Library Page (Part-Time) - Library Department

The award-winning San José Public Library (SJPL) consists of more than 600 employees, a 23% bilingual workforce, and has 24 branch libraries across San José, in addition to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which is the city’s main library jointly operated through a unique partnership with San José State University. SJPL serves a diverse community of roughly one-million residents and currently has nearly 700,000 library members It annually attracts over 6 million visitors (pre-pandemic) and circulates more than 8 million items per year.

Over the past few years, SJPL has cultivated a 21st century library experience dedicated to public service and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core. In addition to providing library services to the community, SJPL proudly leads two citywide initiatives - the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and the SJ Access digital equity initiative, which has become the number one provider of free public access to Wi-Fi connectivity, tech device lending, and multi-lingual digital literacy programs and support. SJPL is led by Jill Bourne, City Librarian, who was nationally recognized in 2017 as Library Journal’s “Librarian of the Year."

SJPL enriches lives by fostering lifelong learning and ensuring that every member of the community has access to a vast array of ideas and information. The library department is a place where people do great work and make a difference in our community. To see examples of SJPL’s work and learn more about its impact, visit www.sjpl.org. Join us to make a difference!

The San José Public Library is looking to fill openings across all our branch locations and units. Library Pages selected will be scheduled to work 16 hours per week year-round. The days and hours assigned vary depending on location and the scheduling needs of that branch/unit. Typical schedules will include evening, Saturday, and/or Sunday shifts.

Library Pages are responsible for providing direct customer service and handling library materials, which can include the following: Filing materials on the shelves quickly and accurately, providing assistance at the customer service desk, assisting in maintaining an orderly and welcoming environment, answering questions from customers in person and over the phone, explaining library policies and procedures, addressing challenging customer behaviors, conducting basic searches on library catalogues, checking materials in/out, helping customers register for a borrower's card, collecting fines and other monetary payments, interacting with and working well with other team members, etc.

These positions require pushing or pulling carts loaded with materials; packing, unpacking and transporting shipment boxes; reaching, bending, and stooping to put materials on low and high shelves; actively moving for several hours at a time, retrieving items from deep bins, and standing for periods of time.

Bilingual skills are preferred but are not required for this position. 

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions within the library department. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for all available opportunities that may utilize applicants from this recruitment.

These qualifications are typically required.  An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job may be substituted.)

Education and Experience
Completion of two (2) years of high school.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise- Demonstrates and applies knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles, practices, and Citywide and departmental procedures/policies.

Communication & Customer Service Skills- Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and the ability to anticipate customers' needs; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts; delivers library services effectively, efficiently using a professional demeanor

Flexibility– Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Multi-Tasking& Problem Solving – Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s); has the ability to problem solve and evaluate alternatives, while making decisions selecting the best course of action through logic and common sense

Reliability– Follows procedures and instructions, attends to duties of the job and completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills; offers support and assistance to others; is approachable and open to suggestions.

Digital Skills- Experience with e-resource platforms including, but not limited to: Hoopla, Kindle, Kanopy and Libby, as well as experience with common business computer applications in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Excel).

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy, or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, please email Irina Orozco at [email protected]