Librarian III

Sonoma County Library

Announces an Employment Opportunity

LIBRARIAN III – PETALUMA REGIONAL LIBRARY

 40 HOURS PER WEEK – FULL-TIME

We are seeking an experienced and customer service-focused Librarian III to provide leadership in children’s and teen services for the Petaluma Regional Library. The ideal candidate will be an experienced library professional with strong knowledge of youth services, program development, community engagement, and a commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive library experiences for children, teens, and their families.

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must complete the Supplemental Questions. Candidates who successfully complete the interview process will be added to a pre-qualified list and may be considered for other vacancies that arise in the next twelve months. Spanish bilingual skills are preferred.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Under general supervision, the Librarian III provides leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of children’s and teen library services and programs at the Petaluma Regional Library. The position identifies current and future community needs, leads specialized projects and initiatives, develops partnerships with community organizations and educational agencies, supervises several branch staff, and provides professional library services to children, teens, and their families.

Please see the below class specifications for full details about this position.

SALARY RANGE: $46.67/hour to $58.29/hour 

CLOSING DATE:  Monday, November 16, 2026 at 11:59pm

REV: MARCH 2026

FLSA: EXEMPT

LIBRARIAN III

Represented

Under general supervision, provides excellent customer service, performs work of considerable complexity, managing a highly specialized library assignment and/or systemwide program/support service requiring technical or specialized expertise and training; develops and participates in the full range of professional, technical and/or direct library services to the community, including development of programs and services for target audiences; identifies current community needs and projects future needs; participates in and makes recommendations for improving library services; and performs related work as required.

Receives general supervision from a Division Manager, Central Branch Manager, Branch Manager, or other management staff.  May provide supervision to professional, technical, and paraprofessional staff and volunteers.  

This is the advanced journey-level class in the professional Librarian series.   Incumbents fill a highly specialized assignment that requires specialized skills and experience. Incumbents are expected to exercise independent judgment, tact, and initiative in their involvement with programs, projects, or specialized assignments.  Incumbents lead projects and programs within their area of specialty.  At this level, input regarding changes to system-wide policies and procedures may be given in the form of recommendations to management. Positions in this class may be assigned to participate in or lead systemwide and/or departmental teams. Responsibilities include planning, coordinating, and implementing library services and programs.   Individual assignments within this class may include the management and performance of reference, collection development and management, resource sharing, special collections, archives management, education initiatives, cataloging and metadata, outreach, jail and re-entry services, or large units of a library.  Incumbents may assist and participate in the evaluation, selection, acquisition, retention, and special handling of various library materials.  Incumbents may serve as “Person-in-Charge” for assigned shifts.   The Librarian III is distinguished from the Branch Manager in that the latter has administrative responsibility for a full-service library branch facility and operation.
 

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

• Provides countywide leadership in a designated area of specialized expertise such as reference, special collections, archives management, collection development and management, resource sharing, educational initiatives, cataloging and metadata, outreach, jail and re-entry services, and/or large units of a library location.  
• Participates in budget preparation and administration; prepares cost estimates for budget recommendations; submits justifications for budget items; monitors and controls expenditures; performs grant-writing and oversight activities for assigned area.
• Participates in the selection, direction, training and supervision of staff; assigns and schedules work and evaluates staff performance; and recommends disciplinary action when appropriate.  
• Responsible for scheduling of staff and timekeeping activities.
• May oversee and train extra help and regular employees.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates services and programs in a designated area. 
• Provides assistance to and advises library users, including children, teens, and adults, in the effective use of library collections, facilities, and services; demonstrates the use of library resources, tools, equipment, and electronic reference sources.
• Answers readers’ advisory and reference questions from telephone, online and in-person queries by accessing a variety of resources, including electronic resources.
• Participates in development and management of library collections; reviews and analyzes collection use; selects and weeds a variety of materials and e-resources for purchase based on community needs; accepted donations as appropriate; may select materials and e-resources for an assigned area of a branch collection or for the systemwide collection; manages collection budgets at a branch or on a system-wide basis.  
• Performs outreach to and informs the community, community organizations, and schools about library services, programs, and collections.
• Serves as a liaison to support groups; develops and maintains ongoing relationships with external groups in order to identify community needs and enhance public service; takes the lead in anticipating changes in community needs and changing technology and information services and plans how to address needs and implement changes.
• Cultivates and manages strategic partnerships with school districts and education agencies supporting the education initiatives of the library.
• Organizes, maintains, and catalogs/indexes a variety of print and digital materials, including government documents and archival materials.
• Performs original cataloging of print and non-print materials; maintains and updates catalog records and finding aids.
• Uses multimedia resources to oversee physical and digital photos and other special collections. 
• Maintains extensive documentation related to cataloging; performs website design and maintenance for sites related to special collections.
• Installs, maintains and trains staff on specialized applications and programs used in cataloging.
• Participates in meetings, committees, or projects intended to enhance services or promote consistent policies and procedures across the department; may lead meetings as assigned.
• Enforces rules related to library patronage and borrower policies.
• Responds to suggestions, requests, or concerns from library users or community members.
• Participates in meetings and continuing education programs as appropriate.
• Represents the department at professional meetings as required.
• Compiles library activity reports and statistics.
• Participates in circulation functions as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.  

COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of: 

• Principles, and practices of staff supervision, training, performance evaluation, and discipline. 
• Principles of program development, planning and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles, practices, procedures, and materials of professional library work, including library reference, collection development, cataloging, archival practices, and other professional library services. 
• Techniques and practices of adult, teen, and children’s services, including provision of readers’ advisory services.
• Principles, techniques, and procedures in cataloging, indexing, classifying, and organizing library materials.
• Principles, practices and techniques of public relations, community outreach, and service promotion.
• Principles and techniques used in research. 
• Selection and weeding of library materials. 
• Library services and available resources. 
• Techniques for promoting and publicizing library services, programs, and events.
• Recent technological, professional, and societal developments, current literature, and sources of information related to library services. 
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices and technology, including personal computer hardware and software applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. 
• Techniques for effectively representing the library in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations, and library users.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with library users, vendors, contractors, local municipalities, and library staff.

Ability to: 

• Serve as the subject expert in a highly specialized field.
• Hire, train, supervise, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Perform professional library tasks as assigned including reference, readers’ advisory, program and service development, outreach, collection development, and cataloging.
• Advise users on reference sources and research methods, and strategies.
• Perform detailed reference searches using online, print and other methods.
• Provide readers’ advisory services and referrals to library users of various age groups.
• Instruct users and staff in the use of catalogs, reference, and research tools.
• Identify the needs of library users and provide leadership in collection development by evaluating and selecting materials for acquisition.
• Explain policies and procedures to users and staff and enforce policies and procedures as necessary.
• Use initiative and independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines; create procedures as necessary.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Prepare clear and concise reports and other written materials.
• Use computer and other technology to assist library users and library staff, conduct research, prepare reports; use email and other communications technologies as appropriate.
• Organize own work and set priorities for self and staff.
• Interact tactfully and diplomatically during interactions with staff, library users, community groups while appropriately adhering to and enforcing sound library policies, procedures, and practices.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education and Experience:

Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), Master of Library Science (MLS), or Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) degree from an accredited college or university; four (4) years of experience as a professional librarian. 

Licenses and Certifications:

Some assignments may require the incumbent to possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License.

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office and library setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone; and the ability to operate a motor vehicle in order to travel to various branches, meeting sites, educational institutions, and community events.  This classification primarily works indoors and requires movement between work areas.  Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve materials and data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.  Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.  May push and pull carts and shelving units weighing up to fifty (50) pounds.  Positions in this classification occasionally shelve books and lift and carry reports, records, and materials that typically weigh less than twenty-five (25) pounds.

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances; some outreach assignments may involve outdoor work.  Employees may interact with staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.  Employees in assignments providing direct assistance to the public may come into contact with abrasive, disruptive, and/or disorderly people.

WORKING CONDITIONS

May be required to work flexible schedules including evenings and weekends.