Part Time Library Assistant

City of Somerville; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks annual vacation (non-union)

Medical insurance through GIC

Dental coverage

Vision care

Long term disability

Life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Deferred compensation plans

Employee Assistance Program

MBTA pass program

Free Blue Bikes membership

Job summary

The City of Somerville is seeking cheerful, flexible library aides to join a team delivering excellent services to patrons of all ages. The part-time position supports circulation, desk coverage, and program assistance, with evenings and weekends required.

Eligibility includes a High School diploma, strong customer service, and the ability to lift up to 30 pounds. Up to 19 hours per week, not full benefits, pay starts at $20.72 per hour.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Excellent customer service skills and a helpful attitude.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Able to lift up to 30 pounds and push book carts.

Responsibilities

• Performs basic circulation and service desk transactions (checkouts, new library cards, account issues).
• Assists patrons with using public computers, printers, and office equipment.
• Supports programs by checking in patrons and setting up/teardown.
• Under librarian supervision, refills displays and performs collection maintenance.
• Provides desk coverage in other departments during breaks.
• Shelves books and library materials; performs related duties.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Follow oral/written instructions

Multilingual ability preferred

Ability to lift 30 pounds

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

We seek cheerful, enthusiastic, and flexible individuals who possess a strong attention to detail and who want to join a team committed to providing excellent library services to patrons of all ages.

Essential Functions:

• Performs basic circulation and service desk transactions, including checking out materials, creating new library cards, and troubleshooting account issues
• Assists patrons with using public computers, printers, copier/scanner, and fax machine
• Provides light support during programs, including checking in patrons, setting up and taking down the room before and after programs, and other tasks as assigned
• Under the direction of a librarian, refills displays, and performs collection maintenance
• Assists with public desk coverage in other departments during employee breaks
• Shelves books and other library materials
• Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

• Requires High School diploma or equivalent
• Possess excellent customer service skills and enjoys helping people
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately and thoroughly
• Strong excellent attention to detail
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and push book trucks weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be available evenings and weekends, up to 19 hours per week
• Must be flexible, particularly concerning schedule
• Working knowledge of basic public library concepts and resources
• Multilingual ability preferred

Work Environment:

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employees will be required to work nights and weekends, as the library is a public building open in the evenings and on weekends.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.

Physical Skills:

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books and office equipment, as well as pushing book carts.

Motor Skills:

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job requires minimal motor skills for activities such as moving books, using a personal computer, telephone, and/or most other office equipment.

Visual Skills:

Visual demands require constantly reading both a computer screen and printed documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: Part-time up to 19 hours a week (not benefits eligible)
Salary: $20.72/hour
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: November, 9th, 2026

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [e-mail].

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Delta Dental
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by ESI
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.