First Assistant / Library Assistant I

We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and motivated individual to join the Ocean Springs Municipal Library team as our First Assistant. This key leadership role is at the heart of our mission to provide outstanding customer service and foster meaningful community engagement. This position starts at the Library Assistant I level, with the opportunity for advancement to Library Assistant II upon successful completion of knowledge milestones.

As the First Assistant, you will collaborate closely with the Branch Manager to drive operational excellence, enhance patron experience, and cultivate a positive, team-oriented workplace. Your ability to lead with integrity, enthusiasm, and vision will help strengthen our branch’s impact, ensuring both staff and patrons feel valued and supported.

We are seeking a proactive and team-focused professional who is eager to mentor colleagues, streamline branch operations, and champion a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. If you are passionate about customer service, leadership, and team development, we encourage you to apply and take the next step in your career with us!

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Staff public service desk to include answering telephone or in-house inquiries from users of all age levels. Keep the staff desk stocked with supplies as needed, including library equipment needs (paper, toner, cartridges, etc.). 
2. Coordinate workflow at the library’s circulation desk with Branch Manager’s guidance and approval. 
3. Work effectively and fairly to solve library patron issues, within the guidelines of library policy and procedure. 
4. Communicate to Branch Manager any problems and/or issues regarding patrons or staff in a timely manner. Promptly complete and submit any needed reports or communication as a result of these issues. 
5. Plan and implement library programs with the guidance and approval of the Branch Manager. 
6. Perform tasks related to patron registration and circulation, including courier-delivered materials. 
7. Assist users in the selection of needed materials, use of library-owned equipment (public computers, OPAC, and Internet), and the selection/location of various information resources. 
8. Assist with library-related events to include meeting room bookings, book sales, displays, exhibits, user surveys, etc. 
9. Stay up to date on adult best sellers and be knowledgeable in the areas of adult fiction and non-fiction literature and assigned areas of collection development; develop a cursory knowledge of children’s literature. 
10. Review, understand, and apply all policies and procedures of the library system regularly as needed. 
11. Request, order, and receive library-related supplies, including tax forms, according to established procedures. Maintain an inventory of supplies on an ongoing basis. 
12. Assist with the preparation and management of statistical, financial, maintenance, and other reports. 
13. Assist Library Manager in the training and scheduling of full-time and part-time personnel, including Clerks, Custodians, and Volunteers. 
14. Maintain collections through weeding, discarding of damaged items, gift/donated items, shelf reading, shelving, and recommending/ordering library titles as instructed. 
15. Serve as “first assistant” to the Branch Manager and assume responsibilities of Person-in-Charge in the absence of the Branch Manager. 
16. Attend Branch and System-wide meetings and training programs, including those involving overnight travel, as required.

The absence of specific statements of duties does not exclude those tasks from this position.

This employee will assume responsibility for general day-to-day operations of the Library in the absence of the Manager. Work is performed in accordance with the Regional Library Board of Trustees’ approved policies and procedures and other directives as issued by the Branch Manager and Director.

External candidates for this position must complete (1) Application for Employment, (2) contemporary and classic literature knowledge review. (3) Pass the Computer/Internet skills, Cash transaction, and Alphabetizing and Numerical sequence exam. An official copy of the candidate’s college/university transcript is required. 

This position is subject to a six-month probationary period. During probation, employees will receive performance evaluations conducted by the Branch Manager periodically. Thereafter, performance evaluations are conducted annually, or as needed, by the Branch Manager and reviewed by the Assistant Director, Branch Services and the Director.

The primary worksite for this position is Ocean Springs Municipal Library, 525 Dewey Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564. Performance of duties may require work at other library sites, contingent on the needs of the Library and the Library System as determined by the Branch Manager, Assistant Director Branch Services, and/or the Director. Shifts may vary from time to time, contingent on the needs of the Branch Manager, the Library and the Library System.

The position of Library Assistant I / First Assistant (F/T Salaried) is classified as “non-exempt” under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act Amendments of 1985.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Valid Driver’s License. 
2. AA degree or 60 semester hours of college-level study. 
3. Two years full-time paid public library or academic library work experience. 
4. Ability to place items in correct alphabetical order, numerical sequence and count cash.
5. Ability to follow policies and procedures.
6. Effective oral & written communication skills. 
7. Working knowledge of PC utilizing Windows operating system. 
8. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word.
9. Must person holding this position must be physically capable of standing for long periods, have the ability to hear, bend, stoop, push, pull, squat, crouch, reach above shoulder level, and lift and move objects up to 25 pounds.
10. Commitment to good work attendance

Preferred: One year supervisory experience 

A. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Ability to learn and apply approved operating policies and procedures to the work environment. 
2. Knowledge of print and non-print library materials for various levels of patrons, including adult, youth, juvenile, and children. 
3. Ability to guide patrons in making materials selection and/or to refer them to the proper staff, department, or other resource to fill their information needs. 
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with library users, subordinates, colleagues, superiors, and volunteers. 
5. Effective leadership skills, including skills needed to motivate and supervise personnel in the absence of the Library Manager. 
6. Effective oral and written communications skills. 
7. Ability to operate and train users of library equipment to include automated library system, public access computers, OPAC, Internet, other reference/information resources, Microsoft Office (or current software in use), and IBM compatible PCs in a Windows environment.