Public Services Assistant Ii

Objective & Relationships

CITY DIVERSITY STATEMENT:
The citizens of Janesville choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a place to realize life’s opportunities. We strive to sustain a community culture where differences are recognized, understood, and appreciated. As such, the City of Janesville recognizes the importance of developing an environment where diversity is not merely accepted but embraced and celebrated. As public servants, we believe everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. To this end, we will diligently recruit and retain the most talented employees in an environment that fosters maximizing one’s potential. Therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to consider employment with the City of Janesville and serve the residents of “Wisconsin’s Park Place”.
OBJECTIVE:
The employee in this position serves as a front-line representative of Hedberg Public Library. The employee orients patrons to library services and resources; provides reference and readers’ advisory assistance; maintains order in and around the building; and supports an atmosphere that offers patrons undisturbed use of the facilities within the framework of objectives, policies, and procedures established by the Library Director and Library Board. The employee is also required to make sound judgments, find solutions to patron information requests, and resolve conflicts with patrons regarding their library records.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to: Head of Public Services.
Has no regular supervisory duties.
Has regular work contacts with Public Services Assistant I and Librarians, along with staff from other library departments. Assists and is mentored by Public Services Librarians.

Essential Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Uses a wide variety of resources to provide reference, facilitative, and readers’ advisory responses to the public in person and over the telephone by conducting effective reference interviews. Refers questions to Librarians when appropriate.
• Assists patrons in locating library materials.
• Assists and instructs individuals in the use of library resources, equipment including microfilm readers and copy machines, and basic computer tasks.
• Schedules library spaces, equipment, and program attendance for patrons using booking calendars, databases, and other tools.
• Maintains awareness of activity within the library while walking through shelving rows and public service areas greeting and assisting patrons.
• Be familiar with library policies and communicate them effectively to patrons.
• Addresses patrons who are behaving unacceptably, inform them of the Library’s Public Code of Behavior, advise them of expectations and consequences, follow through if necessary, and document incidents.
• Assists in the circulation of library materials, registers new borrowers, ensures patron confidentiality, and collects fines, fees, and charges for miscellaneous purchases.
• Maintains positive working relations with staff, the public, and volunteers.
• Conducts closing duties of clearing, locking and securing the building at end of day.
• Assists Public Service Librarians with programs, speaking engagements, and outreach as needed.
• Maintains and troubleshoots office equipment including – but not limited to – computers, photocopiers, printers, microfilm readers, and typewriters. Calls for service or submits service request when needed.
• May be responsible for assigned tasks or individual projects such as processing newspapers, developing and maintaining monthly displays, or similar tasks and projects.
• Cooperates as a team member with other library staff in performing duties essential to the achievement of efficient library operations.
• Performs other special projects and other duties as assigned or required during and after regular business hours including providing support as a part of any City response to essential or emergency operations.

Minimum Position Requirements/Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.
Education and Experience

• A High School Diploma, or equivalent, is required.
• Minimum one (1) year experience working in a library, or two (2) years’ experience working directly with customers (i.e. retail sales, customer service desk, or similar work).

• Library classification system (preferred).
• Computers, printers, and copy machines.
• Software programs such as Microsoft Office 365 and online platforms including Facebook.

• Interpersonal communication.
• Intermediate computer proficiency skills including the knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 and its applications.
• Handling detail-oriented work.

• Maintain a positive attitude and professional demeanor when working with the public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in written form.
• Follow verbal and written instructions with minimum supervision.
• Be reliable, timely, and proactive in completion of duties.
• Use tact, diplomacy, and good judgment to resolve problems, handle conflict and make effective decisions under library policy.
• Comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures, and reporting all unsafe activities to supervisor.
• Interact with a diverse group of individuals.
• Work effectively as part of a team.
• Resolve problems, handle conflict, and find solutions to conflict when in stressful situations.

Supplemental Information

EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES:
Machinery and equipment including computers, printers, photocopier, telephone, scanners, and other standard and specialized office equipment, such as a laser and receipt printer, and RFID sorter.
PHYSICAL FACTORS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an environment much like a retail store. An individual in this position frequently stands at a service desk as well as walks, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls and exerts up to 50 pounds of force by lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects. The employee is frequently required to see/observe, talk/speak and listen/hear; use their hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects and equipment; repetitive arm, wrist, hand and eye movements are included. There is frequent twisting, reaching, wrist turning and grasping. The employee may be required to climb or balance.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of equipment. Employee is required to use cognitive ability to reason, analyze and verbalize thoughts and ideas. Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials or tasks.
The employee will spend the majority of the working day inside speaking with other employees or members of the public. Hours vary and may include some evening or weekend hours. The working conditions in the office are comfortable. The noise level is generally quiet to moderately noisy.
DISCLAIMER:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, or is responsive to the needs of the City of Janesville.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
The City of Janesville, Wisconsin is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.