Librarian I​/II

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees plays a key role in the success of San José, the heart of Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration prohibited by federal, state or local laws. The City of San José offers reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For assistance, contact 408‑535‑1285, 711 (TTY), or send email to City Careers.

The San José Public Library (SJPL) employs over 600 staff, a 23 % bilingual workforce, and operates 24 branch libraries plus the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. SJPL serves roughly one‑million residents with over 6 million visitors and 8 million item circulations annually. It leads the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and the SJ Access digital equity initiative, providing free Wi‑Fi, tech lending, and multilingual digital literacy programs.

San José Public Library seeks full‑time and part‑time Librarians (Librarian I / II) to provide exemplary customer service, intellectual freedom, and innovative library programs.

Responsibilities include:

• Planning, delivering, and evaluating programs for all ages (story time, STEAM, outreach, coding, volunteer engagement).
• Providing advanced reference and research services, maintaining the library catalog, and supervising library technology.
• Collaborating with community partners, schools, and city departments to promote literacy, digital equity, and lifelong learning.
• Managing collections, preservation, and library resources while ensuring compliance with library policies and federal/state regulations.
• Participating in staff training, professional development, and the library’s continuous improvement initiatives.

Education and Experience
Librarian I:
Master’s Degree in Library Science from an accredited institution.
Librarian II:
Master’s Degree in Library Science plus at least one year of professional library experience.

Selection Process
The hiring process includes a written application, responses to job‑specific questions, and one or more interviews. Only candidates who best match the position are invited to interview.

• Job Expertise – Knowledge of professional/technical principles, library policies, and applicable regulations.
• Continuous Improvement – Identifies learning opportunities and applies best practices.
• Customer Service – Anticipates customers’ needs and delivers services efficiently.
• Initiative – Proactively plans, manages responsibilities, and pursues educational opportunities.
• Planning – Aligns unit goals with organizational strategy and ensures optimal resource use.
• Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills – Builds effective relationships with colleagues and supervisors.
• Technology Use/Management – Integrates technology to improve program effectiveness.
• Communications Skills – Articulates information clearly orally and in writing.

Federal law requires verification of eligibility to work in the United States. The City of San José will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications or transfers for H1‑B or other visa types.

AI tools may support application preparation, but authenticity and accuracy are paramount. AI can supplement, not replace, the originality and judgment the City seeks in employees. All application responses and interview answers must reflect the candidate’s own knowledge, skills, and experiences.