Library Service Desk Associate

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

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.