County of Chester is hiring: Library Assistant in West Chester

Salary: $16.37 Hourly

Location : Chester County Library - Exton, PA

Job Type: Part Time

Job Number: 03286

Department: Library

Division: Libraries P/T

Opening Date: 11/01/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

Weekly Hours: 19

Shift: Varies, includes nights and weekends

Summary

The Circulation Library Assistant provides direct customer service to adults and children at the main Customer Service desk. Key duties of the position include issuing library cards and updating cardholder accounts, checking- out library materials, checking-in returned materials, management and delivery of reserved items, and resolving cardholder account issues.

All employees of the Chester County Library are considered a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse under the Child Protective Services Law (Title 23 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 63).

Essential Duties

• Greet, direct and provide basic assistance with directional, instructional and informational inquiries for patrons at the circulation check-out desk.
• Issue library cards to in County and out-of-County/State residents.
• Locate and check out materials to patrons.
• Inspect returned materials for damage.
• Compute, record, and receive overdue fines.
• Review records to compile list of overdue books, and issue overdue notices to borrowers.
• Process and maintain reserve materials and interlibrary loans.
• Sort returned materials according to classification code and need for repair, and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
• Answer inquiries of a non-professional nature and refer persons requiring professional assistance to librarian.
• Assist patrons in using electronic equipment.
• Update patron and material records in library ILS as necessary.
• Answer phones and provide basic assistance to inquiries.
• Operate cash registers and credit card machine with accuracy.
• Assist with Library opening and closing procedures as needed.
• Participate in community outreach initiatives and fulfill continuing education requirements.
• Stay current with County and library policies.
• Perform duties and provide service in compliance with County and library policies and procedures.
• Know and execute library emergency and incident response protocols.
• Use a variety of software applications to circulate special collections and for payroll and other County employee accounts.
• Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as required.

Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and possess strong communication, customer service and computer skills.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work alone or as part of a team.
• Basic office skills (typing, filing, answering phones, etc.).
• PA criminal background check.
• PA child abuse clearance.
• FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Prior customer service work experience.
• Previous experience working in a library with computerized systems.
• Some college preferred.
• Knowledge of library operations and Chester County policies and procedures.

Additional Information

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Basic Office Suite Skills, (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Explorer).
• Basic Outlook Skills (email and calendar)

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit; walk; stand; bend at the waist while working; kneel, stoop, crouch or squat; talk or hear; handle and lift up to 25 pounds; push a cart of books that weighs up to 75 pounds; and sit at a computer terminal for up to 4 hours at a time. Occasionally, the employee will need to work with arms above shoulders or reach above shoulder height.
The specific vision requirements for this position are as follows:

• Close vision.
• Color vision.
• Ability to read, alphabetize and place items in numeric order.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is generally quiet to moderately noisy.

Other:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends on rotation, as necessary.
• Library is open seven days a week (total of 65 hours).

01

What is your highest level of education?

• No formal Education
• High School Diploma or GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate or higher (includes Juris Doctorate and Medical Doctorate)

Required Question