Library Researcher jobs in the United States

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To plan, organize, direct, and supervise library operations; to supervise clerical staff within an assigned library division, program, or public service unit; and to perform a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

The supervisor level recognizes positions that perform full, first-line supervisory responsibilities including planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinates and being responsible for daily operations in assigned library division, program, or public service unit. Successful performance of the work requires the use of independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines.

This class is distinguished from the Library Clerk – Journey by the assignment of the more complex lead first-line supervisory duties and/or the oversight for the day-to-day operation of a library division, program, or public service unit of the County’s Library system.

Receives direction from para-professional, professional, and/or management staff.

Exercises direct supervision over clerical staff and volunteers.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Recommend and assist in the implementation of division, program, or public service unit goals and objectives; establish work schedules and implement policies and procedures. 
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of customer service staff. Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities. 
• Open and close a library unit as assigned; and train and oversee clerical staff and volunteers when assigned.
• Conduct routine to complex circulation activities, including checking library materials in and out, registering and issuing cards, calculating, and collecting fines and fees, shelving, and explaining County library circulation policies and procedures.
• Assist customers with research and computer-related questions, e-mail, Wi-Fi, and websites; perform basic troubleshooting on various devices, and e-readers.
• Represent the department to outside groups and organizations.
• Compute, collect, receive, and record monies collected for overdue, lost, or damaged materials.
• Assist customers in using library services, resources, and technology; direct customers in locating library materials.
• Recommend new materials; maintain collection, including weeding shelves of outdated materials.
• Maintain and compile statistics on library activities, programming, and materials as directed.
• Receive library materials donations and in accordance with the Collection Development Policy.
• Perform general clerical duties as necessary and operate library-related office equipment.
• Keep library neat and clean; set up and maintain displays.
• Assist with or conduct various special activities such as reference duties, story hours, summer reading programs, classroom visits, instructional tours, and various outreach functions as assigned.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three (3) years of responsible library experience performing duties comparable to a Library Clerk – Journey with Placer County.

OR

Two (2) years of responsible experience in a retail, customer service, or library setting, including at least one (1) year at a lead or supervisory level.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college level course work.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
• General public library services, organization, and functions, including the technical library support areas.
• Methods of conducting storytelling for children.
• Library materials and general reference sources.
• Library classification, cataloging, and bibliographic terminology.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively interacting with the public, vendors, and County staff.
• English usage and spelling.
• Office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment, including filing and computer systems.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis know and understand all aspects of the job; review documents related to department operations; understand, identify, interpret, and explain practices and procedures; recall and utilize a variety of information; observe surrounding environment; analyze and solve problems as they arise; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks with frequent interruptions; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk and/or stand at a counter for long periods of time. Intermittently walk, bend, twist, climb, push, pull, kneel or squat while shelving, opening boxes, moving equipment, working with displays, or reaching office equipment; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; speak, use a telephone, write and use a keyboard to communicate; and lift moderate weight.
• Plan, organize, assign, supervise, and coordinate the work of clerical library staff and volunteers.
• Provide staff leadership and work direction.
• Train staff in work procedures.
• Solve problems related to library operations and procedures with direction from higher-level staff.
• Independently perform advanced circulation and customer service library work.
• Perform a variety of complex library work with speed and accuracy, including use of integrated library system and automation.
• Conduct storytelling activities when providing children's services program activities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interviews; work fairly and courteously with the public; work effectively with interruptions.
• Use integrated library system, automated materials handling equipment, computer, internet, calculator, telephone, copier machine, and other library-related equipment and applications.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work weekend and evening shifts as assigned.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.