What are the responsibilities and job description for the Library Technician II - Cataloging & Processing - 40 Hours position at King County Library System?
JOB NUMBER: 2024-00106
KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.
Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.
From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.
The King County Library System values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA , individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.
KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.
Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email employment@kcls.org.
KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.
Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.
Organizational Competencies
Job-Specific Competencies
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:
King County Library System (KCLS) in Washington State is seeking an adaptable, collaborative Library Technician II (LT2) to join the Cataloging & Processing department at the Issaquah Service Center. Cataloging LT2s build and organize the library catalog by verifying bibliographic details of new materials. Their work enhances the patron experience by ensuring library materials are discoverable and accurately described, and they are among the first people to handle brand new titles and editions in a leading library system.
Cataloging LT2s primarily engage in MARC copy cataloging. They support patrons by searching for, editing and importing MARC bibliographic records for library materials from cataloging databases to the local catalog and assigning call numbers to those titles. This position also supports community library staff with catalog inquiries via email.
Successful candidates for this position will be curious, efficient and able to prioritize tasks. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to interact with and interpret large amounts of data. Current knowledge of MARC, controlled vocabularies or the Dewey Decimal system is not a requirement, but applicants should be prepared to learn and apply numerous local and national library cataloging standards and conventions.
About King County Library System (KCLS):KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.
Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.
From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.
The King County Library System values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA , individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.
KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.
Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email employment@kcls.org.
KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.
Essential Duties
The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.
Core CompetenciesThe items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.
- Conducts vendor database searches to locate materials and assess their availability in multiple formats and multiple languages.
- Places orders in vendor databases including creation and management of purchase orders and vendor purchasing lists. Reconciles account statements.
- Communicates with vendors and other stakeholders to address and resolve materials-related issues which may include late orders, shortages, book title changes, and discrepancies.
- Catalogs and classifies new print materials in multiple languages by searching, editing, updating, and exporting records. Includes call number construction/validation, genre classification interpretation, and modification of descriptive fields and subject headings using established cataloging standards.
- Supports the maintenance of digital resources by updating access information or resolving minor issues.
- Processes patron requests, including placing holds on KCLS owned materials and coordinating the loaning process of materials from external institutions.
- Researches patron requested materials, explores vendor availability, and provides updates to patrons.
- Fulfills requests for "generic" barcodes submitted by department and community library staff.
- Generates collection-related reports and documents.
- Updates and maintains manuals and documentation specific to the department.
- Assists others with office equipment.
- Provides back-up to others within the department.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.
Organizational Competencies
- Valuing Diversity
- Customer Focus
- Ethics, Values and Judgement
- Professional and Technical Knowledge
Job-Specific Competencies
- Communicates Effectively
- Organizing and Planning
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Work Quality
Education and Experience
The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.
Knowledge and Skills
Professional Licenses and Certifications
The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.
- High school diploma or GED equivalent.
- Two years of library-related experience or coursework preferred.
- Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.
Knowledge and Skills
- Working knowledge of library systems and cataloging standards (e.g., MARC, AACR2, RDA)
- Skills in library and office software programs and database systems (e.g., Microsoft Office, collections/circulation software).
- Model for customer service mindset and delivery.
- Analytical skills to assess an issue to determine an optimal solution.
- Responsive to demands in a proactive and effective manner.
- Flexible in an environment with many interruptions.
- Attentive to detail and accuracy of tasks at high volume within identified time parameters.
Professional Licenses and Certifications
- None.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:
- Constantly sit throughout work shift, seldom will stand, and up to occasionally will walk.
- Frequently reach out at chest level with hands and arms and seldom reach up or down.
- Constantly use hands in conjunction with finger use. Keyboarding may be repetitive up to frequently.
- Rotate neck up to frequently.
- Change tasks depending upon the shift.
- Require extensive close work, including use of a computer monitor.
- Occasionally twist at the waist and seldom will bend or stoop.
- Up to frequently lift and carry up to 10 lbs. and seldom up to 35 lbs.
- Occasionally push or pull carts and wheeled equipment with moderate force.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a typical office environment and in the library or a shipping area depending on work tasks. Incumbent may be permitted hybrid telework schedule upon request.
Salary : $25 - $30
