Senior Library Assistant (Part-time)

The Organization

A leading American historian has called the Public Library of the City of Boston “one of the five great libraries of the world.”

Well over 3.5 million people visit the Boston Public Library every year to use its collection of 6 million books. Another 5.2 million people connect with the BPL through its website www.bpl.org to take advantage of its many services and its growing collection of electronic resources, downloadable media and digitalized rare books and manuscripts.

Among its preeminent collections, the BPL holds several first edition folios by William Shakespeare; original music scores by Mozart, Prokofiev and others; and the personal library of President John Adams.  In addition, the BPL is home to the renowned Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, which includes over 200,000 historic maps and 5,000 atlases documenting the evolution of the printed map.

Over 12,000 programs and classes attract thousands of residents from across the diverse neighborhoods and cultural groups that make up the city. Award winning online and in-library homework assistance sessions, ESL and literacy classes, are also a popular draw.

The BPL is a department of the municipal government of Boston and a statutory charitable organization governed by a board of nine distinguished trustees appointed by the Mayor.

Position Overview

Library Assistant whose duties include the following:  Under the supervision of the Supervisor of Circulation, or delegate, performs duties relative to the routine operations of the Library’s circulation activities.

Reports to:

Borrower Services Supervsior

Scope of Responsibility

Under immediate supervision and in accordance with standard policy and practices performs any or all of the following;

1. Greets and directs library patrons in person, over the phone, and electronically, providing simple direction and information.
2. Participates in related operations including, but not limited to, charging and discharging materials in all formats, receiving and recording fines, processing reserves, registering borrowers, issuing library cards, maintaining patron records, and addressing customer service issues. Communicates and interprets BPL policies and procedures in a professional and courteous manner.
3. Identifies, refers problems, and suggests solutions to their supervisor.
4. Collects, routes in, sorts, shelves, and prepares periodicals and current newspapers for circulation, discard or storage

5. Books museum passes and instructs the public in the use of booking software.
6. Receives and routes requests, maintains reserve shelf, handles send item list, accepts requests for books, periodicals, and other materials from closed stack areas serviced by the department, inspects for completeness, and retrieves materials.
7. Receives, sorts, shelves, shifts, verifies, delivers, and bar-codes books, and traces records and searches shelves for books. May, on occasion, re-check locations for materials not located in initial search. 
8. Fills out simple forms and records and assists in clerical duties as required.
9. Prepares summary reports of activity and compiles basic statistical records.
10. Provides simple equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, e.g. turning on and off, cleaning, filling with paper, replacing toner cartridges, etc. for machines within the department or immediately adjacent to a service desk.
    
11. Assists in keeping an orderly appearance of public information in areas of responsibility. Sorts and routes U.S. Mail.
12. Attends training as directed.
13. Performs other related duties as required.

1. Education – High School Graduate or equivalent.

2. Experience – None required
3. Requirements – Demeanor appropriate to a public service environment; tact in dealing with people; good communication skills, professional manner and appearance; good judgment and dependability; ability to use keyboard; demonstrated ability to accept responsibility and deal with public; ability to work cooperatively with staff.

 Competencies

• Proficiency with MSWord and Excel.
• Demonstrates initiative when performing job duties.
• Communicates effectively and presents ideas clearly.
• Ability to collaborate with library staff and the public.

Requirements

1. Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.
2. Residency - Must be a resident of the City of Boston upon the first day of hire.
3. CORI - Must successfully clear a Criminal Offenders Record Information check with the City of Boston.

Terms: 

Union/Salary Plan/Grade:  AFSCME/LA-3

Hours per week:  18