Library Clerk - Entry

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, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer County is a great place to live, visit, and work.

For more information about living and working in Placer County, please go to www.visitplacer.com

An office view of Lake Tahoe while providing a critical service to the community, need we say more?  Apply today.

Important Note: This recruitment will only be used to fill vacancies in the Tahoe area.

The Placer County Library is seeking self-motivated individuals with outstanding customer service skills to assist patrons at branches in the Tahoe area. Flexibility is encouraged as schedules vary.  The Library currently has a vacancy for a permanent, part-time assignment. The eligible list established from this recruitment may also be used for future vacancies, either extra-help or permanent, in the Tahoe area. 

Temporary/extra-help assignments are limited to 999 hours (or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants) in a fiscal year.  

As of July 6, 2019, permanent positions include salary plus additional $875 per month Tahoe Branch Assignment Premium for employees who demonstrate and certify residency in the Tahoe basin.

**Employees in this classification will receive a 2% general wage increase effective June 8, 2019.

To learn more about the Library Department click HERE.

 

The written examination for this recruitment is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday June 25, 2019 in the Tahoe/Truckee Area. This exam date is subject to change dependent on weather conditions.

 To perform a variety of clerical duties related to the functions and programs of the library; and to assist the public in finding and checking in and out library materials.

This is the entry-level class in the Library Clerk series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. The Library Clerk-Entry class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the journey level.  Incumbents work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks, progressing to general supervision as procedures and processes of assigned area of responsibility are learned.

Receives immediate supervision from supervisory or professional staff. May exercise technical and functional supervision over volunteers.

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

• Perform circulation activities, including checking library materials in and out, registering and issuing cards, calculating and collecting fines and fees, and explaining library circulation policies and procedures.
• Shelve library materials and review library shelves for proper order.
• Process, catalog, and otherwise prepare new materials for circulation following established procedures.
• Compute, collect, receipt and record monies collected for overdue, lost or damaged materials.
• Assist customers in using library services and in understanding the arrangement and location of library materials.
• Answer telephone and in-person inquiries, use available indexes and catalog systems.
• Process routine inter-library/inter-branch loan requests.
• Support the maintenance of the library material collection, including weeding shelves of outdated materials, library order processing and performing skilled mending of materials.
• Monitor the condition of books and materials and performs necessary binding and repairs.
• Maintain records and files and compile statistics on related library services activities, materials and projects.
• Perform general clerical duties as necessary and operate library related office equipment.
• Keep library and public areas in order, neat and clean.
• Assist in set up and maintenance of displays in area of responsibility as directed.
• Conduct various special activities such as story hours, summer reading programs, classroom visits, and various outreach functions.
• 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: No library experience is required. Experience involving frequent public contact in a service or sales capacity and/or familiarity with library operations is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

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:

• General purpose and typical content of modern public libraries.
• Office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment including filing and computer systems.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• English usage and spelling.
• Arithmetic and basic mathematical calculations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively interacting with the public and County staff.

Ability to:

• Intermittently review documents related to library operations; observe, identify, and problem solve library operations and procedures; understand, interpret, and explain library policies and procedures. 
• Adhere to privacy, confidentiality, safety policies and procedures.
• Make accurate arithmetic computations to determine overdue fees, cash balances, and related tasks.
• Perform routine clerical work, including maintenance of appropriate records, mathematical calculations, and compiling information for reports.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain information through interviews; work fairly and courteously with the public; work effectively with interruptions.
• Work weekend and evening shifts as assigned.
• Use automated library system, computers, the internet, calculator, telephone, facsimile machine, photocopy machine, and other library related equipment.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Train and oversee volunteers.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk and/or stand at counter for long periods of time. Intermittently bend, twist, kneel or squat while shelving, opening boxes, or moving equipment; twist and reach office equipment; see and read print; write and use keyboard to communicate and to enter circulation and collection data; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; lift moderate weight.

Written Examination (100%) 

The written examination for this recruitment is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday June 25, 2019 in the Tahoe/Truckee Area. This exam date is subject to change dependent on weather conditions.

The written examination may include multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, matching, and/or essay type questions directly related to the required knowledge and abilities for this classification.

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(s) 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) 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, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), 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.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for General bargaining unit

Tentative recruitment timeline:

Week of 6/11/19     Minimum Qualifications Screening

6/25/19                   Written Examination in Truckee (subject to change dependent on weather)

Week of 7/1/19       Establish Eligible List