Library Assistant (Part-Time)

Your Home Port. The Premier Community on the Great Lakes.

Port Washington is known for offering “a touch of New England charm combined with Midwestern friendliness” and has been named by Midwest Living to their Top 100 Best Midwest Small Town Getaways. Port Washington, today, is a tourist destination with a vibrant downtown and community events.

The City’s population is 12,855 resides within seven square miles including 4 miles of waterfront. The City provides full-city services including Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS), Engineering, Public Works, Water and Sewer utilities, Building Inspections, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Marina, Senior Center, Library, Finance, Clerk and Administration. We are a welcoming destination for living, working, and visiting that – combined with our core values of accountability, innovation, trust, industriousness, and friendship – create an environment with opportunities to make a positive impact for our community.

Under supervision, charge and discharge library materials, collect fines fees, register and maintain database records. Provide public service by answering patron inquiries and providing directional assistance. May be required to create, update or delete holdings records. Assist in the processing of library materials. Sort and distribute mail and perform opening and closing desk procedures. Perform data entry, word processing, and filing. Prepare stations. May assist with holds, interlibrary loan, statistical, and cash reports and maintenance of the newspaper and magazine collection. Attend workshops, meetings and training courses as needed. Perform related duties as required. 18-20 hours per week.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives direction and supervision from the Head of Circulation, Assistant Library Director or Director or as assigned by them. Exercises no supervisory function.

Distinguishing Features of the Position: 

• Welcome and direct patrons to library resources.
• Check in and out library materials.
• Issue library cards and maintain patron accounts.
• Ensure patron privacy and confidentiality.
• Identify and resolve patron concerns as related to circulation functions.
• Answer and route incoming telephone calls.
• Complete special projects within the department.

• Strong commitment to public service and patron privacy
• Proficiency in computers and technology, including but not limited to: the ability to attach files to emails, utilize and create digital marketing and
   general computer skills.
• Ability to interact harmoniously and communicate well with customers and staff
• Ability to work with diverse populations of all ages, beliefs and backgrounds
• Excellent skills utilizing emerging technologies
• Flexibility to adapt to changing situations and varied work schedules
• Excellent English communication skills, oral and written; public-speaking presentation skills. 
• Participate in preparing and staffing the circulation desk for daily use, maintaining adequate supplies and forms, processing the delivered newspapers for public use, and preparing circulation equipment for daily use.
• Participate in operating and troubleshooting AV, computer and other office equipment.
• Assist patrons with account issues and answer ready reference questions.
• Participate in scheduling the use of the activities and conference rooms.
• Monitor circulation status and action reports, on search reports, ILL lists and the hold pick list.
• Participate in weeding selected materials from the collection.
• Maintain serials – receive, process and withdraw.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:

• Effective customer-service techniques in a wide variety of situations with a diverse customer population
• Effective English communication and usage; spelling, grammar and punctuation; basic alphabetical and numeric filing methods; basic mathematical principles.
• Principles and procedures of record-keeping.
• Current office methods, equipment, practices and procedures, including PC usage and familiarity with word processing.
• Personal computers, office software applications and multimedia equipment
•  Microsoft Office Suite, the Internet, e-mailing systems and other relevant software packages.

• Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Read and interpret complex data and information.
• Observe and interpret situations.
• Learn and apply new information.
• Tactfully and effectively, handle sensitive customer relations situations and defuse situations that are highly emotional and volatile.
• Quickly, efficiently, and calmly handle a high volume of customer interactions by telephone and in person.
• Reach sound decisions in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Understand and carry out written and oral instructions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Respond and perform assigned duties in the event of a City declared emergency.

• Results Oriented
• Customer-Focused
• Flexible/Adaptable
• Accountable
• Problem Solver
• Planner and Organizer
• Technically Knowledgeable

• Education: High school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED) plus six months of clerical library work experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Experience: at least one years’ experience of providing a face to face service to a diverse range of the public, which must include evidence of working with children and older people, in a customer focused environment
• Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements: Pass a WI State Criminal Background Check

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Physical: Sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; sit for prolonged periods of time; regularly stand, walk, reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, squat, and/or stoop; perform duties requiring grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination; and operate office equipment. 
• Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate office equipment. Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
• Environment: Standard office setting; frequent interaction with City staff; work with intense deadlines.