LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction, performs a wide variety of complex or specialized administrative office duties in support of the City libraries; provides lead direction, training, and oversees staff and volunteers in technical services’ routines and procedures; and maintains a variety of files and records.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is an advanced journey level class. Positions are distinguished from the Library Associate and Senior Library Associate in that the Library Technician generally has no public contact and performs advanced technical processing, copy cataloging, and accounting tasks in an office environment. Employees perform lead supervision over assigned staff and volunteers. Employees in this class are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Trains paraprofessional staff and volunteers in technical services’ routines and procedures, including add items, discards, and book processing; oversees and manages the flow of books and media materials for circulation.
• Receives and processes orders for library materials, including books, media, periodicals, and items on standing order; reviews and evaluates orders with appropriate staff.
• Verifies bibliographic information for books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, and other library materials using indexes, catalog guides, and computerized databases; adds items to catalog database.
• Sorts and assesses library materials to determine need for mending, cover replacement, or binding; makes arrangements for repairs.
• Follows up on library materials ordered; opens received cartons and processes relevant paper work including invoices for payment.
• Maintains electronic acquisition and order files; maintains vendor files and tracks library expenditures; responsible for City credit card.
• Provides information to City staff, vendors, and others that requires the use of independent judgment and the interpretation of financial and technical policies, rules, and procedures.
• Obtains and distributes materials to and from other libraries.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and vendors using principles of good customer service.
• Participates with other library divisions and library teams on special projects, standing committees, and cross-training activities.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of lead supervision and training.
• Operations, services, and activities of a municipal library.
• Terminology and practices related to technical support work in a public library.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Automated circulation system operations, computer equipment and software applications related to assignment.
• Business mathematics.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and filing.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Principles and techniques of customer service.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Ability to:

• Lead, organize, and oversee the work of staff and volunteers.
• Interpret, explain, and implement technical service policies and procedures.
• Perform paraprofessional, technical library support and cataloging work involving the use of computers and software programs related to assignment.
• Plan, organize, prioritize and coordinate work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Make sound judgments and decisions within established guidelines.
• Interpret library policies and bibliographic standards.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Independently prepare routine correspondence and reports.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Two years of college with major course work in business administration, accounting, library studies, or a related field. Related experience within area of assignment may substitute for education.

Experience: Two years of increasingly responsible journey-level experience involving administrative office or library technical support duties, or routine technical accounting experience involving the maintenance and posting of accounting, financial, and/or statistical records.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Exposure to possible mechanical hazards of equipment and large quantities of books and papers. Book dust and mold is constant in a library facility. Work is performed in 80-hour bi­weekly work periods, with unscheduled breaks. Occasional overtime may be required for adequate staffing of library facilities, and incumbents may be required to work weekends, nights and holidays. Work is performed primarily indoors at library facilities. Work setting is formal, team-oriented, having both routine and variable tasks. Work pace and pressure is variable but frequently fast-paced and high-pressure.

Physical: CONTINUOUS sitting at desk for long periods of time, lifting objects weighing up to 10 lbs. from below waist to above shoulder level; fine finger dexterity and light pressure to operate keyboards, calculators, and telephones; pinch grasp to hold books, writing materials. FREQUENT standing, sitting, bending and stooping, squatting, reaching above and at shoulder level, pushing/pulling, twisting at the waist, side to side turning of neck; lifting objects weighing 11-15 lbs. from below waist to waist level and transporting distances of up to 10 feet; strong grasp to lift equipment or boxes of books; moderate wrist torque to operate and adjust equipment such as printers and computers. OCCASIONAL kneeling; lifting objects weighing 26-50 lbs. from below waist to waist level, with or without assistance, and transporting distances of up to 10 feet. INFREQUENT crawling, balancing above ground, lifting objects weighing 51-75 lbs. from below waist to shoulder level, with assistance, and transporting distances of up to 5 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: November 2006
Johnson & Associates

Revised: November 27, 2006
Library/HR