Library Services Specialist II

Position Description

Responsibilities

• Provides excellent customer service through a full range of circulation desk services, including checking in and out materials, emptying book drop, setting up library card accounts and resolving account issues, locating reading materials, conducting sales of materials and supplies, accepting fees, placing holds, and transferring items. Helps to maintain a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive environment in the library.
• Plans, coordinates and/or facilitates a variety of inclusive children’s and teen programs, services, and outreach in collaboration with the supervisor, including Bookbagger materials for area daycares.
• Provides excellent customer service by assisting patrons in the use of computers, personal technology devices, copiers, scanners, faxes, and the library’s online resources.
• Serves as a backup or lead staff in the absence of the Youth Services Librarian or Branch Manager including regularly scheduled as the Supervisor on Duty for evening and weekend rotations to open/close the library; handles emergency situations, patron complaints, or facility issues.
• Provides excellent customer service by providing intermediate level reference and reader's advisory assistance to library users.
• Trains new employees, volunteers and interns.
• Works with the Youth Services Summer Reading team to plan, implement and coordinate the Children's Summer Reading program.
• Engages in outreach and serves as a liaison to community agencies that serve children and their caregivers, including schools, daycares and preschools, and other community organizations.
• Designs and creates displays that highlight culturally diverse populations and/or promote new or interesting library resources.
• Maintains all library resources including print, non-print and periodicals to facilitate user access. Shelves all materials and performs shelf maintenance.
• Ensures running of reports, administering surveys, ordering/maintaining supplies for branches or designated areas within the branch.
• Assists with staff scheduling or daily workflow of lower level library staff.
• Participates in professional development activities and contributes feedback for employee performance appraisals.
• Able to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Education, English, Communications, or Library Science; OR
• Associate’s Degree in Business, Education, English, Communications, Library Science, or a related degree and one year of experience in a library or related public facing customer service or educational setting; OR
• High School diploma and three years of experience in a library or related public facing customer service or educational setting

• Excellent internal and external customer service skills are essential to providing our community with the best library service.
• Leadership skills to manage and motivate staff, coupled with project management to act as a change agent, guiding and training staff through new processes, procedures, and equipment.
• Strong reader's advisory skills to suggest reading materials for all ages
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail are required to reconcile the register and coin-op copiers.
• Problem solving and conflict management skills are also important to maintaining a welcoming friendly environment in the library and in de-escalating difficult situations in house and online with tact and ensuring positive outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of digital and online library resources as well as various technologies including computers and personal devices.
• Strong communication skills including presentation and public speaking as well as interpersonal relationship skills and cultural competence to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Strong understanding of library policies and procedures are needed in daily operations and to accurately record statistics for outcome-based performance measurements
• Ability to collaborate with other library staff, community members, and partner organizations to provide responsive and inclusive library programs.
• This position requires the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds (books, boxes, supplies), push/pull up to 50 pounds (full library carts), stoop/kneel to shelve books, and stand for long periods of time in order to work the circulation desk, assist patrons, and other various duties.
• Willing to obtain Notary Public upon employment.
• Ability to speak Spanish or Hmong a plus.

Catawba County Benefits
As of 7/1/2024:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization. Available benefits include:


Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren) and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents, with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts which can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision expenses.

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care available to employee’s children ages 5-17 regardless of health insurance coverage and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

• Annual Leave: Full-time employees earn from 10-21 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
• Sick Leave: Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times employee’s annual salary with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).