Library Specialist - Collection Services

Sonoma County Library•Rohnert Park, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Sonoma County Library is seeking customer service-driven and detail-oriented individuals to perform routine library work related to the ordering, cataloging, and processing of library materials. The ideal candidates are organized, adaptable, collaborative, and committed to providing accurate and efficient support in a fast-paced library environment. This is a tremendous opportunity to be part of a mission-driven public agency, and help transform the literacy and education landscape for all Sonoma County residents. The Collection Services Division has two (2) full-time vacancies available at Sonoma County Library Headquarters: one (1) in the Acquisitions Department and one (1) in the Cataloging Department.

Requirements

Completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and two (2) years of library, customer service, clerical or office support work experience.
An associate's degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university can substitute for the required experience.
Knowledge of core library operating principles, including confidentiality of customer information, freedom of information, and intellectual freedom.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively working with library users, vendors, contractors, and library staff.
Knowledge of alphabetic and numeric systems for classifying and organizing library materials.
Knowledge of standard library practices and procedures including circulation, acquisitions, copy cataloging, and processing.
Knowledge of applications of automated library systems.
Knowledge of library classification, cataloging, and bibliographic terminology.
Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
Knowledge of basic record keeping principles and procedures.
Knowledge of basic principles and practices of data collection and report preparation.
Knowledge of basic arithmetic principles and cash handling.
Knowledge of modern office practices, methods and computer equipment and applications.
Knowledge of English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
Ability to maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
Ability to inspect the work of staff and volunteers; maintain established quality control standards; train staff in proper work procedures within defined guidelines.
Ability to identify and implement effective courses of action to complete assigned work.
Ability to follow department policies and procedures related to assigned duties.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized library services software applications programs.
Ability to organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
Ability to use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
Ability to use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment to make sound, independent decisions within established policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Nice To Haves

Customer service-driven
Detail-oriented
Organized
Adaptable
Collaborative

Responsibilities

Performs routine library work related to the cataloging and processing of library materials.
Copy cataloging, verifying and updating bibliographic records and item records according to local procedures.
Reviewing and correcting vendor-provided bibliographic records.
Verifying call numbers, printing spine and bibliographic labels, processing materials.
Responding to branch cataloging requests, preparing materials for mending, and assisting with special projects related to record maintenance and digital collections.
Performs routine library work related to the ordering, receiving, and processing of library materials in all formats.
Creating purchase orders in the Integrated Library System (ILS).
Unpacking, organizing and receiving shipments, processing invoices.
Communicating with vendors regarding discrepancies.
Maintains accurate and detailed records, verifies accuracy of information, researches discrepancies, and records information.
Uses a computer and the Integrated Library System (ILS) to enter and retrieve information, record statistics, perform basic circulation and/or system-wide functions to locate library materials and/or to route processed materials to appropriate branches.
Registers library users, enters user information into library database, and issues new and replacement library cards, updates user records and accounts.
Answers questions about library accounts; resolves account issues and circulation problems such as partial returns, claims returned, and damaged and lost items.
Informs and advises users of library policies, procedures, operations, and services.
Demonstrates and provides assistance in using library technology equipment including self-service checkout machines, public computers, copy machines and microfilm readers; refers more technically advanced questions and demonstrations to appropriate staff.
Provides assistance by answering basic questions about the location of general sections of the library collection; refers users to the appropriate library staff, service desks and departments.
May provide basic reference (i.e., informational and directional) using the online catalog, library databases, and other immediately available resources to assist in the location of specific items.
Refers more professionally advanced reference questions to appropriate library staff.
Levies and collects payments for damaged or lost materials; may waive fees within authorized limits and refer complex waiver questions to a supervisor or manager.
Carries out hold list responsibilities, fills hold requests; searches shelves for holds, scans items into the automated computer system and prints hold slips; maintains hold shelves.
Carries out other responsibilities pertinent to computer-generated reports and searches, including searches for trace, missing and lost items.
Balances cash drawers and vending machine monies and prepares deposits.
Retrieves, gathers, checks in, and organizes, sorts, routes, and shelves materials.
May collect, receive, and process returned materials using automated materials handling equipment.
Ensures library material is in proper order and appearance (e.g., outward-facing covers); searches for and corrects sorting errors on bookshelves; relocates library materials as required.
Sorts book and media delivered from other locations according to their branch stickers or user hold/request slips; prepares materials for delivery to other branches and library systems.
Keeps library premises clean and in good order, collects loose books and materials, and performs item counting and sorting.
Keeps periodicals, newspapers, and other ephemeral materials current and available for library users.
Notifies management, security and/or appropriate library staff of issues related to safety.
Cleans, mends, and repairs library materials according to effective conservation techniques within branch parameters; replaces bar codes, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, encodes RFIDs, and other identification as necessary.
Orders supplies, distributes mail, and prepares outgoing mail.
May perform minor and routine maintenance on copy machines or computers.
Maintains and processes various files, records, and reports; may perform other clerical and general office support tasks.
Applies and encodes radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags.
Accurately prints and applies bibliographic labels and spine labels.
Places orders for new books and materials in all formats; creates purchase orders in the Integrated Library System (ILS); receives and enters invoices into ILS.
Receives and organizes shipments of library materials; opens boxes and unpacks contents; verifies that contents of shipment match packing slip; inspects condition of materials.
Communicates with external vendors, reports shortages, damaged items and other discrepancies to the appropriate vendor.
Places orders for departmental supplies; distributes supplies to vendors and branches as needed.
Works with events staff to manage Book Club inventory for the system; distributes books to branches.
Oversees inventory, distribution to branches, and restocking of community resources.
Opens, organizes and date stamps magazines, newspapers and microfilm received in the mail; reviews periodicals for damage and requests replacement issues from vendor; checks in periodical issues in the ILS; prints and applies periodical labels and barcodes; makes changes to serial control records and prediction patterns as needed.
Processes books, media, periodicals, toolkits, and other materials according to local specifications by covering, casing, applying appropriate labels and other identifying information.
Sorts and distributes mail.
Processes all lease book returns.
Accurately performs copy cataloging; searches for and verifies the correct catalog entry; edits records according to local procedures; verifies call numbers according to established standards and guidelines.
Reviews vendor-provided Machine-Readable Content (MARC) records for accuracy; makes corrections as needed; maintains accurate bibliographic records and call numbers.
Prepares material from branches and special collections for mending, binding, archival housing, and processing based on current standards and techniques for preservation and conservation; operates bindery machine.
Monitors Cataloging Request System for change requests, corrections, inquiries, and potential projects; makes changes and corrections; updates information when making reassignments and changes in the ILS; interfaces with all branches and levels of staff regarding cataloging changes.
Participates and assists with one-time special projects such as retrospective call number changes, relabeling projects, and preparing, linking and uploading records for digital collections.
Receives and opens LINK+ materials from other library systems; processes for distribution to branches within the ILS and specialized LINK+ software.
Processes returns of LINK+ material from branches and from other library systems.
Processes and packages library materials to loan to other library systems.
Uses postage machine to print postage and prepare outgoing mail.
Receives, tracks and mails courtesy returns to other library systems.