Library Technician

THE AGENCY

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. Additional services are provided 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 a 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 Alameda County Library, please visit their website at: https://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.

The Library Technician is a paraprofessional classification, which performs customer service, information referral, public programming and/or technical duties unique to the Library.  

Library Technicians are distinguished from the lower classifications of Library Lead Clerk and Library Clerk in that Library Technicians, in addition to performing library circulation, clerical support, and customer service functions, also perform basic reference, program and outreach roles. Library Technicians are distinguished from the higher classification of Librarian I, in that the latter has more independence and professional responsibility for service, programs, and outreach to a specific population.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Library Technician (#4120)

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 (Centerville, Irvington, Niles), Newark, San Lorenzo, Hayward, 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 and evening hours.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Delivering high-quality, member-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.

CURRENT VACANCIES

There are immediate vacancies within the Alameda County Library. Incumbents in this position may be required to travel to different service locations throughout Alameda County Library. 

Either I

Experience:

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

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

Substitution: 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. Review of applicants' application and supplemental questionnaire 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 virtual written examination component which will be graded pass/fail.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score.  The oral interview will be administered virtually and may contain situational exercises. 

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.  

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

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.

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 employees 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

• 12 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.)
• Childcare 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 @jobaps.com, acgov.org and Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org, Noreply@jobaps.com 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 a recruitment 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 Noreply@jobaps.com and Noreplyalamedacountyhr@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.

Erika Beams, Human Resources Analyst 
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
Analyst Email Address Link: ERIKA.BEAMS@ACGOV.ORG | Phone: 510-272-6393
www.acgov.org/hrs

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

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.