Library Assistant (24 Hour)

City of Albany; Albany (OR); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 3,031,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent medical, vision, and dental

VEBA retirement contribution

Pro-rated vacation and sick leave

Paid holidays and floating holiday

OPSRP retirement payments

Education reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Life insurance and disability benefits

Flexible spending accounts for health/

Job summary

The City of Albany’s Albany Public Library is seeking a friendly part-time Library Assistant to support circulation, reference, and programming at both the Main and Carnegie branches. The role requires weekend/evening shifts and travel between locations.

This para-professional position emphasizes customer service, information assistance, and clerical tasks, with benefits and opportunities for growth within a community-focused library system.

Qualifications

• An associate degree in library science, liberal arts, education, or a closely related field.
• One year of library or customer service experience.
• Equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with circulation-related tasks: issue cards, check materials in/out, handle payments, explain services.
• Provide readers advisory, reference help, and tech/directional assistance at public desks.
• Assist with program support, displays, and materials processing (cataloging, barcodes, stamps).
• Support interlibrary loan requests and process statistics.
• Help with job searching resources, resumes, and computer/internet usage guidance.
• Promote library services in the community and at events.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Verbal communication

Teamwork

Education

Associate degree in library science or related field

One year library or customer service experience

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

Public library systems

Job description

The Albany Public Library is seeking an energetic and friendly part-time (24 hours per week) Library Assistant to join our staff. Attention to detail is a must, as is a love for customer service and helping patrons. Always wondered what folks do when they’re not at the checkout desks? Here’s your chance to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes, and to be part of the awesome team that makes our library a great place to be and work.

This position will work at both the Main Library and the Carnegie Library with local travel required between the two branches. Weekend and evening shifts are required.

You are required to include both a resume and cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. Applications not including both a resume and cover letter will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified.

Benefits include:

• Excellent medical, vision, and dental benefit package for the employee and qualified family members at a pro-rated cost to the employee.
• City-paid contribution to a VEBA Trust account for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Currently, the annual contribution is $1,000 for employee-only and $2,000 for employee plus dependent(s).
• Paid time off:
  • Pro-rated vacation leave per month, with progressive increases
  • Pro-rated sick leave per month
  • Paid holidays with additional "floating holiday" pay
• Excellent retirement benefits
  • City-paid participation in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (OPSRP and IAP)
  • City-paid contribution into pre-tax deferred compensation plan
• In addition, other benefits such as education reimbursement, employee assistance program, basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and childcare expenses.

GENERAL PURPOSE

This position performs a variety of library duties of a para-professional or routine nature including providing information services to library patrons and clerical and manual work in processing, classifying, and cataloging library materials.

ESSENTIAL JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed are intended only as illustrative examples of the various types of work that may be performed by individuals in this classification. Any of the following duties may be performed. These examples are not necessarily performed by all incumbents and do not include all specific essential functions and responsibilities the incumbent may be expected to perform.

1. Assists with all circulation-related functions, including determining eligibility and issuing library cards; modifying patron records; checking materials in and out of the library; handling monetary payments for fines and replacements; resolving issues with patron accounts; explaining library services; participating in opening and closing procedures.
2. Assists a professional librarian in carrying out the programs of a division of the library; and may plan and conduct the program of a division of the library as delegated by a professional librarian.
3. Drafts, edits, designs, and prepares materials to share with the community and make library resources and activities more accessible. May include the following: news releases; newsletters; signs; flyers for the public; grant request/applications; webpage design; and social media posts.
4. Staffs public service desks and provides readers advisory, reference services, and technology and directional help; assists with study room reservations; schedules appointments; and answers questions about library policy, in person and via phone, email, or other mode of communication.
5. Provide instruction on basic computer and internet usage, as well as devices such as smartphones, e-readers, and tablets; describe and/or demonstrate procedures for searching the online catalog and using library databases online. Assist patrons with job searching and resume building.
6. Assist patrons with using public printers, scanner, copier, typewriter, and microfiche.
7. Maintain day-to-day statistics for assigned library department.
8. Maintains basic equipment (copy machine, micro fiche, printers, computers); straightens and shelves materials in assigned library areas.
9. Participates in community outreach, promoting and providing library services outside of library buildings.
10. Plans and sets up library displays, such as themed book displays, or window displays.
11. Provides technical services support by reviewing materials to be classified and determining subject matter; copy cataloging; and physically processing library materials (apply barcodes, stamps, etc.).
12. Assists in maintaining a tidy and visually appealing environment by straightening furniture, clearing tables, gathering materials, and picking up toys in public spaces.
13. Assists with Interlibrary Loan (ILL), including accepting and processing requests using ILL management system; communicating with other libraries and ILL patrons; and collecting and reporting statistics on ILL usage.
14. Coordinates exam proctoring service; corresponds with students and schools/universities through email and phone calls; ensuring students have library cards; prepares all exam information before proctoring appointments so that other staff members are able proctor exams as well; acts as an exam proctor.
15. Monitors and addresses code of conduct and library policy issues in assigned library area.
16. Represents the City of Albany by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor. Regards everyone, internal and external, as a customer and deliver the best service possible in a respectful and patient manner.
17. Works to create a high-performance work culture by demonstrating a positive attitude and modeling the City’s mission, vision, and values. Conducts self with high integrity, proactive in conserving City resources, and seeks and incorporates customer feedback for ongoing performance improvement. Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.
18. Serves as a member of various City committees as assigned.
19. Assists other staff in the performance of their duties as assignedand may provide training and orientation to new assigned personnel.
20. Maintains regular job attendance and adherence to working hours.
21. Adheres to appropriate attire, grooming, and hygiene standards established for the position.
22. Operates a motor vehicle safely and legally.
23. Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Works under the supervision of the Supervising Librarian or at the direction of designated Librarian I or II employees.

This is a non-supervisory position. Lead work/coordination of work of others is not a typical function assigned to this position. Incumbents in this position will provide training and orientation to newly assigned personnel.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

An associate degree in library science, liberal arts, education, or a closely related field;

and

one year of library or customer service experience;

or

an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of modern library systems and programs; library circulation or processing techniques; library classification systems; and basic office procedures.

Skill in: Operation of tools and equipment listed; and performance of technical library tasks.

Ability to:Use tact and courtesy in interactions with a diverse group of patrons and staff; maintain patron privacy; accurately maintain library filing systems; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; understand and carry out written and oral instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments, and the public; operate computers for data entry.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver’s license and a driving record that meets the City’s driving standards.
2. The individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of themselves or others.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

In the performance of the job duties, the employee will be working primarily in public spaces or in an office environment under usual office working conditions. Work may also be performed in meeting settings in offices or conference rooms. The noise level in the office area is typical of most office environments, with telephones, personal interruptions, and background noises.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The factors described herein are representative of, but not all-inclusive of, those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Detailed information may be available in a supplemental Job Task Analysis document.

The physical demands of this position typically include: prolonged sitting at a desk, frequent use of a computer keyboard and mouse, frequent standing and walking to retrieve documents or speak with customers or colleagues, lifting and carrying objects like books, files or paperwork, lifting items from floor to overhead, shelving books, pushing book carts, and the ability to reach and manipulate objects at various levels while seated; this role generally requires minimal physical exertion beyond basic office tasks. The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT USED

In the performance of job duties, the employee may use the following tools and/or equipment: multi-line phone system; computer and associated software; copy and fax machines; scanner and other related tools and equipment.

Safety Equipment

Develops safe work habits and contributes to the safety of self, co-workers, and the public.