Librarian Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Librarian roles at public, academic, and special libraries can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship when the position requires a master's degree in library science. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before sponsoring, and some academic institutions are H-1B cap-exempt, which means no lottery and faster timelines for university library candidates.
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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 124+ Librarian Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Librarian Jobs
Verify your MLS meets specialty occupation
An H-1B for a librarian role hinges on the position requiring a master's in library science as a minimum. Pull the O*NET profile for librarians and confirm your job description aligns with that degree requirement before applying anywhere.
Target cap-exempt academic library employers
Universities, community colleges, and nonprofit research institutions are often H-1B cap-exempt, letting your employer file any time of year without entering the annual lottery. Filter your job search specifically for academic and special library roles at these institution types.
Search verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Library employers with active LCA filing history are searchable by role on Migrate Mate. Lead with that data to build a targeted list of institutions that have sponsored librarian positions before, cutting out employers unlikely to engage.
Request a prevailing wage check before negotiating
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your library role and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your job title and metro area before you receive an offer so you can spot a below-threshold package early.
Clarify PERM timing for green card track
Many library positions, especially at public institutions, are permanent roles that lead to EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship. Ask directly during interviews whether the employer has completed PERM labor certifications before, since the DOL audit process can take well over a year.
Get foreign credential equivalency documented early
If your library science degree is from outside the U.S., USCIS needs a credential evaluation confirming it's equivalent to a U.S. master's degree. Commission that evaluation from a NACES-member service before you start applying so it's ready when an offer comes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a librarian role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, librarian positions can qualify for H-1B sponsorship when the employer requires a master's degree in library science as the minimum entry credential. The key test is whether the role is a specialty occupation under USCIS standards. Public services librarians, cataloging specialists, and academic reference librarians commonly meet this bar, while paraprofessional or library technician roles typically do not.
Which types of library employers are most likely to sponsor visas?
Academic libraries at universities and community colleges sponsor most frequently, partly because those institutions are often cap-exempt for H-1B, allowing year-round filing without lottery risk. Special libraries inside hospitals, law firms, and government agencies also sponsor. Public library systems can sponsor but are subject to the annual cap and lottery. Browse librarian roles with verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate to narrow your search.
Does a foreign library science degree count toward H-1B eligibility?
A foreign master's degree in library science can support an H-1B petition if it's evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. master's degree by a recognized credential evaluation service. USCIS reviews these evaluations as part of the petition. Commission the evaluation from a NACES-member organization early in your job search so the documentation is ready when an employer asks for it.
What is the PERM process and does it apply to librarian jobs?
PERM is the DOL labor certification step required before most EB-2 and EB-3 green card petitions. For librarian roles, the employer must demonstrate through recruitment that no qualified U.S. worker was available for the position. The process typically takes one to two years. Academic institutions occasionally qualify for a Schedule A shortage occupation exemption, which bypasses the PERM step entirely and can accelerate green card timelines significantly.
What visa options exist for librarians who don't have an MLS degree?
Without a master's in library science, H-1B qualification becomes difficult because USCIS may not accept the role as a specialty occupation. TN visa status is not available for librarians under the USMCA profession list. J-1 visa exchange visitor programs exist for library research and trainee roles through designated sponsor organizations, though the two-year home residency requirement may apply. EB-3 unskilled or other worker categories have different degree requirements but face long priority date backlogs.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Librarian jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.