Salary: $111,373.00 - $194,392.00 Annually
Location : CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CA
Job Type: FULL-TIME
Job Number: 6155 OP 2026/06/18 R
Department: Library
Opening Date: 06/18/2026
Closing Date: 7/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

DUTIES
ANNUAL SALARY
$111,373 to $162,864 and $132,942 to $194,392

(Salary will be effective on June 28, 2026)
NOTES:

1. Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.
2. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

A Principal Librarian plans, organizes, directs, and supervises the work of library personnel at regional and neighborhood branch libraries, a Central Library department, or system-wide level, including Engagement and Learning, Emerging Technologies and Collections, or in a specialized library administrative function; ensures strategic goals and objectives are accomplished; represents and advocates for the library at community events and among diverse constituencies; may represent the Library Department and speak before elected officials, potential donors, and other public and private organizations; may interact with community based organizations and support groups, other city departments, vendors and contractors; plans, implements and reviews budgetary expenditures; applies sound supervisory fundamentals and techniques in building and maintaining an effective workforce; and fulfills equal employment opportunity responsibilities.

REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)

1. Two years of full-time paid professional experience as a Senior Librarian with the City of Los Angeles; or
2. A master's degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science from a school accredited by the American Library Association and two years of full-time paid professional librarian experience at the level of Senior Librarian with the City of Los Angeles, directly supervising a group of professional library employees providing public service, technical services, or a staff specializing in adult, young adult, or children's library work.

PROCESS NOTES

1. Applicants who lack six months or less of the required experience at the time of filing may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full experience requirement is met.
2. Certain assignments in the class of Principal Librarian require a valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at the time of appointment. Employees appointed to this classification that fail to obtain or maintain the California DMV's Class C driver's license may be subject to termination.
3. To be at the level of Senior Librarian, an applicant must have received a master's degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science from a school accredited by the American Library Association and worked a minimum of two years of full-time paid professional library work as a Librarian prior to directly supervising a group of professional library employees providing public service, technical services, or a staff specializing in adult, young adult, or children's library work. Thus qualifying experience for Requirement #2 will be counted at the Senior Librarian level only after two years of full-time paid professional library work performed after receiving a master's degree.
4. In Requirement #2, the term "professional librarian experience" applies to positions that require possession of a master's degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science from a school accredited by the American Library Association in order to obtain that position. Therefore, to be considered "professional," qualifying experience must be gained in positions requiring such a degree.
5. Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by the American Library Association. A list of approved institutions can be found at
6. Candidates completing the examination process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying degree. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their qualifying degree to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.

WHERE TO APPLY & APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the "Apply" icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at .
NOTE:
Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications must be received by THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026.
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period may be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.

SELECTION PROCESS
Examination Weight:

Interview: 100%
The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Judgment and Decision Making; Supervision; Responsiveness and Follow-Up; Customer Service; Tolerance; Shares Knowledge and Information; Project Management; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: local and national trends and issues related to library and information science, such as new technology and best practices in library services; and other necessary knowledge, skills and abilities.
Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to and clicking on Competencies under Principal Librarian.
Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which may be held in Los Angeles or on-line. It is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 to FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026.
NOTES:

1. This examination is based on a validation study.
2. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
3. Appointees may be subject to weekend and evening work assignments.
4. In conjunction with Civil Service Rules, applicants who have received a regular appointment to a City position or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.
5. The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding 0.25 of a point seniority credit for each year of continuous classified City service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.
6. A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
7. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22, and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

Notice:
If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.
THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN BOTH ON AN

INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html
There are many things to consider in a new employer. Visit the following webpage to view benefits the City of Los Angeles offers its employees:
01

To be PROPERLY AND PROMPTLY notified of the status of my application, I UNDERSTAND that I MUST provide on my City application, the following information:

-Working E-mail address
-Telephone Number
-Official social security number

I UNDERSTAND that I MUST provide a working email address on my application where I will receive notifications regarding the status of my application and the selection process.

I UNDERSTAND that important information regarding the status of my application and the selection process will only be sent via E-MAIL to the email address I provided.

I UNDERSTAND that it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that the email address I provided is a working email and that I will check my email regularly to ensure I receive any communication as it relates to the examination promptly.

I UNDERSTAND that the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department is NOT RESPONSIBLE for any lost or redirected emails and that it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to add [email protected] to my email contact list to avoid email notifications related to this examination from being classified as "spam" or "junk" mail.

• I have read these statements to their fullest and will provide a working e-mail address on my application in order to receive status of my application regarding this examination.

02

I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe, IN DETAIL, my appropriate qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application.

I UNDERSTAND that, if qualifying with my City experience, that I MUST indicate my appropriate job classification in my work history and NOT ANY WORKING TITLE that I believe is designated to me.

I UNDERSTAND that if I attach a resume and/or cover letter IN LIEU of completing the Work Experience Section, my application is INCOMPLETE and WILL NOT be considered for this examination, and my application WILL NOT be further processed.

In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL jobs, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any periods of unemployment during my entire work history.

• I have read these statements to their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.

03

I am currently:

• A City of Los Angeles employee having received a regular appointment.
• An exempt or emergency City of Los Angeles employee, but have civil service status.
• An exempt or emergency City of Los Angeles employee, without receiving civil service status.
• A City of Los Angeles employee in a temporary training position.
• A City of Los Angeles employee on a part-time basis.
• On a regular reserve list for the City of Los Angeles.
• Not employed with the City of Los Angeles.

04

Requirement #1
I have the following amount of full-time paid professional experience as a Senior Librarian with the City of Los Angeles.
NOTE: In-lieu appointments and experience are considered non-qualifying experience. Therefore, work performed while in such positions cannot be considered qualifying experience for this examination. Your experience MUST be included in the work experience section of the application.

• Between 1 and 11 months
• Between 12 and 17 months
• Between 18 and 23 months
• 24 months or more
• This statement does not apply to me.

05

Requirement #2 (QUESTION 1 Of 3)
I have a master's degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science from a school accredited by the American Library Association.
NOTE: This education MUST also be listed in the Education section of your application. Make sure to include the dates you attended and the degree earned. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from this examination.

• Yes
• This statement does not apply to me.

06

Requirement #2 (QUESTION 2 of 2)
Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by