Library Program Aide - Seasonal

This is a seasonal position intended to last for a limited assignment up to six (6) months from date of hire.

Make an impact:

The City of Salem Public Library (SPL) is seeking a dynamic, customer-service-minded high school students who are interested in serving their community as a member of the Library Team. The SPL is a municipal library serving the 170,000+ (and growing!) residents of Oregon's capital city.

The Salem Public Library's mission is to serve its community by promoting and providing opportunities for full and equal access to information and ideas, the love of reading, the joy of learning, and engagement with the arts, sciences and humanities in a safe and comfortable environment.

What you will do:

The Library Program Aides are responsible for assisting with circulation tasks, such as shelving returned library materials, retrieving outside book drops, pulling materials from a list, and processing returned materials. This position requires afternoon and Saturday availability and would be ideal for high school students with early release or work experience periods.

The successful candidates for these positions enjoy communicating and working with diverse customers and staff, are comfortable in adapting to changing priorities, including having excellent organizational skills and high level of attention to detail. The Library Program Aides will work under close supervision of a lead worker or supervisor.

Learn more about the Salem Public Library at: https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/library

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Shelve library materials with accuracy using alphabetical and Dewey Decimal Library systems.

• Collect books used in the library and return them to shelves.

• Collect materials from the book return and assist with checking in materials.

• Check shelves for correct placement of books.

• Retrieve items from a list to fulfil patron requests or to assist with collection maintenance.

• Activity involving exertion, including lift up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects with or without accommodation.

• Perform tasks that may require the incumbent to balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, use manual dexterity, perform repetitive motions, grasp, and feel with or without accommodation.

• Review shelves for correct placement of books, magazines, and newspapers, and clear tables of books and other materials.

• Use of Microsoft Word, including word processing, and data entry.

• Work environment will include inside office, occasional outside conditions to work offsite assignments or events outside library facilities in outdoor weather conditions, and cold temperatures.

• Assist with other related work duties as assigned.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check and drug test (including marijuana).

• Must be 16 years of age or older.

• Current standing as a high school student.

• Any school or work experience and/or equivalent combination of training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.

• Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

Preferred Qualifications (Not required to apply):  

• Spanish language bilingual or biliteracy skills highly desired.

• Experience with computers and mobile devices and troubleshoot basic computer issues on public computers.

What you will bring along:

• Experience with library operations involving in-person and frequent public contact or retail and customer service experience working with diverse populations;

• Demonstrated ability to work with a high level of attention to detail;

• Respect, seek to understand, and value individual differences to foster and support a diverse and inclusive team-oriented workplace;

• Ability to adapt to change;

• Great communication skills.

About us:

The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon, located in the heart Willamette Valley, and is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments:

Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development Department. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The city has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for the Program Aide or view by clicking here.

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards - sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.