Librarian II

City of Omaha; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Paid holidays

Job summary

City of Omaha seeks a professional to manage a branch library or major division, providing leadership in customer service, program development, and policy implementation. The role includes supervising library staff, hiring, training, and directing work, with budget oversight and collaboration on system-wide initiatives.

The position requires an MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program and at least three years of professional library experience, with certification within 30 days of hire.

Qualifications

• MLS/MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited program.
• Three years of professional library experience required.
• Must register for Nebraska Public Librarian Certification within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Manages all operations of a branch library or major division.
• Supervises staff, including hiring, training, scheduling and evaluation.
• Develops and implements services, budgets, and policies; supports system-wide projects.

Skills

Communication skills

Supervising staff

Budget management

Customer service

Education

MLIS degree (ALA-accredited)

3 years professional library experience

Tools

Library Cataloging Software

Job description

Posting Type:

Open and Closed Competitive

Work Type:

Full Time

Nature of Work:

This is professional, supervisory, and administrative library work managing the operations of a branch library or major division within the library. Work includes providing customer service, promoting library services, managing budgets, implementing policies, and supporting system-wide projects and initiatives. This role supervises library staff including hiring, training, scheduling, and directing work. An incumbent in this classification exercises independent judgment in the performance of assigned duties and receives general guidance from a supervisor.

Education and Experience:

The knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired through, but are not limited to, the following combination of education and/or experience. Master of Library Science degree or Master of Science in Library or Information Science degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
AND
Three (3) years of experience in professional library work.

Special Qualifications:

Must register for Nebraska Public Librarian Certification through the Nebraska Library Commission within 30 days of the hiring date. Must complete necessary continuing education requirements to keep certification current while employed by the Omaha Public Library. Must be able to transport oneself or coordinate transportation to locations throughout the City during the course of the work day. Must be able to work flexible schedules that include evenings and weekends.

Pay Range:

$71,531.20 with step increases to $89,627.20 Annually

Benefits:

Forty-hour work week. Paid leave per year: twelve days vacation; five days management; fifteen days sick; and fifteen holidays. Employee's group health insurance, including major medical, vision, and dental, for individual or family. Defined benefit pension plan, plus Social Security, and more. See hr.cityofomaha.org for detailed information.

Who Can Apply:

Eligibility lists will be created for one Closed Competitive list and one Open Competitive list. Applicants for the Closed competitive lists must be a current or former City of Omaha employee in any of the following categories: Part-time, Seasonal, Classified, Unclassified, or Probationary, who has worked, at the time of application, at least 1,040 cumulative hours within the last 5 years and has been employed by the City at sometime within the last 18 months and who meets the qualifications as set forth in the posting. Applicants for the Open Competitive list shall be all other persons who meet the qualifications as set forth in the posting.

Examination Information:

The examination will consist of a structured interview which will be scheduled at a later date. The structured interview is designed to assess job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position. The final eligibility list will be assembled from those candidates achieving a passing score of 60% on the structured interview (100% weight).

Veteran Points:

To claim five (5) points for veteran's preference, you must submit proof of service (such as a DD-214) that includes the date of induction, date of honorable separation, and Social Security number. (You must have completed more than 180 consecutive days of active duty.) To receive an additional five (5) points credit for disability, you must submit proof of eligibility from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs dated within the last 12 months. This information must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by November 1, 2026.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of, and ability to operate, computers and other technology using standard or customized computer or systems software applications appropriate to the assigned tasks.
• Knowledge of standard library principles, procedures, services, and materials.
• Knowledge of library reference and research tools.
• Knowledge of reader interest levels, books, and authors.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in hiring, training, assigning, scheduling, supervising, inspecting, and evaluating the work of subordinate personnel.
• Skill in reading and explaining rules, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in initiating and using independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Skill in determining accurate information, which includes source and currency evaluation, critical thinking, fact‑checking, and relevance assessment.
• Ability to learn and adapt to advances in computer and electronic device technology and software.
• Ability to view printed text on book bindings to retrieve library materials.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy when interacting with patrons and library staff.
• Ability to maintain patron confidentiality.
• Ability to analyze community needs and plan, develop, and deliver appropriate programs for targeted groups.
• Ability to interpret library policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Ability to interpret municipal codes, personnel policies, and procedures.
• Ability to determine the priority of goals and assignments and to complete projects with minimal supervision.
• Ability to use library principles, methods, and techniques in collection development, cataloging, classification, circulation, programming, staff development, data, and reference services.
• Ability to plan, develop, explain, and implement new procedures and to revise as needed.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and resolve problems.
• Ability to maintain accurate records of expenses.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbally, deliver presentations, and answer questions from the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public.
• Ability to understand oral or written instructions.
• Ability to adhere to safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Ability to stand and walk continuously; reach, stoop, squat, crouch, push frequently; and climb, balance, kneel, crawl, pull, and sit occasionally.
• Ability to move objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds occasionally and weighing up to ten (10) pounds continuously.
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Essential Functions:

Any one position may not perform all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all of the duties that may be performed in positions allocated to this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Manages all operations of a branch library or major division, implementing and interpreting policies and procedures, participating in selecting subordinate staff, resolving patron complaints, providing solutions to personnel and library operation problems, and overseeing contract compliance for security services, cleaning services, lawn care, and snow removal operations.
• Develops ideas and plans for innovative services that are of interest to the community being served.
• Plans, schedules, trains, assigns, disciplines, evaluates, and oversees the work of, subordinate personnel.
• Provides work direction and oversees work of non-direct reports.
• Manages the centralized selection and ordering of materials according to the Library's Collection Development Policy to provide a collection that meets the community's needs.
• Evaluates library collections and determines whether outdated and worn materials should be withdrawn from the library collection.
• Assists patrons in selecting library materials, using all library resources, and providing reading suggestions and research assistance.
• Maintains relationships and effective communication with community, vendor, and facility partners that further the library's mission and ensure the cleanliness and safety of library buildings.
• Delivers customer service to all library patrons and staff at service desks, on the telephone, and online by performing such tasks as issuing library cards, circulating materials, answering questions, and promoting programs and services.
• Plans or participates in special programs, exhibits, and tours to promote interest in the library and to assist in public relations efforts.
• Participates in professional development opportunities that correlate with job responsibilities.
• Keeps informed of technological changes in the library profession and utilizes all available equipment and resources to fulfill the library's mission.
• Manages a budget, including compiling and documenting budget requests, monitoring expenditures, and making recommendations for future budgets.
• Compiles and submits statistical and narrative reports of fiscal and library operations.
• Establishes and maintains connections with community organizations and individuals.
• Performs technical cataloging and classification work that includes researching existing files, maintaining standardization of the library database, and assigning classification numbers and subject headings to books, government documents, media, and other materials.
• Provides key metrics and data analysis as needed for monthly and annual performance reports, grant applications, and library demographics.
• Oversees, develops, and evaluates the library's strategic plan, and provides market research data as needed to develop library services, goals, and objectives.
• Performs the duties of subordinate library staff when necessary.
• Maintains regular job attendance in accordance with a schedule established for the position by the supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates within the scope of this classification.

Conditions of Employment:

Candidates must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, permanent residence, or authorization to work without sponsorship. The City of Omaha reserves the right to conduct pre-employment inquiries or evaluations of candidates for employment as it deems appropriate for the particular position. Pre-employment inquiries may include, without limitation: verification of employment history and educational attainment; review of driving, credit, and criminal convictions; hearing, drug, functional capacity, psychological, vision, and medical tests; and/or any other relevant background information deemed appropriate to determine the suitability of the applicant for the position. Failure to provide the information requested in the application and hiring process in a truthful, timely, accurate, and complete manner may result in disqualification, revocation of a conditional offer of employment, or termination.

Reasonable Accommodation:

The City of Omaha does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you need a disability-related accommodation during the job application or selection process, advise the Human Resources Department at least 48 hours prior to the need by emailing [e-mail].

For a complete description of this job classification, visit hr.cityofomaha.org

Contact Points:

City of Omaha Human Resources Department

1819 Farnam St, Suite 506

Omaha, NE 68183

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Website: hr.cityofomaha.org

Email: [e-mail]