Library Associate_40 Hours_Islands Library

Location:                  Islands Library                            

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision of assigned supervisor, this position is responsible for delivering quality customer service that exceeds patron expectations.  Library Associates are responsible for performing more advanced, specialized paraprofessional duties in support of public service functions.  Assignments generally involve specialized tasks at library locations, including but not limited to: circulation support, reference services, planning and instructing library programming or providing support for children’s services.  The person holding this position may occasionally perform general functions of day-to-day tasks in support of public service functions.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

All positions in this class will:

• Deliver quality customer service. 
• Performs daily branch opening and closing procedures as assigned.
• Assist patrons with basic troubleshooting of common software products, operating systems, browsers, and other technology associated with library services. 
• Prepare, run, and complete necessary library reports under guidance of supervisor; perform general clerical duties related to managing library collection.
• Market library collection, services, and programs through displays and exhibits. 
• Shelve library materials; maintain shelf appearance by straightening, shifting, and ensuring items are in correct order.
• Assist with the planning and delivery of library programs. 
• Participate in the development and maintenance of the library collection as directed. 
• May represent the library in various community and/or professional organizations; participates in system-wide committees related to library work.
• May be assigned to work in other locations or departments. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

                                                         ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS PER ASSIGNED DEPARTMENT:

Youth Services:

• Assists with development and implementation of programs for children, teens, and their caregivers, including Storytime, Summer Reading programming, and other related programming.
• May prepare and implement craft related activities and projects for children and teens as assigned.
• Provides reference and readers advisory services in the Teen area and Children's area.
• Creates displays for the Teen area or Children's area, and other areas of the library as directed. 
• Remains current on trends in children’s and teen literature, programming, and culture through consortium meetings, workshops, and other appropriate seminars. 
• Monitors the behavior and conduct of patrons in the Teen Room and Children’s Area and intervene as necessary to ensure appropriate conduct. 
• May act as Person-In-Charge in the absence of senior staff, as assigned.

                                                                                          Adult Services/Reference:

• Provide general and in-depth reference assistance and reader advisory, using a variety of print and online resources. 
• Respond to questions providing services regarding collections to customers in person or by phone.
• Guide customers to appropriate resources and instruct in their use; assist and advise customers in making effective use of library services, materials, computers, library catalog and other reference tools.
• Recommend appropriate material to customers through readers advisory; refer customers to sources for additional information and assistance.
• Assists with development and implementation of programs for adults, including: book clubs, panel discussions, community events, and other library-related activities.
• May act as Person-In-Charge in the absence of senior staff, as assigned.

                                                                                                        Circulation:

• Provide circulation services; staffs information desks as assigned.
• Assists with cash-handling; may assist with circulation-related reports, resolving issues, and providing a higher-level of problem resolution under supervision of senior staff.
• May provide reference assistance and reader advisory, using a variety of print and online resources; Provides assistance with general information inquiries and requests.
• May assist with preparation of library materials, including processing, repair, and resolving issues related to collection.
• Assists with all aspects of receiving and distribution of delivery items and preparing items for delivery.
• May work to solve issues related to circulation of items, patron accounts, and/or other circulation-related problems; elevates issues to appropriate staff as necessary.
• Provides assistance in the use of electronic resources. 
• Provides assistance in the use of basic computer programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Suite, etc.). 
• Shelves library materials; Maintains shelf appearance by straightening, shifting, and ensuring items are in correct order. 
• Maintains library materials by mending, shelf reading, and weeding on condition. 
• Markets library collection, services, and programs through displays and exhibits. 
• May act as Person-In-Charge in the absence of senior staff, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED
• 1 year of experience in customer service or a library-related setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Requirements:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Strong computer skills required.
• Library experience preferred.
• Ability to work rotating shifts including nights and weekends.

Licenses or Certifications:

Valid driver’s license and insurability required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:   

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public. 
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with staff and customers of all ages and educational backgrounds. 
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and a variety of audio-visual equipment. 
• Ability to input data using a keyboard or other computer hardware. 
• Ability to learn basic library system practices and procedures, general content, and arrangement of materials. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality. 
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail. 
• Ability to deliver programs. 
• Ability to represent the library at community and outreach events, etc.
• Ability to work rotating shifts including nights and weekends.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is typically performed with the employee sitting at a desk, standing for extending periods, or bending/stooping. The employee must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds routinely, climb stairs, stand for extended periods of time, extended walking within and outside branch locations, reach, bend, and stoop. Full range of hand and finger motion is required for data entry purposes. If applicable, the ability to distinguish color is required. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Balancing: Maintaining 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.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm. 
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand. Must have the ability to place records, files, and boxes weighing no more than 25 pounds on shelves about head level. 
• Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Hearing: Perceiving 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.
• Hearing 2: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound. Must have the ability to hear well enough to carry on a normal conversation with clients both in person and on the telephone.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising 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: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes. 
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion. 
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward. 
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. 
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers. 
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging 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: Bending 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.
• Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading. Must have the ability to see well enough to interpret data on a computer monitor. 
• Visual Acuity 3: Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures. 
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable someone with a qualifying disability to perform the essential functions of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Typical office/library environment. Some fluctuations in building temperature related to HVAC problems can cause uncomfortable periods of heat or cold.  Some periods of elevated noise levels. Some stress related to the type of work being performed may be encountered e.g., pressure related to periods of high-volume activity and multiple demands.

Live Oak Public Libraries has the right to revise this job description at any time. This

 description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.