Do you want to be a part of an award-winning team and work with amazing people? Apply for a Library Assistant position with San Mateo County Libraries!

At San Mateo County Libraries you can make a difference in our communities by helping to create an informed community through creative outreach, exciting programming, and innovative technology. As part of our friendly customer service team, you can create opportunities for discovery and enrichment, by encouraging familiarity with our many library services. We respect, value, and celebrate diversity, and bilingual skills are always a plus as we serve a variety of communities in the county.

The eligible list generated by this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout San Mateo County Libraries. The current vacancies are subject to change but are expected to be full-time and part-time, placed at branches supporting the East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, and San Carlos communities.

Because of the diversity of the communities we serve, bilingual language skills (Mandarin, Cantonese, or Spanish) are strongly preferred and are required for some, but not all, of the vacancies.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for enthusiastic, customer service-oriented and flexible Library Assistants who are effective in communicating with people from a variety of backgrounds. Experience working in a library, social services, youth development, education, or early childhood setting is also highly preferred.

In addition, the ideal candidate will have the ability to:

• Seek out opportunities to inspire with friendly customer service and actively provide opportunities for discovery, enrichment, and uplifting the community.
• Communicate clearly and considerately with co-workers, volunteers, and patrons.
• Model exemplary customer service in all interactions-including in person, at a program, at outreach events, helping with library card or circulation issues, address suggestions for improvements, or otherwise ensure that our library users are uniformly welcomed.
• Work with a variety of technologies to provide services to library patrons and troubleshoot computer issues.
• Use independent judgment to interpret and apply library policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with staff and volunteers to reach goals.
• Plan and lead a variety of creative, exciting programs for the public under the direction of Librarian and Community Program Specialist staff.
• Contribute innovative ideas for library programs and services in the branch and throughout SMCL.
• Thrive in a changing environment.
• Thrive in initiating interactions, starting conversations, and marketing the library to the community, one person at a time.
• Communicate inclusivity and cultural sensitivity and be approachable in verbal, written, and non-verbal communications.
• Work a required schedule that includes a combination of day, evening, and weekend shifts.

SALARIES:
Library Assistant I: $27.46 - $30.68 hourly
Library Assistant II: $28.97 - $36.23 hourly

NOTE: The part-time and full-time opportunities for Library Assistant are at various locations.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies. Some extra help positions may be eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. For more information, please see: https://hr.smcgov.org/sites/hr.smcgov.org/files/EH%20OE%202017%20Information.pdf (Download PDF reader)

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Excellent customer service practices.
• Modern library services and functions.
• Internet searching skills.
• Computers and technology.
• Correct written and oral English usage.
• Basic math.

Skill/Ability to:

• Deal tactfully and effectively with a wide variety of individuals.
• Interpret and apply library procedures and policies.
• Use, and teach patrons to use, a changing variety of technologies.
• Plan, promote, and execute library programming.
• Be flexible in responding to frequent change.
• Direct and instruct volunteers.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail.

Experience and Education: Qualified candidates possess any combination of education and experience that would likely provide them with the required knowledge, skills, and ability.

• Library Assistant I: No specific education or experience is required.
• Library Assistant II: One year of public contact and support experience in a library.

Other Requirements:

• Must be available to work a schedule that includes a combination of days, evenings, and weekends.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight:100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Monday, May 1, 2023, 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of May 8, 2023
Civil Service Panel Interview: May 30 - June 1, 2023

The County of San Mateo may require that all employees provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine or comply with weekly COVID-19 testing. Employees hired into specified health care facilities and other high-risk settings where there is potential for frequent COVID-19 exposure to staff and highly vulnerable patients are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. For more specific information, please refer to the County's COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Policy.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (040123) (Library Assistant I/II - K009/K010)