Library Specialist

The Library Specialist undertakes specialized technical and administrative duties in various library domains, including Technical Services and Public Services.

• Duties in Technical Services include processing new library materials and cataloging them by determining the appropriate placement and entering them into the computerized system, modifying catalog records as needed, ordering books, processing donations, repairing and mending books and other materials and working with staff on book requests.

• Duties in Public Services include assisting customers with locating library materials and checking materials in and out, updating patron records, issuing library cards, shelving books, answering patron questions, assessing and collecting fines for overdue books, collecting/emptying the book drop, handling money from fines/fees and repairing library materials as needed. Duties also include locating needed information either in the library’s collection or online, enforcing library rules and policies, assisting the public in using computers and catalogs, ordering new books and other library materials, compiling statistics and generating lists of books and processing magazines and newspapers.

The Library Specialist works independently to carry out their duties and responsibilities under the general supervision of a Library Services Supervisor. Work shifts may be part-time or full-time and may include evening and weekend work.

The job requires knowledge of a specialized library function as assigned, fundamental library objectives and practices and strong customer service skills to assist patrons with all aspects of library services. The job requires the ability to maintain a collaborative and cooperative working relationship with library staff and supervisors, other City employees, and the general public.

The work is conducted in a general office and library environment with stable temperatures and a moderate level of noise.

• Performs para-professional technical and clerical work in technical services, or public services as follows:

  • Technical Services – Orders and receives new books and other library materials; catalogs books, determining proper placement, identification and labeling; repairs books and other materials; reviews and verifies computerized records; prepares labels and barcodes for material identification; processes donations; works with staff on specialized book requests; order supplies and takes inventory. Maintains current knowledge of new requirements, new software and programs associated with technical service requirements.
  • Public Services – Provides front-line customer service to library patrons. Checks books and materials in and out; issues and renews library cards; assists in notifying patrons of overdue or lost items, enters and updates patron records; handles initial patron complaints and responds or refers complaints to supervisors. Sorts, organizes and shelves books; collects and sorts books from the library bookdrop; processes “holds” for library patrons;
    
    repairs damaged books.
• Assists patrons with public catalog, public computers, and other reference materials. Helps patrons locate books or other library materials. Reviews shelved books to ensure they are in proper order;
  Assists with opening/closing the library as needed.
• May be assigned a specialty task/responsibility, such as selecting materials for outreach, receiving and processing inter-library loans, recording data for statistical purposes, preparing reports of lost/damaged materials, contacting patrons for overdue/lost materials, maintaining order of library materials, shifting collection materials, preparing labels, processing orders for materials, as well as…