Closing Date: March 17, 2024 - 9:59 p.m.

Job Summary

Freeland is a small but bustling community that serves the interconnected rural communities on South Whidbey Island. The library is a vital resource that connects these communities with basic library services and safe spaces to access knowledge and resources.

The Public Services Assistant performs basic public service and library support services to contribute to the Library District's effective operation, providing library services, spaces, and resources that are representative of diverse cultures and perspectives, intentionally inclusive, and accessible to everyone.

This position will work 15 hours per week with a team of other library staff. The schedule will include Mondays and Saturdays, in addition to availability in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings throughout the week. The Freeland Library is open seven days a week. The successful candidate may be required to adapt to future schedule and location changes depending on library needs. Excellent customer service and support of equity, diversity, and inclusion are highly valued qualifications. Please note that if you do not live on Whidbey Island, your commute may require taking the ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton.

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 2.

We Value Lived Experience

Sno-Isle Libraries is committed to embedding equity into our organization. As we engage in equity work, it's important to have a good foundation to frame the work and then provide training opportunities to build skills and knowledge.

We value and embrace the unique experiences our staff members bring to the organization and recognize how their experiences improve the service we provide.

Benefits

As a valued member of Sno-Isle Libraries, the person selected for this position is eligible for sick leave, vacation leave, paid holidays, and dental coverage. For more information about these benefits, visit our Employment webpage.

Essential Functions

Functionslistedareintendedonlyasillustrationsofthevarioustypesofworkperformed.Theomissionofspecificdutiesdoesnotexcludethemfromthepositioniftheworkissimilar,relatedora logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Provide assistance at the library circulation desk, answer phones, check library materials in and out, register customers for library cards, and order various library materials.
• Assist customers with self-checkout machines and answer questions in the hold areas.
• Return library materials to proper locations and support circulation duties.
• Provide assistance to library customers with basic reference questions.
• Respond to technical services calls and assist with problems with the fax machines, public copiers, pay-for-print stations, vending machines, and printers.
• Submit and monitor technical reports for library technology service issues.
• Perform other public service and general clerical support tasks as assigned.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare correspondences and reports.
• Train new staff as needed.
• Attend meetings, trainings, and workshops as assigned.
• Assist with special projects as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervision

The position may report to a Library Circulation Supervisor or Library Manager I, depending on the size of the library. Although direct supervision is not a normal part of this position's work, incumbents may be called on to provide task direction to Page staff and library volunteers in absence of a supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of established practices and procedures for an integrated library system (ILS).
• Knowledge of library policies, procedures, and services.
• Knowledge of alpha and numeric systems for arranging library materials.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Strong organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to uphold the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the community.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently and to set priorities.
• Ability to handle and resolve disruptive behavior effectively.
• Ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective interpersonal skills with others.
• Ability to operate relevant computer systems including hardware and software, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, electronic databases, email, and internet navigation in addition to other office equipment and security systems.

Education and Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position can be acquired by a combination of experience and education including:

• High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
• These skills and abilities typically are acquired through completion of secondary school or equivalent together with several months in a customer service environment.

Physical and Environmental Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Most of the work is carried out within a generally accessible, safe, indoor environment. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent must identify and organize library materials such as books, audiobooks, and DVDs based on small-print numbers and alphabetical characters; scan and inspect library materials including opening media cases; and operate computers for extended periods of time.

An incumbent must occasionally move objects or materials weighing up to 35 pounds, including transfer of books and other materials to carts or shelves of varying heights. Incumbents may be required to move carts of books and other materials about the building for extended periods of time, and frequently remain stationary at one workstation for extended periods of time.

The incumbent must regularly communicate with coworkers and members of the public. These contacts and situations are deemed to be generally safe and free of undue stress, but require incumbents to be cordial, helpful, and skilled in interpersonal relations with others both in the public and within the Library District.

The following questions will be asked during the application process for this position and will be considered during the application evaluation:

• Provide one or two detailed examples of your experience providing direct customer service.
• Provide one example providing technical assistance to customers such as helping with a fax machine, copier or any other equipment.
• Provide one example of a time you had to use good organizational skills and had to pay attention to a lot of details.
• Describe one example using each of the following computer software: 1. MS Word, 2. Email and 3. Internet Navigation.

Sno-Isle Libraries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. This and all Sno-Isle Libraries' positions are subject to transfer.