Library Technician III

Government of the Virgin Islands; Charlotte Amalie (United States Virgin Islands); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of the Virgin Islands seeks a lead Library Technician to support cataloging, shelving, and distribution of materials. You will assist professional librarians, coordinate archives, and manage circulation and patron services in a dynamic library setting.

The role requires strong knowledge of library operations, archival practices, and the ability to lead support staff while maintaining high service standards.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of library administration, objectives and procedures.
• Experience with one or more modules of an automated library system.
• Familiarity with archival description standards.
• Knowledge of library terminology, rules, and procedures.
• Proficiency in standard office software and database management.
• Understanding of the Library of Congress rules and copyright laws.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience in customer service and administrative tasks.
• Ability to work in both team and independent settings.
• Ability to guide lower-level staff and supervise daily tasks.

Responsibilities

• Interprets and enforces library policies; maintains confidential patron records.
• Assists with coordinating archive collections from acquisition to preservation; prepares materials for access and exhibits.
• Supports circulation activities and issues notices for overdue items.
• Resolves patron conflicts and maintains a safe environment.
• Maintains and trains patrons on copiers and network workstations; troubleshoots.
• Adapts standard materials for staff training with librarians.
• Uses the ILS to manage patron accounts, checkouts, and traces on lost items.
• Prepares logs of data collected for reporting purposes.
• Assists with special projects; leads lower-level technicians as needed.
• Performs other related work as required.

Skills

Library administration

Automated library systems (ILS)

Archive description standards

Library terminology

Office productivity software

Library of Congress knowledge

Copyright laws knowledge

Oral and written communication

Customer service

Administrative work

Technical work

Organizational concepts

Teamwork and independence

Diversity sensitivity

Academic library environment

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

3 years non-professional library work experience

Or 2 years as Library Technician II

Tools

Integrated Library System (ILS)

Job description

Under the general supervision of the Director of Library or designee, this is the lead level class in the library technician series. Work involves performing duties related to cataloging, shelving, distributing books, magazines newspapers, and other publications to assist professional librarians. Provides instructional support to a diverse population and serves as lead for other support staff when needed. Works closely with a professional librarian on the day-to-day operations of a library facility.Initiates the development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to circulation.

• Interprets and enforces the library policies; maintains confidential patron records.
• Provides assistance to a professional librarian with coordinating the archive collections from acquisition to preservation; prepares archives materials for access and exhibits; serves as a resource for the archive collection; and assists with website and social media updates related to the archive collections.
• Provides assistance with the circulation of library materials; prepares and distributes notices for overdue library materials and unresolved library charges.
• Resolves patron conflicts and issues; maintains a safe environment and enforces rules of conduct; ensures the security of the book collection.
• Maintains and provides patron instruction for copiers and network systems; troubleshoots public workstations to ensure network accessibility.
• Adapts standard materials for training in conjunction with the Librarian or Senior Staff in the libraries.
• Uses the current ILS to perform functions that support patrons’ use of the library collections, such as creating and updating library patron accounts, checking library materials in and out, and placing traces on lost or missing items.
• Prepares logs of data collected for reporting purposes.
• Provides assistance for special projects as needed by management. Serves as the lead to provide guidance to lower-level technicians with their daily work assignments.
• Performs other related work as required.

Education

• High School Diploma or its equivalent from an accredited institution supplemented by three (3) years of non‑professional library work experience.
• OR Two (2) years of work experience as a Library Technician II, not below the completion of a High School Diploma or its equivalent from an accredited institution.

Knowledge and Skills (Factor 1)

• Knowledge of library administration, objectives, functions, routines, and procedures.
• Knowledge in the operation of one or more modules of an automated integrated library system.
• Knowledge of standard record formats for archival descriptions.
• Knowledge of library terminology, rules, and procedures.
• Knowledge of standard office productivity, software and relational database management systems.
• Knowledge of the Library of Congress.
• Knowledge of federal laws regulating copyright and inter-library loans.
• Skills in oral and written communication.
• Skill in using various computer-related equipment.
• Skill in customer service.
• Skill in administrative work.
• Skill in technical work.
• Skill in organizational concepts.
• Ability to act as liaison between professional and non-professional library employees.
• Ability to analyze and diffuse disruptive situations.
• Ability to set priorities.
• Ability to maintain a cooperative working relationship.
• Ability to work both in a team and independently.
• Ability to use judgement and initiative.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to and respect for a diverse population.
• Ability to use scientific library databases.
• Ability to work in an academic library.

Factor 2 - Supervisory Controls

Works under the supervision of a librarian or higher-level officer. Works independently to carry out the successive steps, handles issues and deviations in the work assignment in accordance with instructions, policies, training, or accepted practices. Work is periodically checked for progress and conformance to establish policies and practices.

Factor 3 - Guidelines

Guidelines include federal and local laws applicable to library science, departmental policies and procedures, rules and regulations, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Factor 4 - Complexity

Work is repetitive in nature but involves a wide range of administrative and technical tasks associated with library services. Each situation is analyzed to determine the appropriate action within standard practices. Performs procedural tasks to carry out technical operations of a routine nature with minimal supervision.

Factor 5 - Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to perform lead technical functions and paraprofessional services in libraries, archives, and museums. This includes cataloging, shelving, and distributing books, magazines, and other publications to assist professional librarians, as well as providing instructional support to a diverse population and leading other support staff as needed.

Factor 6 - Personal Contacts

Contacts are managers, co-workers, patrons, students, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public. Contacts are made in-person, email, or via telephone.

Factor 7 - Purpose of Contacts

Contacts are made to provide library services to the public, respond to requests, and offer appropriate referrals in alignment with the library's mission. Contacts with patrons are made to resolve problems, select, organize, and access information that meets the needs of library services.

Factor 8 - Physical Demands

Work is primarily sedentary but involves pushing a cart, lifting and reaching for books, bending, crouching, stooping, kneeling, standing, and carrying library materials.

Factor 9 - Work Environment

Work is performed in a library facility, an air-conditioned bookmobile, or in a field environment. Some disagreeable conditions may be present while working in an open-air environment and while on the bookmobile. Some travel to off-site locations is required for outreach activities.