Library Assistant

About the role

The Library Assistant reports to the Dean of Instruction (Language Arts) at San Jose City College. The work schedule is 12 months per year; Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position is represented by the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter 363.

Responsibilities

• Perform specialized and technical paraprofessional level work in the acquisition, processing and distribution of library/media center materials requiring the successful coordination of a variety of specialized library tasks and details from the initiation of a relevant procedure to its completion.
• Maintain specialized knowledge and skills in various phases of library techniques and functions.
• Oversee and participate in the ordering, receipt and processing of a variety of library/media center materials and supplies.
• Work closely with library personnel to ensure coordinated, effective services.
• Identify books and non-book materials to be purchased by publisher and complete purchase orders.
• Contact publishers, producers, distributors, program directors and suppliers regarding shipping/receiving instructions and discrepancies.
• Respond to questions and requests for information from publishers, faculty, students and library personnel and resolve complaints of callers.
• Monitor library budget accounts and applicable grant fund accounts.
• Identify vendors and wholesalers from which best prices for library/media center materials can be obtained.
• Research delayed shipments and work with publishers and other vendors to correct problems such as incorrect and late shipments, incorrect billing, and incomplete orders.
• Initiate and monitor material returns.
• Work closely with accounting personnel to coordinate payments to publishers and other book and library/media material sources.
• Maintain current information on publishers' policies, new editions, and other essential information.
• Perform a wide variety of office and routine administrative duties such as completing paperwork for personnel, payroll and budget functions.
• Establish, maintain and update a variety of records and files related to library/media center operations and inventory including budgetary/financial records, purchase orders, facility usage summaries and circulation data.
• Independently compose routine correspondence and reports related to library functions.
• Aid in the preparation of a variety of statistical reports required by State and other agencies.
• Serve as secretary to a committee preparing agendas and taking minutes.
• Maintain schedule and calendar for supervisor of staff vacation, absences, and coordinate relief coverage for lunch and breaks.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school supplemented by college level course work in library technical assisting or related field.
• Four years of increasingly responsible technical or paraprofessional work experience in a library including technical services or circulation services and secretarial experience.

Skills and abilities

• Standard library procedures of a complex nature including practices, methods and procedures used in library/media center book and materials purchasing.
• Publishing companies, book vendors, and other sources of supply.
• Reference materials used to identify pertinent information about book and non-book materials.
• Types and use of materials/media in a library collection.
• Basic mathematics and fundamental bookkeeping methods and techniques.
• Library of Congress bibliographic cataloging practices and classification schedules.
• Practices for searching, creating and revising standard MARC cataloging using an on-line bibliographic utility program.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Modern office methods, practices and equipment including personal computers and related software.

Benefits

• In addition to the salary, this position qualifies for the choice of one of the District's excellent Health Benefits and Welfare plans, which the premium cost is 100% paid by the District for the employee and their eligible dependents, and one health plan costing an estimated $60,000 for the District for fiscal year 2025-2026.
• We offer two medical plans (Anthem Blue Cross [PPO] and Kaiser Permanente (HMO)); dental (Delta Dental PPO); vision (VSP Choice); life insurance for the employee (The Lincoln); life insurance for eligible dependents (The Lincoln); a long term disability/income protection plan (The Lincoln); and an employee assistance plan (Anthem EAP).
• There are currently 20 paid holidays.