H-1B Visa Librarian Jobs
Librarian jobs at H-1B visa sponsoring employers require a master's degree in library science, making the role a qualifying specialty occupation. Public, academic, and special libraries all file LCAs with DOL, though sponsorship is more common at large university systems and corporate research libraries than at small public branches.
Find H-1B Visa Librarian JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 100+ Librarian jobs
See all 100+ Librarian Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Librarian roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Metadata Librarian - Electronic Resources. Joining a team of five full-time metadata colleagues, VCU Libraries seeks a service-oriented, innovative Metadata Librarian responsible for coordinating the organization and descriptive metadata of electronic formats across the collections of the VCU Libraries. This position contributes metadata expertise over the full electronic resources lifecycle through original and complex copy cataloging, catalog and database maintenance, and oversight of data integrity for vendor-supplied MARC records, knowledge base records, and KBART files. The candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse community.
This position resides in the Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services (RAMS) department and works in close collaboration with the Electronic and Continuing Resources (ECR) department. Together, these departments ensure enduring description, organization, and access throughout the electronic resources lifecycle, including licensing, acquisition, description, authentication, knowledge base integration, and discovery layer optimization (Alma/Primo VE) across VCU Libraries. The electronic collections of the VCU Libraries comprise over 2.9 million active titles. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty and staff of the highest caliber.
VCU Libraries expects that the Metadata Librarian - Electronic Resources will be a leader in fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the VCU community. The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Head of Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services, and recognized as a contributing member of a team of metadata colleagues, the Metadata Librarian is responsible for:
Description
- Collaboration with colleagues in complex metadata workflows and project-based assignments.
- Original and complex copy cataloging of electronic formats, including ebooks, ejournals, databases, streaming media, and electronic theses and dissertations.
- Implementation of inclusive and reparative metadata principles and projects.
- Oversight of data integrity for Alma Community Zone and vendor-supplied MARC records.
- Metadata editing using tools such as MarcEdit, OpenRefine, scripts, and Alma normalization rules.
- Continuously advancing cataloging and metadata education through documentation, hands-on training, interdepartmental guidance and mentorship, and other professional development activities.
Electronic Resource Organization & Maintenance
- Collaboration on electronic resource management (ERM) guidelines to combine best and local practices in electronic resource collections.
- Selection, organization, and maintenance of collections and portfolios.
- Implementation of complex records remediation projects.
- Collaboration with ECR and Library Technology to troubleshoot electronic resource access and discovery problems.
- Resolution of electronic resources problem reports from staff and users in the LibAnswers ticketing system.
- Growth of institutional knowledge of ERM principles and practices through documentation, hands-on training, interdepartmental guidance and mentorship, and other professional development activities.
Scholarship & Service
- Engagement in regional and national communities of practice.
- Engagement in professional inquiry, including integrating evolving metadata or electronic resource standards such as RDA, KBART, and open linked data.
- Contribution to developments in the field.
Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated and promoted on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and service.
SALARY
Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $70,000 annually. This is a 12 month, full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Relocation assistance and professional development allowance provided. Full-time faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/faculty-benefits/.
INTERVIEWS: Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline.
- Progressive experience in original and complex cataloging in an academic and/or research library setting that demonstrates problem-solving, flexibility, judgment, and attention to detail.
- Significant knowledge of and ability to apply the following cataloging standards: Resource Description and Access (RDA), Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), and MARC21 formats for bibliographic, holdings, and authority data.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the unique challenges of electronic resources description and access, including the interaction of metadata with discovery layers and management of records in knowledge bases.
Preferred:
- Experience cataloging with OCLC bibliographic utilities, organizing electronic resources in Ex Libris Alma, and facilitating discovery with Ex Libris Primo.
- Experience with contributing to Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Programs, such as NACO, BIBCO, or CONSER.
- Demonstrated experience in planning and/or overseeing team-based cataloging projects, vendor-supplied metadata projects, or outsourcing.
Candidates need not meet preferred qualifications to be fully considered. We value individual and unique skills that would strengthen the VCU Libraries and our teams.
SALARY RANGE: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $70,000 annually.
BENEFITS: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
HOURS PER WEEK: 40
RESTRICTED POSITION: No
ORP ELIGIBLE: Yes
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT: Hybrid
UNIVERSITY JOB TITLE: Metadata Librarian (Electronic Resources)
RANK: Open
TENURE: Ineligible
MONTHS: 12 months
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Contact Name: Amanda Echterling
Contact Email: amechterling@vcu.edu
INTRODUCTION
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Metadata Librarian - Electronic Resources. Joining a team of five full-time metadata colleagues, VCU Libraries seeks a service-oriented, innovative Metadata Librarian responsible for coordinating the organization and descriptive metadata of electronic formats across the collections of the VCU Libraries. This position contributes metadata expertise over the full electronic resources lifecycle through original and complex copy cataloging, catalog and database maintenance, and oversight of data integrity for vendor-supplied MARC records, knowledge base records, and KBART files. The candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse community.
This position resides in the Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services (RAMS) department and works in close collaboration with the Electronic and Continuing Resources (ECR) department. Together, these departments ensure enduring description, organization, and access throughout the electronic resources lifecycle, including licensing, acquisition, description, authentication, knowledge base integration, and discovery layer optimization (Alma/Primo VE) across VCU Libraries. The electronic collections of the VCU Libraries comprise over 2.9 million active titles. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty and staff of the highest caliber.
VCU Libraries expects that the Metadata Librarian - Electronic Resources will be a leader in fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the VCU community. The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Head of Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services, and recognized as a contributing member of a team of metadata colleagues, the Metadata Librarian is responsible for:
Description
- Collaboration with colleagues in complex metadata workflows and project-based assignments.
- Original and complex copy cataloging of electronic formats, including ebooks, ejournals, databases, streaming media, and electronic theses and dissertations.
- Implementation of inclusive and reparative metadata principles and projects.
- Oversight of data integrity for Alma Community Zone and vendor-supplied MARC records.
- Metadata editing using tools such as MarcEdit, OpenRefine, scripts, and Alma normalization rules.
- Continuously advancing cataloging and metadata education through documentation, hands-on training, interdepartmental guidance and mentorship, and other professional development activities.
Electronic Resource Organization & Maintenance
- Collaboration on electronic resource management (ERM) guidelines to combine best and local practices in electronic resource collections.
- Selection, organization, and maintenance of collections and portfolios.
- Implementation of complex records remediation projects.
- Collaboration with ECR and Library Technology to troubleshoot electronic resource access and discovery problems.
- Resolution of electronic resources problem reports from staff and users in the LibAnswers ticketing system.
- Growth of institutional knowledge of ERM principles and practices through documentation, hands-on training, interdepartmental guidance and mentorship, and other professional development activities.
Scholarship & Service
- Engagement in regional and national communities of practice.
- Engagement in professional inquiry, including integrating evolving metadata or electronic resource standards such as RDA, KBART, and open linked data.
- Contribution to developments in the field.
Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated and promoted on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and service.
SALARY
Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $70,000 annually. This is a 12 month, full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Relocation assistance and professional development allowance provided. Full-time faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/faculty-benefits/.
INTERVIEWS: Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline.
- Progressive experience in original and complex cataloging in an academic and/or research library setting that demonstrates problem-solving, flexibility, judgment, and attention to detail.
- Significant knowledge of and ability to apply the following cataloging standards: Resource Description and Access (RDA), Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), and MARC21 formats for bibliographic, holdings, and authority data.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the unique challenges of electronic resources description and access, including the interaction of metadata with discovery layers and management of records in knowledge bases.
Preferred:
- Experience cataloging with OCLC bibliographic utilities, organizing electronic resources in Ex Libris Alma, and facilitating discovery with Ex Libris Primo.
- Experience with contributing to Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Programs, such as NACO, BIBCO, or CONSER.
- Demonstrated experience in planning and/or overseeing team-based cataloging projects, vendor-supplied metadata projects, or outsourcing.
Candidates need not meet preferred qualifications to be fully considered. We value individual and unique skills that would strengthen the VCU Libraries and our teams.
SALARY RANGE: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $70,000 annually.
BENEFITS: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
HOURS PER WEEK: 40
RESTRICTED POSITION: No
ORP ELIGIBLE: Yes
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT: Hybrid
UNIVERSITY JOB TITLE: Metadata Librarian (Electronic Resources)
RANK: Open
TENURE: Ineligible
MONTHS: 12 months
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Contact Name: Amanda Echterling
Contact Email: amechterling@vcu.edu
See all 100+ H-1B Visa Librarian Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Librarian Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Librarian
Verify your MLS meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires a directly related degree for specialty occupation approval. A master's in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program is the standard credential employers cite in I-129 petitions, so confirm your degree title aligns before applying.
Target academic and special library employers
University libraries, law firm libraries, hospital medical libraries, and corporate research centers sponsor H-1B petitions far more often than municipal public library systems. Focus your search on institutions with dedicated HR teams experienced in employment-based immigration filings.
Search verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Find library employers with active H-1B LCA filing history by searching Migrate Mate. Filtering by role and location surfaces institutions that have already navigated the DOL and USCIS process, reducing uncertainty early in your job search.
Check prevailing wage tiers before salary negotiation
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for SOC code 25-4022 at your target worksite ZIP code. Your certified LCA must meet at least wage level I, and accepting below that threshold isn't legally permitted under H-1B rules.
Confirm each worksite requires its own certified LCA
If your role involves serving multiple branch locations or traveling between campuses, each worksite address needs a separately certified LCA before you work there. Raise this with your employer's HR or immigration counsel before your start date to avoid compliance gaps.
Account for H-1B cap timing when planning your start date
Cap-subject H-1B petitions are subject to annual numerical limits and selection rules that have changed recently. Build at least 12 months of lead time into your job search if you need cap-subject sponsorship rather than a cap-exempt employer like a university or nonprofit.
H-1B Visa Librarian: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a librarian role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, when the position requires a master's degree in library science or a closely related field as a minimum qualification. Professional librarian roles at academic institutions, law firms, hospitals, and corporate research libraries routinely meet the specialty occupation standard. Paraprofessional or library technician roles that accept an associate degree or no degree do not qualify and cannot be sponsored under H-1B.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for librarians?
University and college libraries are the most consistent sponsors because they are cap-exempt under the H-1B rules for nonprofit educational institutions, meaning they can file year-round without entering the annual cap selection process. Law firm libraries, hospital medical libraries, and large corporate research libraries also sponsor. Small public library systems operated by municipal governments sponsor far less frequently. You can browse verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate by role and location.
What documents does my employer need to file an H-1B petition for a librarian position?
Your employer first files a Labor Condition Application with DOL to certify the offered wage meets the prevailing wage for the librarian SOC code at your worksite. Once the LCA is certified, your employer files Form I-129 with USCIS along with a copy of your MLS degree, transcripts, and a support letter detailing how the role requires a directly related bachelor's or higher degree. Your employer bears the filing fees for the I-129 petition.
Can a librarian on H-1B status work at multiple library branches?
Only if each worksite address has its own certified LCA on file before you begin working there. A single LCA covers only the specific work location listed on that application. If your role requires rotating between branches or traveling to unlisted sites for more than a brief period, your employer must file additional LCAs with DOL to remain compliant with H-1B posting and wage requirements.
How long can a librarian stay in H-1B status?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended once for an additional three years, reaching a six-year maximum under standard rules. Extensions beyond six years are possible only if your employer has begun the green card sponsorship process and you meet specific milestone requirements under the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. Status does not continue automatically after six years without meeting those criteria.