Department Assistant - Public Services PT $15.00 Hourly

East Chicago Public Library; East Chicago (IN); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

East Chicago Public Library is seeking a Department Assistant for Public Service to support patrons and manage circulation procedures. The role involves desk service, answering calls, processing holds, and directing inquiries to appropriate staff.

The position emphasizes accurate recordkeeping, frontline customer service, and being part of a team that maintains an orderly library environment. LC6 eligibility and ongoing certification are required.

Qualifications

• Must qualify for Librarian Certificate 6 (LC6) – High school diploma or GED with 5 years of library experience or 9 semester hours of required library science courses.
• Maintains current certification; completes a minimum of 50 Library Educational Units every 5 years, per Indiana State Library regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assists patrons at service desk and over telephone with circulation procedures (checkout, renewals, holds, fines, registrations, policy explanations).
• Processes circulation tasks (check-in, holds, returns, inventories).
• Maintains and processes departmental records, forms, reports, logs and files.
• Handles difficult patrons, enforces library policies, and participates in emergency procedures.
• Answers central switchboard, takes messages, routes calls.
• Prepares materials for shelving or filing.
• Senses, inspects, cleans and sorts materials onto sorting shelves.
• Searches stacks for claimed, lost or missing items as assigned.
• Maintains a neat and orderly library environment.
• Makes closing announcements over public address system.
• Performs assistant-level work in other departments when assigned.

Skills

Public service

Telephone etiquette

Recordkeeping

Cash handling

Typing 25 wpm

Education

LC6 eligibility

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Library circulation system

Job description

Description

Category/Classification: Regular Staff (Non-Exempt)

Reports to: Associate Director of Public Service

General Summary

The Department Assistant for Public Service works under the general supervision of the Associate Director of Public Service, assists patrons and performs procedures related to circulation of materials; also routes patrons and telephone calls to appropriate destinations. May perform work of and/or direct routine tasks of the department. May perform Assistant-level work in other departments.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Assists patrons at service desk and over telephone by performing procedures related to circulation of materials. For example: checking out and renewing materials; placing holds; collecting fees and fines; registering borrowers; explaining policies and procedures and granting exceptions when necessary.
• Performs other procedures related to circulation of materials. For example: checking in materials; processing holds/reserves; emptying materials return carts; maintaining inventories, statistics, etc.
• Maintains and/or processes a variety of departmental records, forms, reports, logs, and files
• Deals with problem patrons, particularly those who disrupt normal use or operation of the Library, or attempt to unlawfully remove library materials from premises. For example: enforcing library policies for patron behavior; participating in disaster and emergency procedures; completing Incident Reports and calling police or other official assistance, when necessary.
• Answers central switchboard. Takes messages. Routes patrons and telephone calls to appropriate destinations.
• Prepares materials for shelving or filing.
• Sensitizes, inspects, cleans as necessary, and sorts materials onto sorting shelves.
• Searches stacks and other areas for claimed returned, traced, lost, missing, or other items, as assigned.
• Maintain Library in a neat and orderly fashion.
• Makes closing and other necessary announcements over the public address system.
• Performs Assistant-level work in other departments, as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to provide courteous public service and to present clear explanations of established policies and procedures.

Ability to think and act appropriately under pressure.

Skill in performing routine and non-routine procedures involving many steps. Ability to follow complex written and/or verbal instructions and to pay close attention to detail. Ability to work with limited direct supervision.

Ability to interact effectively with the Library’s automated system. Minimum skill level: accurate keyboarding at a minimum of 25 words per minute; ability to acquire and demonstrate knowledge of all parts of the circulation and audiovisual departments.

Capacity to be easily understood on voice telephone. Minimum skill level: Demonstrated knowledge of proper telephone etiquette; ability to accurately take messages and identify appropriate destinations.

Skill at accurately and efficiently sorting and shelving materials in alphanumeric order. Minimum skill level: ability to accurately shelve at a consistent rate of at least 100 items per hour; shelf read at 500 items per hour. Physical capacity to place materials on shelves at all shelving heights.

Ability to work in a team setting. Willingness to assist and support coworkers, contribute ideas, maintain flexibility, and be able to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

Physical and Mental Requirements

List the physical demands that are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential function of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequently standing simultaneously using hand, wrist and fingers;

Occasional sitting, walking, stooping, bending, squatting, reaching overhead or in front of body, and traveling to outside meetings and engagements. Conveying up to 15 pounds. Frequently talking and hearing ordinary conversation in person or by phone in a quiet but sometimes noisy environment.

Education, Certification, Experience, and Training

Must qualify for Librarian Certificate 6 (LC6) - High school diploma or GED with 5 years of library experience or 9 semester hours of required library science courses. Maintains current certification; completes a minimum of 50 Library Educational Units every 5 years, consistent with Indiana State Library regulations.

The requirements given above are not intended as exclusive standards for this position. Additionally, the duties and responsibilities listed are meant to be illustrative of the nature of the position and do not include all tasks that may be necessary to this job function. Further, individuals may be required to work in other areas and at different functions that those described in accord with changing needs of the library.