Library Associate II - Library

About the role

The Seattle Public Library’s mission is to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. The Library Associate II position at the Capitol Hill Branch serves a diverse range of people, including some of our most vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Responsibilities

• Provides friendly, responsive customer service to patrons; checks materials in and out; renews and reserves materials; collects fees; registers patrons for library cards; resolves patron account issues; applies the Library’s circulation policies and procedures; gives directions or information to patrons regarding the location and use of Library materials, equipment and resources; and assesses the nature of, responding to, and effectively resolving, a variety of related issues.
• Sorts, files, shelves and routes books and a wide variety of other materials; lifts and transports books and materials using book carts, hand trucks and similar equipment; uses automated systems; locates and retrieves materials for processing; maintains the order and appearance of materials, re-shelves as needed; and retrieves materials for patrons and Library staff.
• Enforces the Library’s policies and procedures when interacting with patrons at circulation desks.
• Affords support duties such as gathering information or data; maintaining records and files; compiling statistics; and assisting with various projects such as processing damaged materials, updating records and/or developing reports.
• Assists with shelving and sorting materials, when needed.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or a Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) is required.
• Minimum of two years of work experience providing customer service to the general public, applying exemplary customer service standards in dealing with complex customer issues.
• Previous experience working in a library setting is preferred.
• Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills: Candidates must be able to effectively respond to patron communications in person and on the telephone, specifically the ability to listen to and understand customer concerns, assess available options, and respond accurately and appropriately. Candidates must also be able to respond to patron requests for directional assistance. Candidates must be able to effectively communicate in English, verbally and in writing, as well as comprehend spoken and written English.
• Experience using Personal Computers and Office Equipment: Candidates must have experience operating point-of-sale/service computer terminals that use menu-based commands to obtain, interpret, and display data and information related to customer accounts. Candidates must have experience with using Microsoft Office applications (Outlook email, Excel and Word), internet browsers and online catalogs. Candidates must have experience using general office equipment, such as fax machines, photocopiers, printers and cash registers.
• Organizational Skills: Candidates must be able to learn to sort books or other materials alphabetically and numerically, quickly, accurately and safely, and must be able to learn sorting and library filing schemes, such as the Dewey Decimal system. Candidates must also be able to organize and maintain information in an electronic format in shared network files.
• Candidates must be flexible in adjusting their work hours and locations.
• Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to work with others as part of a team on projects and have the ability to understand and apply verbal and written instructions.
• Candidates must also be able to bend, stretch, stoop, and lift bins up to 40 pounds in weight and push wheeled book carts weighing up to 200 pounds. Candidates must also have the ability to squeeze and release hand brakes on wheeled book carts.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with racially, culturally and economically diverse communities.
• Experience interacting with immigrant families, new English speakers, people experiencing housing insecurity, and individuals who are living with addiction or mental illness.
• The ability to speak and read Amharic, Chinese, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya or Vietnamese; fluency in American Sign Language.
• Demonstrated experience using de-escalation techniques for challenging behaviors.
• Experience with merchandise handling and inventory tracking.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is $29.39 - $35.72 per hour. The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans. Information about retirement plans can be found at: https://www.seattle.gov/retirement.