Entry Level Reference Librarian Jobs
New grad reference librarian jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or a portfolio of research and instruction projects can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles concentrated in Education, News & Publishing, and Science & Research, with employers like Barry University, Marquette University, and West Virginia University hiring at this level now.
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UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY
School of Law
Leon E. Bloch Law Library
UMKC is the urban law school of the University of Missouri System and is located on a beautifully landscaped campus in the Country Club Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the only law school in a diverse and vibrant metropolitan area of more than two million people and offers courses leading to J.D., LL.M., or M.L.S. degrees for approximately 500 students. It benefits from its metropolitan location, a university with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, a dedicated faculty and staff, and strong community and alumni support.
Job Description
The Leon E. Bloch Law Library at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law seeks an Instructional and Reference Librarian. This position will provide reference and research services to the law school students, faculty, and the surrounding community and will be an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to further their skills in teaching legal research through both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Additional responsibilities will include developing skills to support and manage the library’s digital resources.
The successful candidate will be service and growth oriented. Candidates must have strong teamwork skills to be effective when collaborating with colleagues in the law library, law school faculty and staff, and UMKC campus partners. As a public university, the UMKC Law Library serves a diverse group of students, faculty, members of the bench and bar, and patrons from the surrounding community.
Librarians at the University of Missouri Kansas City Law Library are full-time 12-month ranked non-tenure track faculty. Faculty librarians receive comprehensive benefits including funding for professional development to support attendance at academic conferences.
Responsibilities:
- Provide reference and research support for students, faculty, and patrons from the surrounding community
- Deliver legal research instruction to students in the JD program
- Develop legal research instructional materials to support LLM and MLS programs, and upper-level courses with research and writing requirements
- Develop expertise in digital resource management, including the Law Library’s databases, institutional repositories, and digital exhibits
- Develop and maintain legal research guides to support students and faculty
- Participate in strategic planning for the Law Library
- Cultivate strong working relationships with Law School students, faculty, and staff, UMKC library staff and faculty, and the wider law library professional community
- Serve on Law School, library, or other committees as appointed
- Participate in professional organizations in support of law librarianship as a profession
- Pursue professional development opportunities to stay informed of current and emerging trends in law librarianship
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- JD from an ABA accredited law school; and
- MLIS from an ALA accredited program
Candidates who have completed one degree and are currently enrolled in the other will be considered.
Core competencies:
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Customer service skills including active listening and conflict resolution
- Effective problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills
- Innovative thinking to contribute and implement ideas for overall library improvement
- Knowledge of legal research techniques and tools including Westlaw and Lexis
- Proficiency in MS Office and online searching
Candidates will be evaluated on:
- Experience providing reference services (academic library preferred)
- Experience with formal instruction and the creation of instructional materials
- Experience working in a library
Anticipated Hiring Range
$68,000 - $78,000
Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience, and is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements. Opportunity for promotion provided.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, tuition discounts for full-time employees and qualifying dependents, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Our academic workloads and schedules promote a positive work/life balance.
Application Materials
For consideration, you must apply online at www.umkc.edu/jobs, click on Academic Positions (Job Opening ID 59558).
Please combine all application materials (Cover letter, curriculum vitae, three references with current contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as your resume attachments. Limit document name to 50 characters and do not include any special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). Maximum size limit is 11MB.
- If you are experiencing technical problems during application, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.
- For questions about the position, please contact umkcfacultysearch@umkc.edu including the Job Identification number 59558 and name of the position.
- Reasonable accommodations may be requested during the application and recruitment process. If you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Equity and Title IX at (816) 235-1323.
Higher education transcripts will be required for candidates advancing as finalists. Candidates will receive prior notification if references will be contacted. A Criminal Background Check is required prior to hire.
Handling of Application Materials
After initial review by the committee all uploaded materials may be shared with all faculty in the prospective home department. For affiliations and joint appointments materials may be shared with all faculty in all departments involved.
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted until a qualified candidate is hired.
Other Information
UMKC is rated R1 by the Carnegie Research Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Community Information
Kansas City offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city’s rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City’s biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.
UMKC’s campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours.
To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.
Hiring Department
UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY
School of Law
Leon E. Bloch Law Library
UMKC is the urban law school of the University of Missouri System and is located on a beautifully landscaped campus in the Country Club Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the only law school in a diverse and vibrant metropolitan area of more than two million people and offers courses leading to J.D., LL.M., or M.L.S. degrees for approximately 500 students. It benefits from its metropolitan location, a university with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, a dedicated faculty and staff, and strong community and alumni support.
Job Description
The Leon E. Bloch Law Library at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law seeks an Instructional and Reference Librarian. This position will provide reference and research services to the law school students, faculty, and the surrounding community and will be an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to further their skills in teaching legal research through both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Additional responsibilities will include developing skills to support and manage the library’s digital resources.
The successful candidate will be service and growth oriented. Candidates must have strong teamwork skills to be effective when collaborating with colleagues in the law library, law school faculty and staff, and UMKC campus partners. As a public university, the UMKC Law Library serves a diverse group of students, faculty, members of the bench and bar, and patrons from the surrounding community.
Librarians at the University of Missouri Kansas City Law Library are full-time 12-month ranked non-tenure track faculty. Faculty librarians receive comprehensive benefits including funding for professional development to support attendance at academic conferences.
Responsibilities:
- Provide reference and research support for students, faculty, and patrons from the surrounding community
- Deliver legal research instruction to students in the JD program
- Develop legal research instructional materials to support LLM and MLS programs, and upper-level courses with research and writing requirements
- Develop expertise in digital resource management, including the Law Library’s databases, institutional repositories, and digital exhibits
- Develop and maintain legal research guides to support students and faculty
- Participate in strategic planning for the Law Library
- Cultivate strong working relationships with Law School students, faculty, and staff, UMKC library staff and faculty, and the wider law library professional community
- Serve on Law School, library, or other committees as appointed
- Participate in professional organizations in support of law librarianship as a profession
- Pursue professional development opportunities to stay informed of current and emerging trends in law librarianship
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- JD from an ABA accredited law school; and
- MLIS from an ALA accredited program
Candidates who have completed one degree and are currently enrolled in the other will be considered.
Core competencies:
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Customer service skills including active listening and conflict resolution
- Effective problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills
- Innovative thinking to contribute and implement ideas for overall library improvement
- Knowledge of legal research techniques and tools including Westlaw and Lexis
- Proficiency in MS Office and online searching
Candidates will be evaluated on:
- Experience providing reference services (academic library preferred)
- Experience with formal instruction and the creation of instructional materials
- Experience working in a library
Anticipated Hiring Range
$68,000 - $78,000
Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience, and is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements. Opportunity for promotion provided.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, tuition discounts for full-time employees and qualifying dependents, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Our academic workloads and schedules promote a positive work/life balance.
Application Materials
For consideration, you must apply online at www.umkc.edu/jobs, click on Academic Positions (Job Opening ID 59558).
Please combine all application materials (Cover letter, curriculum vitae, three references with current contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as your resume attachments. Limit document name to 50 characters and do not include any special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). Maximum size limit is 11MB.
- If you are experiencing technical problems during application, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.
- For questions about the position, please contact umkcfacultysearch@umkc.edu including the Job Identification number 59558 and name of the position.
- Reasonable accommodations may be requested during the application and recruitment process. If you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Equity and Title IX at (816) 235-1323.
Higher education transcripts will be required for candidates advancing as finalists. Candidates will receive prior notification if references will be contacted. A Criminal Background Check is required prior to hire.
Handling of Application Materials
After initial review by the committee all uploaded materials may be shared with all faculty in the prospective home department. For affiliations and joint appointments materials may be shared with all faculty in all departments involved.
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted until a qualified candidate is hired.
Other Information
UMKC is rated R1 by the Carnegie Research Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Community Information
Kansas City offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city’s rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City’s biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.
UMKC’s campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours.
To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.
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Find JobsEntry Level Reference Librarian Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Barry University1
- Marquette University1
- West Virginia University1
- Library Systems & Services1
- University of Missouri-Kansas City1
Top Industries Hiring
- Education4
- News & Publishing1
- Science & Research1
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
Entry Level Reference Librarian Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level reference librarian job?
Employers hiring at the entry level typically look for a completed or in-progress Master of Library Science degree, hands-on experience from academic or public library internships, and demonstrated skills in research instruction and database navigation. A portfolio showing reference interviews, information literacy sessions, or subject guides gives candidates a concrete edge, and familiarity with integrated library systems signals day-one readiness.
Which companies hire entry level reference librarians?
Companies hiring entry level reference librarians right now include Barry University, Marquette University, and West Virginia University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. At this experience level, hiring tends to be concentrated among public library systems, academic institutions, and specialized corporate or government libraries that routinely bring in new graduates to fill researcher and instruction support roles.
Are there remote entry level reference librarian jobs?
Yes, though most openings at this level remain on-site. About 0% of entry level reference librarian openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, largely in roles focused on digital reference services, online instruction, or virtual research support. On-site positions still dominate because much of the work involves in-person patron assistance and physical collection management.
Are these new grad reference librarian jobs?
Yes, the listings here include new grad, recent graduate, and junior reference librarian roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internships or practicum hours in place of full-time history, or asks for a portfolio rather than a lengthy work record. Look for language like "entry level," "new graduates encouraged," or "MLS candidates welcome" as reliable signals.
Which industries hire the most entry level reference librarians?
Entry Level reference librarian roles concentrate in Education, News & Publishing, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they maintain active collections, serve diverse patron or user populations, and regularly need early-career professionals who can support research services, information instruction, and catalog maintenance under the guidance of senior librarians.