Library Assistant Youth Services - Part Time in Lenoir NC at Caldwell County, NC

LIBRARY ASSISTANT – YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT

MAIN LIBRARY

OVERVIEW

This position requires working in the Youth Services Department in Lenoir, with children aged birth-13 years old and their caregivers. It consists of reference and reader advisory duties (in-person, and via telephone and internet), and computer-assistance services for a diverse and young clientele, and their caregivers. The employee will help plan and assist with appropriate children’s programming, crafts, and activities, and other duties as assigned.

A successful candidate for this position is strongly customer service-oriented with demonstrated experience in delivering service to children with courtesy, discretion, and tact. They should have, or be able to quickly gain, a basic understanding of library functions, techniques, and technology. The candidate should be energetic, self-motivated, proactive, and team-oriented. They should be highly detail-oriented.

Applicants for this position must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma. Some college-level coursework in an applicable field with some experience in library work is preferred. Additional favorable experience includes:

• Experience working with children of all ages
• Education or daycare background
• Retail/restaurant point-of-service customer service
• Programming/project/event planning
• Children’s games and crafts
• Spanish language proficiency

Please submit a resume with the application.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

An employee in this class performs paraprofessional work requiring the application of current customer service techniques and appropriate library technology. He/she demonstrates an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to job responsibilities and exercises good judgment in applying library policies and regulations. Maintains accountability and a high level of courtesy and tact when dealing with the public. Assigned duties will vary according to the specific needs of the library and division of workload. While this position may have the opportunity to work independently, supervision will come from the Library Assistant II and III and overall supervision comes from the Youth Services Librarian.

Examples of (but not limited to) Duties Performed /Reference

• Experience in and ability to provide excellent customer service to a diverse group of customers who have a variety of library-related needs.
• Assesses patron information needs, provides appropriate resources and assists patrons in locating library materials and electronic resources.
• Assists in program preparation and activities for Youth sponsored by the Library.
• Experience in merchandising and staging materials for high impact results.
• Assists in shelving books and reading shelves.
• Receives incoming telephone calls, responding to inquiries.
• Provides moderate personal instruction, assistance and troubleshooting for computers and other equipment.
• Provides basic reference instruction and assistance.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

• Ability to follow a new or established procedure and to perform work requiring accuracy and detail.
• Ability to explain and use library tools and resources.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with library personnel and library patrons.
• Must be adaptable to performing appropriately when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Must be able to work the assigned schedule which includes evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work and travel from one branch to another and out of county for occasional workshops.

Physical Requirements

• Sufficient strength, agility, visual acuity and verbal capability to perform the core requirements of the position which can require operating a variety of machinery and equipment and the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force to lift and/or move objects.
• Minimum Education and Training
• High School diploma required. Some college-level coursework in an applicable field with some experience in library work preferred; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including computers, typewriters, copiers, printers, facsimile machines, calculators, postage machines, etc. Must be able to exert up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 15 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.

Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, forms, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, permits, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in Standard English.

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via a telephone.