Careers - MOLA

Career Oppportunities

Spoleto Festival USA: Orchestra Librarian (seasonal)
Application Deadline: 1 January 2025

Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Principal Librarian
Application Deadline: 6 January 2025

National Symphony Orchestra [USA]: Assistant Librarian
Application Deadline: 10 January 2025

Music Academy of the West: Music Librarian & Assistant Librarian
Application Deadline: best consideration by 1 January 2025, then open until filled

Brevard Music Center: Associate Librarian & Assistant Librarian (3)
Application Deadline: best consideration by 10 January 2025, then open until filled

Aspen Music Festival & School: Performance Librarians
Application Deadline: best consideration by 10 February 2025, then open until filled

Houston Grand Opera: Music Librarian
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Interlochen Center for the Arts: Ensemble Librarian
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Note: This job listing has been updated from 'Head of the Fennell Music Library'

National Repertory Orchestra: Assistant Librarian
Application Deadline: Open until filled

San Francisco Conservatory of Music: Institutional Performance Librarian
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Training Opportunities

Summer music festival internships and ensemble librarian internships, assistantships, apprenticeships, and fellowships:

Spoleto Festival USA: Orchestra Library Apprenticeship
Application Deadline: 1 January 2025

Tanglewood Music Center: Library Fellowship
Application Deadline: 14 January 2025

Santa Fe Opera: Librarian Apprentice
Application Deadline: 15 January 2025

National Arts Center Orchestra: Music Librarian Mentorship
Application Deadline: 27 January 2025

National Orchestral Institute + Festival: Music Librarian Fellowship
Application Deadline: 4 February 2025

National Repertory Orchestra: Library Fellow
Application Deadline: Open until filled

National Music Festival: Music Library Apprentice
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled, apply by 10 February 2025 for best consideration

Training Opportunities - Work-Study

The below listings are work-study opportunities for students; note that enrollment in the university and specific degree program may be a prerequisite for applications:

no openings at this time

Résumé Guidance

Not sure what goes into a music librarian résumé?
We have helpful hints to demystify the librarian résumé - check out MOLA's Performance/Ensemble Librarian Résumé Basics HERE.

Cover Letter Tips

Need some tips on how to write a cover letter - or even what is the point of the cover letter? Find some great resources by Alison Green, of Ask a Manager.

Submit a Job Opening

Does your organization have a librarian opening? Would you like to see it listed here? Submit a job opening by sending an e-mail to the MOLA administrator with the following:

organization name
position title
application deadline
URL address to the ad on your organization's server
for work-study only: application requirements (degree program enrollment, etc)

(MOLA will not upload attachments to its server; we will link to the original on your organization's website)

Farabee Librarian Exchange Program

The Marcia Farabee Librarian Exchange Program offers performance librarians in the first five years of their career the opportunity to visit and participate in the workings of a different organization. The program is open for MOLA members. You can find further information on the FLEP page.

MOLA Pen Pal Program

Need advice? Keen to share your knowledge? MOLA Pen Pals offers an opportunity for one-on-one conversations from career advice to copyright - and everything in between. All MOLA member librarians are welcome. You can find further information on the PEN PAL page.

The Performance Librarian

The Performance Librarian - A Career Introduction

The performance librarian, often called an orchestra librarian, is a music preparation specialist who works in an ensemble library. The musical ensemble he or she serves is often an orchestra, but could be an opera or ballet company, festival, military service ensemble, or educational institution.

The field of performance librarianship is relatively small and selective. It is a career that appeals to the musically curious and highly organized person who likes direct contact with artists, musicians, and administrators in the production of concerts.

Performance librarians are comprehensive musicians/administrators who must bring a keen attention to detail to all of their work. Many have studied music performance and performed in ensembles, which serves as an excellent frame of reference. As of 2019, no college, conservatory, or university has offered an official program of study or degree in performance librarianship, however there are many internships and apprentice programs where aspiring librarians can gain skills and experience.

The Performance Librarian: A Career Introduction (available in Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, & Spanish)

MLA Career Advisory Service

Music Library Association Career Advisory Service.

Anyone interested in music librarianship at any stage of his/her career, from library students to library workers, from active professional librarians to those heading for retirement, are welcome to use this service.

MLA Career Advisory Service