Public Services Associate (Part-Time)

City of Burlington; Burlington (WA); On-site; USD 18,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation accrual

EAP & WA PERS retirement

Holiday pay

Job summary

The City of Burlington seeks a Public Services Associate to provide paraprofessional library support and general administrative assistance for the Library department. The role includes direct patron service and evening/weekend hours, with duties spanning front desk operations, budget preparation, and monthly leadership reporting.

Candidates should have a high school diploma or GED, 1 year of relevant experience, and a WA driver’s license.

Qualifications

• One year of relevant experience in public library, office, or similar setting.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Experience with budget processes or record-keeping systems preferred.
• Knowledge of basic record keeping and data entry practices.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct customer service to library patrons in person, over the phone, and via email.
• Assists with basic library operations including opening/closing, patron registration, checking out/returning materials, and cash handling.
• Assists patrons in locating resources and directing complex inquiries to professional staff.
• Liaises with Finance Department to ensure library financial paperwork follows protocols.
• Prepares budget documents and monitors expenditures; assists with requisitions.
• Counts and reconciles money from coin-operated equipment; prepares daily cash deposits.
• Manages office supply orders and correspondence with vendors.
• Prepares monthly reports for library leadership.
• Supports Library Board of Trustees, Burlington Library Foundation, and Friends of the Burlington Library with meeting materials.

Skills

Record keeping

Data entry

Excel skills

Written communication

Customer service

Time management

Organizational skills

Discretion/Confidentiality

Independence/self-motivation

Schedule flexibility

Education

High school diploma or GED

AA or BA preferred

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets (Excel)

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Public Services Associate provides general administrative support related to the effective financial operations of the Library department. This position also performs paraprofessional library support including direct customer service to library patrons. This position includes evening and occasional weekend work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Provides direct customer service to library patrons in person, over the phone, and via email.
• Assists with basic library operations that may include opening and closing the building as scheduled; registering new patrons; checking out, checking in, and renewing materials; collecting fines and fees; and performing other duties as needed in front desk operations.
• Assists library patrons in locating general resources; demonstrates basic use of the public access catalog and library equipment; redirects complex inquiries to professional library staff as needed.
• Liaises with the City of Burlington Finance Department to ensure library financial paperwork follows established protocols.
• Prepares budget documents and monitors and records budget expenditures, including gathering and compiling budget information; estimating the needs and costs for supplies and equipment; researching information needed for purchase requisitions; and determining areas of potential over or under expenditures.
• Counts and reconciles money from coin-operated equipment and ensures equipment is maintained in good operating condition; reconciles financial reports from the Integrated Library System; prepares and makes daily cash deposits.
• Manages office supply orders and correspondence with regular vendors.
• Compiles data from library staff and prepares monthly reports for library leadership.
• Performs clerical support for library leadership and affiliated groups including the Library Board of Trustees, the Burlington Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Burlington Library. Includes preparation and filing of meeting packets, agendas, public notices, and minutes.

PERIPHERAL FUNCTIONS

• Arranges meetings, travel, and appointments for library leadership as needed.
• Keeps current with department and City policies and procedures.
• Maintains a commitment to the Library’s mission, vision, and values.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Library Director and/or Assistant Library Director.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of basic record keeping and data entry practices. Ability to learn and follow budget systems and procedures used by the City.
• Strong computer skills such as word processing and the creation and use of spreadsheets in Excel, including familiarity with basic spreadsheet formulas.
• Ability to give and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patrons, employees, supervisors, and the general public.
• Ability to work independently, make decisions within established guidelines, prioritize work effectively and employ good time management skills.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including flexibility and adaptability.
• Excellent writing skills including knowledge of standard English usage, composition, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and letter/memo/report formats.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect the privacy of library patrons.
• Ability to work a schedule including evening and occasional weekend hours.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• AA or BA preferred.
• One year of relevant experience with budget processes or record-keeping systems in a public library, office, or similar setting required.
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver’s license.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill, and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is an FLSA non-exempt position. Work is generally completed on a regularly scheduled basis; the normal workweek is twenty (20) hours per week; however, work schedules may require working a flexible schedule, weekends and may require occasional attendance at meetings, workshops, conferences, and other assignments.

PHYSICAL 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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively on the telephone and in person.
• Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to use computers and other office equipment.
• Sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to drive to various locations.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak workload periods or otherwise to balance the workload.

The City of Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BENEFITS: Prorated accrued vacation and sick leave; holiday pay, Employee Assistance Program, and Washington State PERS retirement.

The City of Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.