Library Assistant (30 hrs/wk) Part Time

General Description

The Albany Public Library is seeking a library assistant (30 hrs/wk) to take on a variety of duties, including supporting our children’s librarian in delivering high quality services to the families of Albany, Oregon, in our two locations. Services to children are a high priority at the APL. We have dedicated ample space – half a floor at each location – to space for children to read, explore, and play. We provide services in English and Spanish to serve our diverse community. Our children's department is home to one of the busiest summer reading programs in the state as well as a Maker Space and an interactive play space, to be unveiled at the Main Library in the near future.

For this position, we are looking for an adaptable teammate who excels at collaborating on new ideas while also working independently on projects. The ideal candidate will have worked with children and caregivers, either in libraries or in another setting, and will be ready to serve our patrons in all areas of the library.

The Albany Public Library is driven by the following values:
Service – We jump up and serve at every opportunity to respond to the needs of our patrons and the Albany community.

Respect – We see all people as individuals and treat staff and patrons with dignity.

Diversity – We celebrate and respect the many backgrounds and cultures that make up our community and reflect them in our collections and services.

Privacy – We defend your right to explore, learn, and read anonymously.

Access – We remove barriers in order to provide resources and services to the community widely and equitably.

Fun – We take play, discovery, joy, and humor seriously.

NOTE: This position is benefits eligible (medical, dental, & vision) at a prorated cost to the employee. Working hours to be determined (will include evening & weekend hours.)

Essential Functions/Duties & Responsibilities

The duties listed are intended only as illustrative examples of the various types of work that may be performed by individuals in this classification. Any of the following duties may be performed. These examples are not necessarily performed by all incumbents and do not include all specific essential functions and responsibilities the incumbent may be expected to perform.

Assists patrons in locating needed resources in all formats; answers telephone; provides instruction on internet usage; describes and/or demonstrates procedures for searching on the computer catalog.

Assists patrons in library card application process; modifies patron records.

Checks materials in and out of library; handles monetary payments for fines, donations, and memorials; participate in opening and closing procedures.

Assists a professional librarian in carrying out the programs of a division of the library; and may plan and conduct the program of a division of the library as delegated by a professional librarian.

Answers telephones, which may require renewing materials over the phone; answering questions regarding patron accounts; reserving study rooms; scheduling exam appointments; answering inquiries about library policies; answering reference questions; and taking information requests.

Answers reference and directional questions and provides ideas and suggestions about what print/electronic resources would best meet each patron’s needs or wants.

Provide instruction on basic computer and internet usage, as well as smartphones, e-readers, and tablets; describe and/or demonstrate procedures for searching on the computer catalog and using library databases online. Assist patrons with job searching and resume building.

Assist patrons with using public printers, scanner copier, typewriter, and microfiche.

Unloads carts of books in various departments.

Maintain day-to-day statistics for assigned library department.

Maintains basic equipment (copy machine, micro fiche, printers, computers); straightens and shelves materials in assigned library areas.

Reviews materials to be classified and determines subject matter; through copy cataloging, selects classification numbers and description heading according to the Dewey-decimal classification system; inputs information containing author, title, and classification number; and stamps books or applies bar code into library materials.

Assists in collection development; writes descriptions or reviews of materials; and recommends items for purchase.

Assists in maintaining library collections and facilities by picking up toys; straightening books, chairs, shelves, papers, and magazines; changing calendars; and emptying book drops.

Assists with scheduling the use of public meeting rooms

Administers proctored exams; corresponds with students and schools/universities through email and phone calls; ensuring students have library cards; and prepares all exam information before proctoring appointments so that other staff members are able proctor exams as well.

Monitors and addresses behavioral issues in assigned library area.

Performs all the tasks of a Library Aide (e.g. all aspects of the circulation desk, shelving in all the departments, assisting patrons with basic requests for materials and information, and other routine clerical and manual work in processing, classifying, and cataloging library materials).

Represents the City of Albany by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor. Regards everyone, internal and external, as a customer and deliver the best service possible in a respectful and patient manner.

Serves as a member of various City committees as assigned.

Assists other staff in the performance of their duties as assigned.

Maintains regular job attendance and adherence to working hours.

Operates a motor vehicle safely and legally.

May provide training and orientation to newly assigned personnel.

Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Leadership

Creates a high-performance work culture by demonstrating a positive attitude and modeling the City’s mission, vision, and values.

Demonstrates, promotes, and develops leadership, management, and technical skills for self and other employees.

Conducts self with high integrity, proactive in conserving city resources, and seeks and incorporates customer feedback for continuous improvement of operations.

Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.

Supervision/Lead Work Exercised

This is a non-supervisory position. Lead work/coordination of the work of others is not a typical function assigned to this position. Incumbents in this position may provide training and orientation to newly assigned personnel.

Qualifications & Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Associate degree in Library Science, Liberal Arts, Education, or a closely related field and one (1) year of library experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: principles and practices of modern library systems and programs; library circulation or processing techniques; library classification systems; and basic office procedures.

Skill in: operation of listed tools and equipment used.

Ability to: accurately maintain library filing systems; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; understand and carry out written and oral instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments, and the public; operate computers for data entry.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Fluency in reading, writing, & speaking the Spanish language is desirable.

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license.

The individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others in the workplace.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

In the performance of the job duties, the employee will be working in an office environment under usual office working conditions. Work may also be performed in meeting settings in offices, conference rooms, and public spaces. The noise level in the work area is typical of most office environments, with telephones, personal interruptions, and background noises.

Travel between work locations is a regular part of this classification. This position will work evenings and weekends.

The work environment for this position does not differ significantly from that which is specified for the job classification.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The factors described herein are representative of, but not all-inclusive of, those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Detailed information may be available in a supplemental Job Task Analysis document. The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

Balancing: sufficient to maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Crawling: sufficient to move about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Crouching: sufficient to bend the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Feeling: sufficient to perceive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Fingering: sufficient to pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

Grasping: sufficient to apply pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Handling: sufficient to pick, hold, or otherwise work, primarily with the whole hand.

Hearing: sufficient to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.

Kneeling: sufficient to bend legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

Lifting: sufficient to raise objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

Mental Acuity: sufficient to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

Pulling: sufficient to use upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Pushing: sufficient to use upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

Reaching: sufficient to extend hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

Speaking: sufficient to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Stooping: sufficient to bend body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Talking: sufficient to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Visual Acuity: sufficient to observe violations of codes, to effectively operate standard office equipment; ability to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, drawings, etc.; and to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment, by both day and night.

Walking: sufficient to move about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT USED

In the performance of job duties, the employee will use a personal computer and various software programs; motor vehicle; calculator; digital camera and/or video recorder; portable radio; phone; copy and fax machines; and other related tools and equipment.

Safety Equipment:
Develops safe work habits and contributes to the safety of self, co-workers, and the general public.

Recommended Skills

• Driver's License
• Integrated library system
• Computer literacy
• Cataloging
• Filing