Senior Library Assistant

City of Ontario; Ontario (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Ontario invites applications for a Senior Library Assistant to oversee daily operations of a library service area and deliver excellent customer service. This role works with other library units, city agencies, and community groups to create a positive user experience.

The ideal candidate will have leadership, strong communication skills, experience with archival collections, digitization, and digital collections, plus the ability to work as part of a diverse team and in a busy

Qualifications

• Two years of increasingly responsible library experience.
• Valid California driver’s license at time of appointment.
• Bachelor's degree, supervisory experience, and archival/digital collections experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and oversees daily operations of an assigned library service area.
• Supervises staff: selection, assignments, performance, development, disciplinary action.
• Conducts staff meetings and training on library procedures and service expectations.
• Maintains policy and procedure manuals; updates procedures as needed.
• Monitors budget activities, processes invoices for payment.
• Provides reference and readers' advisory services from library collections.
• Prepares reports and records; supports program planning and outreach.
• May assist with interlibrary loan services and promotional materials.
• May act in absence of higher-level staff; may require travel.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Community engagement

Bilingual (EN/ES/MANDARIN)

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree (Desirable)

Job description

Senior Library Assistant (Full-Time/Part-Time)

The eligibility list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies and any vacancies that occur within one year from the established date.

The Ontario City Library has an exciting opportunity for a motivated and team-oriented individual who is interested in creating a positive user experience. The Senior Library Assistant provides excellent customer service and is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the daily operations of a section of the library. The Senior Library Assistant is also expected to establish and maintain good relationships with other library units, city agencies, and community groups.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and strong oral and written communication skills.
• Enjoy engaging with and serving the community, building meaningful connections with diverse audiences.
• Bring knowledge and experience with archival collections, digitization, and digital collections.

Additionally, the successful candidate will embody the qualities of a "Five Tool Player" - Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant - and the principles of the City's Customer Service Philosophy – Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.

Part-time/Temporary positions are scheduled to work no more than 29 hours per week and are not eligible to participate in the City's health insurance or retirement plans.

The following procedures will apply:

• The Eligibility List will consist of both internal and external applicants who meet the qualifications and successfully complete any required selection processes.
• The hiring department has the discretion to consider internal applicants on the Eligibility List prior to considering external candidates on the Eligibility List.
• The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below.
• Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

Community Life and Culture Agency & Ontario City Library

The City of Ontario's Community Life & Culture Agency endeavors to meet the Ontario City Council goal to "encourage, provide or support enhanced recreational, educational, cultural and healthy city programs, policies and activities." Community Life & Culture does this through a comprehensive array of programs, activities, services and events available through the Housing Services, Library, Museum, Arts & Culture, and Recreation & Community Services Departments.

The Ontario City Library has been serving the public as a City department since 1894. The Ovitt Family Community Library and Lewis Family Branches of the Library contain over 315,000 items, including books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, audio books, kits and a local history collection. A wide variety of technology is available for the public including internet, several software, eBooks, and state of the art technology through Lightspeed makerspace that offers access to equipment such as 3D printers and a laser cutter. The Library offers a wide variety of programs and services for all ages including early literacy, Veterans Resource Center, adult literacy tutoring, workforce development training, and the Robert E. Ellingwood Model Colony History Room.

The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.

The City's vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario's 2026 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:

State of the City, The Ontario Plan, Smart Ontario, Downtown Ontario

The essential functions typically performed by the Senior Library Assistant include the following:

• Coordinates and oversees the daily operations of an assigned library service area to ensure efficient service delivery and adherence to library procedures.
• Supervises and directs the activities of staff, including employee selection, work assignment, performance evaluation, employee development, disciplinary action, and complaint resolution.
• Conducts staff meetings and training sessions on library procedure and service expectations.
• Participates in monitoring, establishing, updating, and implementing library procedures; updates and maintains policy and procedure manuals.
• Monitors and tracks budget activities; may receive, verify, and prepare invoices for payment.
• Provides reference and readers' advisory services using library collections, reference tools, and materials.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of reports, records, and other related materials as necessary.
• Plans and conducts library programs and tours.
• Assists in selecting, ordering, and distributing library supplies and materials.
• Assists with collection development activities, including the selection, review, and weeding of library materials.
• May provide interlibrary loan services, including processing requests and coordinating the receipt and distribution of materials.
• May prepare promotional materials for library services, programs, and events.
• May act in the absence of higher level library staff as assigned.
• Job responsibilities may require travel.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education

Equivalent to an associate's degree from an accredited college or university in education, humanities, social sciences, mathematics or a related field.

Experience

Two (2) years of increasingly responsible technical and/or reference experience in a library.

Licenses

• Valid Class C California driver’s license at time of appointment.
• Acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Desirable

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Supervisory experience in a library setting.
• Program management experience related to library programs.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Mandarin, or other languages commonly used in the community.
• Experience processing archival collections and/or working with digital collections.
• Experience creating finding aids.

Special Requirements

Ability to work various schedules, including evening and weekend shifts as needed.