Library Technician

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended. Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.   

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.  

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

 ABOUT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY LIBRARY  

The Alameda County Library provides library services from ten libraries in the cities of Albany, Dublin, Fremont, Newark, and Union City and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley and San Lorenzo. The Alameda County Library also provides additional services through Mobile and Outreach Services, Education and Literacy Services, and Social Justice Services.

The County Library was established in 1910 and is governed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The Alameda County Library Advisory Commission advises County Librarian, Cynthia Chadwick, and the Board of Supervisors on library services.

The County Library is funded primarily by local property taxes, with additional revenue from State grants and contracts with cities for additional open hours and services.

The Board of Supervisors allocates a portion of utility users and business license tax which is collected only in the unincorporated areas of the County to the Library for service to the unincorporated areas. The Alameda County Library Foundation and active Friends of the Library or Library League groups in each community support library programs and services. To learn more about the Alameda County Library, please visit their website at http://www.aclibrary.org.

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, a Library Technician performs paraprofessional and technical customer service for the County Library in direct support of library services;  and performs related work as required.

CURRENT VACANCIES

The Alameda County Library has full-time and part-time vacancies currently available throughout the organization. Positions will require evening and weekend work. Depending on scheduling needs, work location may occasionally vary.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE  

The ideal candidate is willing to work at any location throughout the Alameda County Library. This includes, but is not limited to the Albany, Castro Valley, Dublin, Fremont, Fremont Neighborhood, Newark, San Lorenzo, and Union City locations. Since the Alameda County Library provides services 7 days a week, the ideal candidate is willing to work a schedule which may include Saturday and Sunday hours.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidates will have demonstrated a successful track record in the following:

• Delivering high-quality, patron-focused, front line customer service.
• Effective problem solving, troubleshooting, planning and organizing work, independently and collaboratively.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including proficiency in interpersonal communication and the ability to professionally deliver information to customers and colleagues. 
• Working collectively in a diverse team environment.
• Updated on current technology trends as they are applied to library service and advanced internet searching.
• Adapting to new processes and learning new skills appropriate to library services.
• Performing clerical tasks using appropriate organizational library systems and/or computer-based tools and software.
• Knowledge of popular literature in written and digital formats, major authors in various genres (both fiction and nonfiction), integrated library software and library operations (cash handling, public service & policy and procedures).
• Strong technical skills, including the ability to navigate eBook and database searching, online public access catalogs and Windows-based software.

- Either I

The equivalent of two years of full-time experience in the class of Library Clerk II or an equivalent or higher level class in the Alameda County Library.

- Or II

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience in the class of Library Lead Clerk in the Alameda County classified service.  

- Or III

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university (120 semester or 180 quarter units).  

Two years of customer service experience may be substituted for 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college.

NOTE:   The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Popular literature in written form and other formats.
• Authors in various genres; both fiction and non-fiction.
• Library operations.
• Cash handling.
• Record keeping software and specialized search tools, such as Integrated Library Systems (ILS), online library catalogs and Windows software.

Ability to:  

• Problem solve, plan and organize work independently and collaboratively.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Write and edit graphic materials, presentations and exhibits.
• Speak effectively about library materials and services to community groups of all ages.
• Learn skills appropriate to library service, including new and existing library procedures.
• Perform general clerical tasks using appropriate digital tools and software.
• Manipulate and use library catalogs, consumer technology, and library-specific equipment.
• Perform public speaking before audiences.
• Effectively and tactfully work with vulnerable populations.
• Exercise interpersonal sensitivity while working effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps:  

1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process;

2) *A written examination (pass/fail). The highest scoring candidates will move on to the next step in the examination process. A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process;

3) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

** CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION. **

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components. Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.

Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:   

 *updated as of 10/23/19, ac

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing.  Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statues.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

 
Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about recruitments for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

 
NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Angelica Cuevas, HR Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 271-5154 or email Angelica.Cuevas@acgov.org

www.acgov.org/hrs 

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.