OPT School Librarian Jobs
School Librarian jobs on OPT require a master's degree in library science (MLS or MLIS) in most states, which aligns well with STEM OPT extensions if your program qualifies. Public school positions often involve additional state licensure, so your 12-month OPT timeline matters when planning applications.
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Get Access To All JobsNumber of Vacancies 1
Location Edinburg, Texas
Department University Library
FTE 1
FLSA Exempt
Scope of Job
Leads the development of digital initiatives and research data management projects that support scholarly communication at UTRGV and explores new opportunities for the library’s support of faculty research.
Description of Duties
- Responsible for the development of digital initiatives and research data management projects that support scholarly communication at UTRGV.
- Provides guidance to students, faculty, and staff in working with digital repositories, open data initiatives, digital exhibits, and scholarly impact tools.
- Provides education and support for the use of tools specific to the curation, description, indexing, and accessibility of digital scholarship.
- Provides outreach and instruction to students, faculty, and staff in the use of digital technologies to advance scholarship.
- Monitors, evaluates and improves digital reformatting workflow, procedures and best practice design and documentation.
- Manages, tracks and reports on digital reformatting processes. Assigns work based on allocated resources, deadlines and special requests.
- Explores future initiatives related to digital scholarship such as digital humanities, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and protocol sharing.
- Assists with collection development for assigned selected areas.
- Maintains public-facing resources related to digital initiatives via the library website.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervision Received
General supervision from assigned supervisor.
Supervision Given
Direct supervision of assigned staff.
Required Education
Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS) from American Library Association (ALA) accredited library school.
Preferred Education
Masters of Library & Information Sciences (MLIS) or related fields with research emphasis (Math, Sciences, Data, GIS).
Required Experience
Experience working with Excel and spreadsheets. Experience with presentation software.
Preferred Experience
Experience with data curation, GIS, and metadata. Experience with current technologies and standards used in institutional repository systems and data systems such as bepress, Dataverse, Dryad, or Zenodo.
Equipment
Use of standard office equipment.
Working Conditions
Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties. Office environment; some travel and weekend work is required. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. UTRGV is a distributed institution, which requires presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Other
Must have customer service skills. Successful organization, communication and interpersonal skills. Strong written and oral skills, including presentation and/or teaching skills. Ability to work with faculty and researchers.
Employment Category Full-Time
Minimum Salary Commensurate with Experience
Posted Salary Commensurate with Experience
Position Available Date 08/07/2026
Grant Funded Position No
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: Date of Birth Social Security Number Gender Ethnicity/Race Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (956)665-8880 and/or careers@utrgv.edu.
Additional Information
UTRGV is a distributed location institution and working location is subject to change based on need.
All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Substitutions to the above requirements must have prior approval from the VP of Human Resources.
Number of Vacancies 1
Location Edinburg, Texas
Department University Library
FTE 1
FLSA Exempt
Scope of Job
Leads the development of digital initiatives and research data management projects that support scholarly communication at UTRGV and explores new opportunities for the library’s support of faculty research.
Description of Duties
- Responsible for the development of digital initiatives and research data management projects that support scholarly communication at UTRGV.
- Provides guidance to students, faculty, and staff in working with digital repositories, open data initiatives, digital exhibits, and scholarly impact tools.
- Provides education and support for the use of tools specific to the curation, description, indexing, and accessibility of digital scholarship.
- Provides outreach and instruction to students, faculty, and staff in the use of digital technologies to advance scholarship.
- Monitors, evaluates and improves digital reformatting workflow, procedures and best practice design and documentation.
- Manages, tracks and reports on digital reformatting processes. Assigns work based on allocated resources, deadlines and special requests.
- Explores future initiatives related to digital scholarship such as digital humanities, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and protocol sharing.
- Assists with collection development for assigned selected areas.
- Maintains public-facing resources related to digital initiatives via the library website.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervision Received
General supervision from assigned supervisor.
Supervision Given
Direct supervision of assigned staff.
Required Education
Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS) from American Library Association (ALA) accredited library school.
Preferred Education
Masters of Library & Information Sciences (MLIS) or related fields with research emphasis (Math, Sciences, Data, GIS).
Required Experience
Experience working with Excel and spreadsheets. Experience with presentation software.
Preferred Experience
Experience with data curation, GIS, and metadata. Experience with current technologies and standards used in institutional repository systems and data systems such as bepress, Dataverse, Dryad, or Zenodo.
Equipment
Use of standard office equipment.
Working Conditions
Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties. Office environment; some travel and weekend work is required. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. UTRGV is a distributed institution, which requires presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Other
Must have customer service skills. Successful organization, communication and interpersonal skills. Strong written and oral skills, including presentation and/or teaching skills. Ability to work with faculty and researchers.
Employment Category Full-Time
Minimum Salary Commensurate with Experience
Posted Salary Commensurate with Experience
Position Available Date 08/07/2026
Grant Funded Position No
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: Date of Birth Social Security Number Gender Ethnicity/Race Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (956)665-8880 and/or careers@utrgv.edu.
Additional Information
UTRGV is a distributed location institution and working location is subject to change based on need.
All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Substitutions to the above requirements must have prior approval from the VP of Human Resources.
See all 115+ OPT School Librarian Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in School Librarian
Verify state licensure requirements before applying
Public school librarian positions require a state-issued library media specialist license in most states. Research your target state's requirements early since the credentialing process can take months and must align with your OPT authorization period.
Target private and independent schools first
Private and independent schools generally don't require state licensure, making them faster to hire international candidates on OPT. They also have more hiring flexibility and often recruit year-round rather than following the rigid public school academic calendar.
Align your job search with the school hiring cycle
Most K-12 schools post librarian openings between February and May for fall positions. If your OPT start date falls outside this window, target university libraries, public libraries, or special libraries, which hire throughout the year.
Lead with your MLIS and any digital library experience
Schools increasingly need librarians who can manage digital collections, teach information literacy, and support learning management systems. Highlighting these technical skills alongside your degree makes you a stronger candidate and broadens which institutions will consider sponsoring you.
Ask directly about H-1B sponsorship during early conversations
School districts and library systems vary widely in their willingness to sponsor H-1B visas after OPT. Raising sponsorship early, before investing in a lengthy interview process, saves time and signals that you're planning your immigration status responsibly.
Consider university and academic library roles for longer runways
College and university libraries are more experienced with international hiring than K-12 schools and often support H-1B sponsorship. They're also cap-exempt employers, meaning petitions aren't subject to the annual H-1B lottery.
School Librarian OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a School Librarian role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you earned your MLIS from a program classified under a STEM-designated CIP code, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Many MLIS programs are not STEM-designated, so confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before assuming you're eligible.
Can I work as a school librarian at a public school on OPT without state licensure?
Most public school districts require a state library media specialist credential before you can work in a librarian role, and the licensing process often takes several months. Starting that process immediately after your OPT is authorized is important if you're targeting public schools. Private schools typically don't have this requirement, making them a more accessible entry point on OPT.
Will school districts sponsor H-1B visas after my OPT ends?
Some do, but it varies significantly. Larger urban school districts are more likely to have experience sponsoring international employees than smaller rural ones. University and college libraries are often a better bet because many qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers, which removes the lottery risk entirely. Migrate Mate can help you identify which types of employers in this field have a track record of sponsorship.
How does the school hiring calendar affect my OPT job search as a librarian?
K-12 schools hire librarians primarily between February and May for positions that begin in August or September. If your OPT authorization starts outside this window, you may miss the main hiring cycle. University libraries, public libraries, and special libraries in corporate or nonprofit settings hire year-round and are worth targeting if your OPT timing doesn't align with the academic calendar.
What employment authorization documents will a school employer need from me on OPT?
Your employer will need your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, which shows your work authorization start and end dates, along with your F-1 visa and passport for I-9 verification. Your DSO will also need to report your employer's details in SEVIS within 10 days of your start date. Keep a copy of your OPT approval notice and EAD accessible throughout your employment.