Librarian III

County of Orange•Orange County, CA

About The Position

The Librarian III oversees, manages, and plans the day-to-day operations of a Tier 3 branch or other specialized unit within OC Public Libraries. The position supervises and leads library staff, directs activities within the assigned unit, and ensures responsive customer service to patrons. Responsibilities include managing branch personnel and budgets, collection development, program planning, community needs assessment and awareness, and public relations. Incumbents also contribute to system-wide planning and program committees, often in leadership roles. OC Public Libraries is a division of OC Community Resources. Its network includes 29 public branches in 23 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County, as well as a branch serving residents of Orangewood Children's Home. The library system provides community access to library services and materials in multiple formats, supported by knowledgeable and experienced staff. The recruitment will establish an open eligible list for current and future Librarian III positions, which may also be used for similar or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange. The recruitment is scheduled to close on November 12, 2026, at 11:59 P.M. Pacific Standard Time. The Structured Oral Interview is a timed assessment weighted at 100%.

Requirements

Meet the minimum qualifications for the Librarian III classification; the posting directs applicants to the classification details but does not state those qualifications in the job description.
Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

Nice To Haves

At least three years of professional librarian experience.
At least one year of experience as a library branch manager, including responsibility for supervising, training, and evaluating professional and support staff who provide public services.
Experience leading system-wide initiatives.
Extensive experience in the technical expertise, leadership and management, and customer service and interpersonal skill areas described in the posting.

Responsibilities

Manage and direct a Tier 3 branch library or specialized unit, ensuring effective operations and responsive library services.
Select, train, mentor, and review professional, paraprofessional, and volunteer staff, directly or through subordinate supervisors.
Schedule staff and programs to serve the local community.
Work with Library Administration to establish short- and long-term goals, objectives, and strategic priorities.
Oversee the effective use of branch public space, shelving, and service desks.
Manage branch materials acquisition and collection development, including possible participation in system-wide collection development.
Manage the branch budget and authorize and monitor expenditures.
Evaluate library services and use data to inform decisions and recommendations.
Plan and prepare publicity materials to promote library programs and services.
Work with Friends of the Library support groups, act as an ex-officio board member, and participate in planning and spending Friends' revenues.
Build relationships with community groups and city officials, promote library services, and develop local stakeholder networks.
Serve on internal OC Public Libraries committees supporting department goals.
Plan and develop programs that promote library collections and meet local community needs.
Attend system-wide meetings to support information flow between the County, branch, and local community.
De-escalate patron concerns and enforce library policies.
Follow County safety rules and regulations.
Pursue professional development opportunities.
Analyze problems, identify alternatives, assess consequences, implement recommendations, and monitor outcomes.
Oversee the library facility, identify safety or maintenance issues, and submit service tickets.
Apply library science and public business administration principles, including collection organization and budget preparation and control.
Use computer programs, library databases, and the integrated library system.
Conduct research, maintain statistical records, prepare reports, and use email for business purposes.
Develop and implement library programs and services, such as story times, book clubs, workshops, reading programs, and author events.
Support equity, diversity, and inclusion in public programming and collections.
Lead, train, guide, supervise, and evaluate library staff and volunteers; assign duties and establish procedures and schedules.
Organize work, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
Work with outside agencies and departments and build professional relationships.
Respond to patron requests, locate or provide information, and resolve complex public service issues.
Promote positive public relations and communicate the library's values, services, accomplishments, and needs to stakeholders.
Evaluate and assess library services and demonstrate their value to the community.
Interact professionally with the public in complex situations, exercise judgment, answer questions, resolve problems, and handle information appropriately.
Build partnerships with local agencies, city officials, and community stakeholders.