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Library Technical Assistant
Children's

Russell Library

Position Definition
Performs responsible and varied para-professional library duties and clerical-administrative work in Children's division; assists children, students and parents in using library services and facilities; and coordinates special division activities.

General Duties

• Receives oral or written instructions from the Head of the Children's Division or from a professional librarian.
• Plans work according to established procedures.
• Prioritizes tasks within work assignment.
• Allocates work to library pages.
• Participates in near-term and long-range planning of children's programs.
• Suggests purchase of books, publications, documents, audio-visual equipment and other materials.
• Organizes, coordinates and carries out storytelling, school visits, and other educational, cultural and library oriented recreational programs for pre-school and school aged children.
• Involves parents, teachers and adult volunteers in programs.
• Provides individual instruction in the use of library services and facilities, including search of catalog files, use of reference sources, and related information.
• Supervises children in regular visits to library.
• Assists children in locating materials and information for research or study projects.
• Assists students in use of audio-visual equipment and materials.
• Operates equipment as needed.
• Prepares exhibits of books, materials and audio-visual equipment.
• Prepares posters, bulletins, and newsletters to promote use of library and facilities.
• Uses computer terminal in entering and retrieving information in library database and automated accounting systems.
• Prepares lists, reports, and other information.
• Coordinates purchase or ordering of books and materials.
• Participates in inventory of books and materials.
• Prepares narrative and statistical reports for supervisor.
• Reports work accomplished to supervisor.

Additional Duties

• Performs routine library services.
• Assumes responsibility for unit or program in temporary absence of a librarian.
• Responds to inquiries from parents, vendors, and others.
• Sets up and maintains unit office files.
• Types routine correspondence.
• Performs related tasks as assigned.

Supervised By
Receives general supervision from the Head of Children's Services and task direction from a professional librarian.

Qualifications Profile

• The skills and knowledge required would generally be acquired with an Associate's Degree in Library Science, three years experience in public library work, including two years in a children's unit or a school library, or any equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Ability to apply principles of library administration to resolve practical problems.
• Ability to acquire a working knowledge of regulations and procedures pertaining to library responsibilities.
• A working knowledge of children's literature; library reference methods and procedures; and school reading programs.
• Ability to develop public relations materials, including newsletters and posters.
• Ability to relate in a friendly and open manner with children and parents.
• Ability to present ideas, provide instruction, and to perform story-telling and other presentations.
• Ability to type accurately.
• Ability to maintain accurate files and records.
• Ability to perform accurate mathematical computations.
• Ability to deal cooperatively with others.
• Ability to acquire skill to operate word and data processing equipment.

License or Certificate
Not Applicable

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task or responsibility.

TOWN OF MONROE
JOB DESCRIPTION
ASSISTANT CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN

Department: Library

Position Overview: Under the supervision of the Children's Services Librarian, performs responsible and varied paraprofessional, technical, and clerical work for the Children's Department.  This includes circulation services, reference and reader's advisory guidance, technical services, and children's programming.  Supervises the Children's Department in the absence of the Children's Services Librarian.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Understands and is able to perform all jobs related to lending library materials, registering patrons, receiving and processing reserves and system-level hold requests, collecting and recording fines and fees, and handling the bookdrops and people counters
• Works with the Circulation Services Manager to identify and retrieve overdue materials and to obtain interlibrary loans
• Assists the Children's Services Librarian in providing reference and reader's guidance to children, parents, and teachers; assists and instructs patrons in using library services, equipment, and facilities
• Assists in planning and conducting story hours and other children's programs
• Assists in selecting materials for acquisition and withdrawal, as assigned
• Places orders for new children's books and audiovisual items, receives shipments, and checks in newly-acquired materials
• Catalogs and classifies library materials; maintains an accurate, up-to-date database of library holdings; and physically processes items being added to and withdrawn from the collection
• Repairs or returns damaged materials, as appropriate; prepares materials for shipment to the bindery
• Maintains the Children's Department magazine collection: submits to the Cataloger titles approved for order or cancellation and claims for undelivered issues, and checks in magazine issues received by the Children's Department
• Maintains statistics on Children's Department activities, and provides periodic reports of same, as directed
• Assists in preparing bibliographies, flyers, bulletin boards, displays, and publicity for the Children's Department
• Assists the Children's Services Librarian in training and overseeing the work of staff and volunteers assigned to the Children's Department
• Works with staff and volunteers to shelve, shelfread, and shift in the Children's Department stacks; straightens magazines, displays, furniture, and collections as needed
• Inventories and reports department supply needs to the Children's Services Librarian
• Supervises the Children's Department in the absence of the Children's Services Librarian

Additional Responsibilities:

• Attends professional and community meetings, workshops, and conferences, as required
• Assists with circulation, reference, and technical services in the Adult Department, as needed
• Supervises all library operations on occasion, as assigned
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Supervision Received: Receives direct supervision from the Children's Services Librarian and general supervision from the Library Director

Supervision Exercised: Under the direction of the Children's Services Librarian, and in the absence of same, supervises staff and volunteers assigned to the Children's Department

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of public library services and programs
• Possesses a solid general education and especially familiar with children's literature and resources
• Comfortable working with children
• Ability to interact courteously and effectively with the public, with the library's business contacts, and with other staff
• Ability to organize work for efficient use of time
• Ability to word process and type with reasonable speed and exceptional accuracy
• Ability to keep records accurately
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Understands the latest cataloging and classification rules, plus library processing conventions
• Ability to understand and interpret library policies, procedures, and rules

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree required.  A minimum of 2 years' experience working with children's library services, children's literature and reference resources, and online searching preferred.  Familiarity with automated integrated library systems desirable.   

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to move and/or lift materials up to 25 pounds
• Ability to push a loaded book truck weighing up to 300 pounds
• Regularly required to stand, walk, bend, kneel, crawl, reach, climb, balance, and sit
• Ability to operate a keyboard at efficient speed and typical office equipment, including computer hardware
• Regularly required to talk and/or hear; use hands to operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms
• Vision and hearing at or correctable to "normal ranges"
• Occasionally required to attend off-site meetings
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions
   

Children's Services Assistant

Wilton Library

Summary of Responsibilities:
Participates in all functions of the Children's Services Department.

Education and Training Required:
Holds a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college (a Master of Library Science degree from an accredited university is strongly recommended, but not required). Has experience in working with and presenting programs for children.

Reports to:
Head of Children's Services

Responsible to:
Library Director

Duties/Responsibilities:
Reads professional journals and catalogs and participates in weekly meetings to select materials.

Hours:
Full-time (35 hours per week) or part-time (up to 25 hours per week.) position.

revised 8/02

Library Assistant/Children's Services

Woodbridge Town Library

Position Objectives
Working with the Children's Librarians performs a variety of tasks related to the operation of Children's Services.

Reporting Relationships
Reports to Head of Children's Services.

Typical Duties
Duties may include the following

• Works at the information desk; schedule includes evening and Saturday hours.
• Reserves, shelves and maintains library materials. Must be able to move 50 pounds of library materials or equipment.
• Monitors public use of library facilities and assists patrons in location of library materials and equipment.
• Assists with use of computer programs and the online public access catalog.
• Refers reference questions to professional staff.
• Responds to telephone inquiries about library programs and services.
• May present story times or other types of programs when scheduled and assists librarians in the preparation of all children's programs.
• Helps with art work in the department and prepares flyers and posters.
• At closing: clears tables of all materials and puts toys and puzzles away in preparation for custodian.

Desired Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Bachelor's Degree preferred. Basic knowledge of general office procedures. Basic knowledge of standard library equipment (i.e. automated circulation system, public access computers, CD-ROM work stations, etc.). Computer skills preferred. Ability to communicate effectively and courteously; ability and desire to serve the public of all ages. Excellent customer service skills. Ability to work effectively with colleagues. Knowledge of basic library materials, policies and procedures as found in the library personnel manual and the Town of Woodbridge employee manual.

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