Library Associate Part-Time

Town of Duxbury•Duxbury, MA

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this position is to provide paraprofessional support to professional library staff through the performance of varied duties and tasks. Performs professional level duties requiring a thorough knowledge of library procedures, library organization, and department operations. Must exercise judgment and initiative to perform duties; must be able to work independently and as part of a team. The employee carries out regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training. Work is generally reviewed only for technical accuracy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements. May direct library pages and library volunteers and may act as supervisor of a shift, if so directed, of if no professional staff is available. May train other staff members. Employee has access to confidential information of the department. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and the Public Records Act. Consequences or errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse public relations, monetary loss and delay or loss of library services. The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices, and precedents. Employee is expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in performing work assignments. The work consists of the practical application of assignments in gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data; or determining the methods to accomplish the work. Employee interacts with co-workers, and the public to explain department procedures or guidelines. Excellent customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns with patrons of the library.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree preferred, related education and experience considered.
General knowledge of public library services.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to deal with the general public and staff members in a pleasant and tactful manner.
Ability to learn and undertake new procedures.
Excellent computer keyboarding and mouse skills.
Excellent inter-personal and good computer skills.
Work requires moderate intermittent physical strength and effort daily, such as bending, lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying the object(s) and stacking them or placing them on shelves.
Position routinely requires lifting of objects up to thirty (30) pounds.
Duties involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination.
Visual demands require the employee to constantly read documents for general understanding and analytical purposes and with a need to distinguish colors.

Responsibilities

Uses both the staff and public online library systems to provide circulation, bibliographic, and/or patron advisory services.
Attends library and department meetings.
Works under direct supervision of the appropriate department head to provide library services; duties are designated by the department head.
Working at the circulation desk and circulating materials using the automated system.
Communicating library policies and procedures to patrons.
Answering telephone calls, managing relevant ones, and referring others to appropriate staff.
Registering patrons, collecting fines and fees.
Providing directional and general readers advisory information to patrons.
Assisting in physical collection care such as re-shelving, arranging, and weeding as directed.
Assisting the department head in department planning.
Working at the children’s services desk.
Providing reference and reader advisory information to patrons.
Assisting in collection care or collection development as directed.
Developing children’s programs, displays and web page maintenance.
Participating in the acquisition and classification of materials.
Processing library materials.
Providing online data entry and data editing of library materials.
Assisting in physical collection care such as mending and weeding, as directed.
Assisting professional reference and young adult staff.
Providing directional reference and reader’s advisory information to patrons.
Assisting in collection care or collection development as directed, including periodicals, history room materials, and vertical file.
Supervising the use of study rooms, study areas, computer room, research area and department equipment.