Library Assistant - Journey Level

Description

Bargaining Unit: Local 1 - Library Unit 

Contra Costa County is recruiting to fill multiple regular, full time Library Assistant Journey Level positions within the Library Department. Library Assistants are assigned to either the Library Department or the Sheriff's Office.

The Library department has an immediate vacancy for one (1) part-time Spanish Bilingual position at the Bay Point Library.  A $200 per month pay differential is paid to bilingual employees.  A Bilingual proficiency test is required.

The eligible list generated by this recruitment may also be used to fill part-time, full-time, or permanent-intermittent vacancies as they occur. 

Library Department
The Library is made up of nearly 400 employees serving 26 communities throughout Contra Costa County.  Its mission is to “Bring People and Ideas Together.”  The Library seeks to enrich lives by delivering a consistent, high quality, and inviting experience at all points of contact.

It is an innovative, entrepreneurial, and dynamic civic institution that is committed to providing exceptional services to its communities.   The Library assumes critical roles in making the communities strong, equitable, resilient, and progressive.

The Library’s core goal is to champion personal and community engagement through literacy and reading.  It has implemented several programs to ensure easy, equitable access to library services for all.  This was exemplified by the Library saying “Farewell to Fines” at the beginning of 2019!   By promoting library services and programs to the community we meet our mission of “Bringing People and Ideas Together.”

Sheriff's Office
The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff enjoys an outstanding reputation as one of the most professional, progressive agencies in the United States. The Sheriff’s Office manages the most innovative detention facilities in the country, and provides patrol services throughout the county including four contract cities for which it provides total police services. In addition, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff manages a brand new, state of the art County Emergency Operations Center and coordinates local emergency management with a variety of local, State and Federal partners.  As a department of over 1,000 employees, with 668 that are sworn, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff continues to grow and progress, providing excellent opportunities in career development.

Library Assistants at the Detention library, train and supervise inmate workers, sort, pack and unpack shipments between library branches, coordinate periodic literary contests, record and submit statistics, prepare book selections, load book carts, and deliver library materials to inmate housing units. 

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Customer service at the front desk, answering general reference questions
• Assisting patrons with selecting and locating books and other information
• Processing library materials to circulate them
• Assisting reference staff with planning and presenting programming
• Opening and closing a library
• Assisting patrons with how to use library materials, including the catalog

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You'll work in diverse communities that appreciate the library
• The team consists of strong and professional staff
• Work in an organization that is committed to racial equity and inclusiveness

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• There will be complex customer service issues
• You may need to adapt to sudden changes

To read the complete job description, please visit the website, www.cccounty.us/hr.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may remain in effect for six months.

Selection Process

1. Application Filing: All applicants must apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/contracosta and submit the information as indicated on the job announcement by the final filing date.
2. Application Evaluation: Depending on the number of applications received, an Application Evaluation Board may be convened to evaluate and select the best-qualified candidates for invitation to the next phase of the examination.
3. Online Skills Assessment: Candidates invited to take the online skills assessment will need access to a computer and internet.  Test items may consist of the following assessment categories: Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking, Customer Focus, and Teamwork. Tentatively scheduled for September 11th - 15th, 2024. (Weighted 100%)

If you apply for another recruitment that uses this exam and the test is scheduled within 6 months of the date you took the test this time, you will not have the option to re-take the exam.  

Requirements

We are looking for someone who is:

• Customer service oriented
• Adaptable to changing situations
• Organized
• Effective in interpersonal interactions
• Works well in diverse communities

Competencies Required:

• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires 
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Learning Agility: Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to one’s work
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Professional Impact: Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

Desirable Qualifications:

• Prior experience and expressed interest in libraries
• Experience working in and with diverse communities
• Training or certification related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Minimum Qualifications

• Education:  Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  AND
• Experience:   Two (2) years of full time or its equivalent experience in a customer oriented environment or one (1) year of full time work experience in a library.

 
Substitution for Education:  

• two (2) years of full-time experience in a customer oriented environment OR  one (1) year of full-time or its equivalent of   work experience in a library AND  
  
  
• Either: 
  • 1) possession of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university OR
  • 2) a Certificate of Library Technology from an accredited college or university; OR
  • 3) Two (2) years of full-time or its equivalent paraprofessional experience in a public library which must have included readers advisory, information services and bibliographic searching.