Principal Library Clerk

City of Saratoga Springs NY•Saratoga Springs, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a civil service position with a current vacancy at Saratoga Springs Public Library in New York. The position performs specialized clerical work requiring advanced knowledge of library clerical operations. Compared with a Senior Library Clerk, it involves greater independent judgment and decision-making. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Librarian, with discretion to plan and carry out assignments. The position supervises Library Clerks, Pages, and volunteers. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with one weekday evening shift to be determined and one Saturday per month, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The stated 2026 salary is $50,909. The posting lists NYS Retirement, a full benefits package, paid time off, and yearly increases. Applicants must submit a completed City of Saratoga Springs employment application; a résumé is not accepted in place of the application. Applications are available through the City Civil Service Office or the city website, and may be submitted by email, mail, or in person.

Requirements

Meet one of the following qualification paths: graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State-registered college or university with an associate’s degree, plus one year of full-time paid clerical experience within an automated public library and one year of supervisory experience; or high school graduation or a high school equivalency diploma, plus four years of full-time paid clerical experience within an automated public library, including one year at a supervisory level.
Supervisory experience must involve close and immediate supervision of permanently assigned employees on a regular, ongoing basis, including assigning and reviewing work, providing instruction, evaluating performance, and being accountable for work quality, quantity, or project completion.
Submit a completed City of Saratoga Springs employment application; a résumé is not accepted in its place.

Responsibilities

Perform specialized and complicated library clerical functions, including serial ordering and record maintenance, cataloging from Library of Congress copy, and cataloging fiction.
Supervise the shelf list, authority files, and registration files.
Prepare clerical procedural manuals and clerical training programs.
Troubleshoot difficult clerical problems using independent judgment.
Compile statistical reports for budget, circulation, and other purposes.
Train and direct the work of library staff.
Answer incoming phone calls, handle procedural questions, and direct other questions to the appropriate person.
Total monthly statistics from daily sheets and report them monthly to the department head.
Schedule and direct staffing of the circulation desks.
Enter and retrieve information using a computer terminal.