • Build a knowledge base on best practices for system strengthening and organizational development.

Project Support Resources & Knowledge Management
  • Assemble and curate an accessible library of strategies, evidence-based solutions, case studies, and lessons learned from communities addressing similar challenges.
  • Launch and manage the Heron Library as a resource for community partners and the broader field.

Net Contribution Framework & Enterprise Assessment
  • Develop and refine a standardized framework for rating enterprises and investments based on their net contributions to human, natural, civic, and economic capitals.
  • Conduct retrospective analysis of Heron's historic investment portfolio and grantees using the net contribution framework.
  • Collaborate with the Investment team to score Heron's current investment portfolio and identify alignment with community capitals objectives.
  • Support internal teams and community partners in aligning net contribution assessment with the community capitals framework.

Desired Skills and Experience
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in applied research, community development research, or related fields, including leadership and team management.
  • Deep alignment with Heron's mission and principles, including a commitment to community agency, equity, and systems change.
  • Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and indicator development.
  • Experience developing and managing data systems, libraries, or knowledge platforms.
  • Strong understanding of community development, rural economies, persistent poverty, and place-based strategies.
  • Proven ability to translate complex research and data into accessible insights for diverse audiences including community leaders, funders, and policymakers.
  • Experience conducting participatory or community-engaged research that centers local voice and knowledge.
  • Familiarity with impact measurement, asset-based community development, or similar holistic approaches to community health. Previous familiarity with community capitals frameworks is desirable.
  • Track record of building productive partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and community-based organizations.
  • Exceptional project management skills with ability to oversee multiple interconnected research initiatives.
  • Strong writing and communication skills across formats and audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across internal departments and with external stakeholders.
  • Comfort navigating ambiguity and building new research infrastructure in an evolving organization.

Salary, Benefits, and Location
The salary range for this position is $184,000 to $220,000 based on skills and experience. Heron offers an attractive benefits package.
The Senior Director of Research position will be based in Birmingham, Alabama, working in Heron's planned office there, with some flexibility for occasional remote work. Out-of-state travel is expected for up to 20% of time, estimated to be a minimum of one trip/month, including some overnight stays.
To Apply
Interested candidates should provide a cover letter and resume by clicking the link on this page.
All applications are due by March 31, 2026. Note: this position opening may close earlier if sufficient applications are received.
Attachments
  • Strategic Matrix - Streamlined
  • Heron's Team Qualities

Apply