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Job Description
Description
*This is a promotional opportunity for current City of Palo Alto Employees Only*
The Palo Alto City Library is hiring for a Library Associate for our Children’s Library. Working with the branch supervising librarian, this position will provide lead operational and customer service duties for the Children’s Library. This position will also coordinate with other members of our library system’s lead circulation and daily operations staff to maintain best practices in customer service and circulation operations. Ideal candidates have experience in library operations and customer service, are passionate about providing quality experiences to our library users and thrive in collaborative environments.
If you are an experienced Palo Alto City Library paraprofessional who is dedicated to high-quality public service for youth and families, and if you are interested in working at the first stand-alone Children’s Library in the country, you are encouraged to apply!
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click here.
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here .
This position is part of the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU)
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
When working in Public Service:- Performs circulation tasks required to serve the public, including the following: checks materials out and in; registers and updates files of borrowers; checks status of patron accounts using the Library's automated system; accepts payments for fines, bills and fees; tabulates and records daily cash register receipts; works to resolve patron complaints
- Provides reader's advisory service to assist users in identifying library materials of interest; assists the public in use of a variety of library equipment
- Provides basic reference service using the resources available in the Neighborhood Library and providing referral of patrons to the Resource Libraries as appropriate
- Recommends additions to the collection of books and media in the Neighborhood Libraries; may select and deselect materials in an assigned area
- Prepares, displays and marketing presentations of library materials
- Shelves library materials and maintains the general order and attractiveness of the library facilities
- Provides direct daily guidance to other staff in the Neighborhood Lirary by allocating assignments and scheduling staff
- Troubleshoots minor equipment problems; reports major equipment problems and follows through to ensure equipment functionality
- Monitors condition of and reports problems with the physical facility
- Uses library technology to provide patron services, to monitor use statistics and to develop information for supervisors and managers
When working in Technical Services:- Maintains computer files for all types of library materials in the library computer systems: adds, deletes, or corrects bibliographic and inventory information and troubleshoots as required
- Enters bibliographic data into online systems using library standards for identification and description of items
- Initiates orders and payments. Communicates both orally and in writing with vendors to execute work, solve problems and/or questions. Refers further communication to supervisor as appropriate
- Receives requests for book or other media from library staff, searches available bibliographic sources to verify publication data; searches library files to prevent duplication of acquisitions
- Creates and produces various reports, documents and correspondence
- Establishes and maintains complex recordkeeping system for control of all library materials, contracts and purchases, identifying accounts, subprograms, fund encumbrances; establishes and monitors payments schedules, applies direct charges, discounts, and indirect cost factors; verifies and approves classifcation of charges and credits
- Maintains up-to-date acquisition files for staff use including creation of new records in the library computer system on orders, cancellations, back orders, and tracking for high demand titles
- Assists in the preparation and issuance of comprehensive bid proposal documents
To view the full job description, click here.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:- High school graduate and two years of college or equivalent work experience preferred.
- Six semester hours of library science courses relevant to particular position available.
- Two years relevant experience in a library.
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
- The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Technical Support:
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 4/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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