Library Assistant

City of High Point; United States; On-site; USD 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Lifelong pension

401K/457B

PTO first year

13 holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Medical/dental/vision

Job summary

The City of High Point’s Public Library seeks a Library Assistant to perform routine para-professional and customer service tasks, including lending materials, assisting borrowers, and updating circulation records. You will handle RFID checkouts, shelving, and patron guidance in a busy, community-focused library setting.

This role requires customer service experience, knowledge of Dewey Decimal, basic IT skills, and the ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus 1+ year customer service experience in retail, library, or related service.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Strong customer service, communication, listening and teamwork; able to work with a diverse community and adapt to evolving library services.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office and basic office practices; ability to interpret and manage computerized records.
• Experience with Canva or similar design tools and social media platforms; proficiency with online databases and streaming services may be required.
• Ability to help customers download apps, set up accounts, and access digital content on mobile devices.
• Knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System; maintain accurate shelving and interpret spine labels.
• Comfortable with public speaking and training for programs and instruction; some off-site events may be required.
• Physical ability to move through all library floors, push carts, and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays; regular schedule includes evenings and a weekend rotation.

Responsibilities

• Performs para-professional and customer service work at the Public Library, including lending materials and maintaining records.
• Answers borrowers' questions about reserves in person and by phone using the computer system.
• Check out materials using RFID tags and the circulation system.
• Register new borrowers and collect fees for damaged/lost materials.
• Update and renew materials in the circulation system and on library cards.
• Shelf materials, ensure correct order and shelving, and assist with shelving duties across floors.
• Assist customers with using the catalog and self-check stations.
• Open/close money transactions and balance end of day.

Skills

Customer service

Public service

Communication

Teamwork

Microsoft Office

Digital literacy

Public speaking

Dewey Decimal

Mobile devices

Canva

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Canva

Job description

Compensation Range $19.43 - $24.89. Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume.

Who We Are

At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries. We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world!

Core Values

Stewardship: We manage the city’s resources responsibly and make decisions that sustain High Point’s future. In other words, we take care of what we have today to build what we’ll need tomorrow.

Welcoming: We create a friendly, open environment where residents, partners, and visitors feel valued and embraced. We want everyone who connects with High Point to feel welcomed, like they belong here.

Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and ethical responsibility in everything we do. That means doing what’s right – even when no one’s watching. This is how we earn our community’s trust.

Productivity: We stay focused on results, fostering creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking. We don’t just get things done – we find smarter, better ways to do them.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience.
• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 401K and 457B Retirement Plans
• PTO earned within first year
• 13 Paid Holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement Plan
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one

What You’ll Do

• Performs routine para-professional and customer service work in the Public Library, which involves lending materials and keeping records of those materials and their borrowers, and keeping books and non-print materials in order on shelves.
• Does related work as required.
• Answers borrowers’ questions about reserves in person and over the telephone, using information found in the computer.
• Answers the telephone and transfers calls to other parts of the library.
• Answers questions about the Library at the Customer Service Desk as assigned.
• Checks books and non-print materials out to borrowers, scans RFID tags barcodes with antenna or scanner and operates computer and circulation system.
• Registers new borrowers, which involves oral communication, reading applications filled out by the borrower, entering information into a computer, and interpreting information on driver’s license.
• Collects fees for damaged and lost materials and Friends Continuous Book Sale, involving finding and interpreting information in the computer and operating a money transaction program and credit card machine.
• Performs computer operations involving renewing materials, changing status of library cards, and other activities related to circulation of library materials.
• Checks shelves for overdue, lost and requested materials which involves going to all three floors of the Library and searching shelves for materials listed on a computer printout.
• Straightens shelves, which involves pushing books and nonprint materials into an upright position with edges aligned with the edges of the shelves.
• Performs shelf-reading, which involves checking all books and nonprint materials on shelves to make sure they are in alphabetical or Dewey Decimal order, identifying misfiled books, and placing misfiled books in correct places.
• Shifts books and nonprint materials, which involves moving books from one shelf to another, sometimes by hand and sometimes with a cart.
• Checks in materials using a computer, circulation system and RFID antenna.
• Manually changes status and holdings codes, as needed.
• Sorts books and nonprint materials, which involves separating them by types and putting them in appropriate places in the book sorting room.
• Shelves books and nonprint materials, which involves going to all three floors of the Library pushing carts and placing books on shelves in correct location by alphabetical or Dewey Decimal order.
• Writes RFID tags using a computer, RFID antenna and specific computer program.
• Inspects returned items for damage or missing components.
• Places and cancels reserved materials for borrowers, which involves entering information in a computer.
• Processes reserved materials for library and self-service lockers at other locations pick up, which involves checking in materials to fill reserves, checking out materials and assigning self-service lockers using a circulation system and specific locker assigning computer program.
• Processes reserved materials for NC Cardinal resource sharing libraries, which involves checking in materials to fill reserves, creating mailing labels and processing materials for outgoing shipments; and processing incoming shipments. Both processes involve packing and unpacking boxes of materials.
• Instructs library customers in use of the computerized catalog.
• Assists borrowers with self-checks, involves scanning library cards and using RFID antenna.
• Assists the public with using the photocopier i.e. make change and troubleshoot problems.
• Orders and maintains inventory for photocopier.
• Schedules maintenance and repairs for photocopier when needed.
• Opens and closes money transaction program and credit card machine, including tallying end of day moneys.
• Full-time employee -acts as team leader in absence of the supervisor.
• Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent, plus at least one consecutive year of recent (in the last 3 years) customer service experience in retail, library, or a related service industry.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service with strong communication, listening, and teamwork skills; ability to work effectively with a diverse community and adapt to evolving library services.
• Intermediate experience in Microsoft Office and basic office practices; ability to accurately interpret and manage computerized records.
• Experience with Canva or similar design tools, social media platforms (X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads), and digital technologies such as online databases and streaming services may be required for certain assignments.
• Ability to assist customers with downloading apps, setting up accounts, and accessing digital content on mobile devices may be required for certain assignments.
• Knowledge of organizational systems such as the Dewey Decimal System; ability to maintain accurate shelving and interpret spine labels for library materials.
• Comfortable with public speaking and training for programs and instruction, including occasional off-site events may be required for certain assignments.
• Physical ability to move throughout all library floors, push carts, and lift materials (up to 50 pounds).
• Availability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays; regular schedule includes evenings and a weekend rotation (or as scheduled).

Physical Requirements

• Hearing/Speaking – Expressing and/or receiving information by means of spoken word are both necessary to converse with people in person and over the phone.
• Visual Abilities – the ability to perceive via eyesight is required for this position: Acuity, far - Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Both eyes 20/25 - R 20/30 - L 20/30 corrected; Acuity, near - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Both eyes 20/25 corrected.
• Depth Perception – Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are.
• Field of Vision – Area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point.
• Accommodation – Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This item is especially important when doing near-point work at varying distances from eye.
• Physical Strength – degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include: Light to Medium Work; Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and/or Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently; and a negligible amount of force constantly to carry and/or move books and other material.
• Type of Physical Demands – Reaching; Handling; Fingering.

Environmental Conditions

• The Library Assistant is Inside Environmental Conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• No environmental hazards indicated for this position.
• Machinery/Tools/Work Aids/Other Equipment: Personnel Resolution, copier, computer, scanner, RFID antenna, credit card machine, calculator, stapler, pen, pencils, books, paper clips, cards, card files, telephone and directory.

The work location of this job will be 901 N Main St High Point, North Carolina.

Our Commitments

The City of High Point is dedicated to fostering a work environment that values individuals from all backgrounds and seeks to attract and retain the most qualified partners in service to the citizens of High Point.

As an at-will employer, the City allows employees to terminate their employment, or be terminated at any time, with or without cause, as long as it is not prohibited by law.

The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly for the work they do, weighing both the internal capabilities and the external market.

While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this "living document" as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended.

The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment for all employees.

To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a.) a drug screening, in accordance with the City’s drug and alcohol policy and (b.) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired.

In lieu of or in addition to background screening, candidates selected for employment in a position that requires working with children in any capacity must be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history record check conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any such position without passing a pre-placement physical exam.

The City offers employment to successful candidates conditioned upon the City’s receipt of satisfactory results from all required screenings, checks, and exams, as applicable.

The City of High Point offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular full-time employees including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Employees in designated part-time positions may participate in some of the benefit programs offered to regular full-time employees.