Patron Services Assistant

The Oak Park Public Library seeks a part-time Library Assistant to join the Patron Services team.

About

The Oak Park Public Library strategically prioritizes equity, anti-racism, engagement, learning, and stewardship. We serve a diverse population at our three locations and out in the Oak Park community. Our vision is to empower every voice in our community, and our mission is to share the information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations.

This position is for you if interacting with and helping patrons is your favorite part of working in a library. The Assistant position focuses on customer service. The primary responsibility for most of the working day is to assist patrons with finding materials, locating information, and helping them with technology. Evening and weekend hours are expected. There may also be opportunities to assist with programming and community engagement.

Bilingualism in English and Spanish is a plus; while not required, fluency in Spanish will enable you to provide exceptional customer service and build relationships with our Spanish-speaking community members. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

The person in this position provides direct assistance to customers at service points at all three locations, supports library initiatives/projects across service areas, and works closely with librarians, specialists, and other library staff. The nature and allocation of work for an Assistant may include, but is not limited to, the following:

Customer Service

• Assists patrons at all library service points and in the community
• Performs circulation duties: checks in and out material, issues and renews library cards, accurately conducts fee collection responsibilities, and resolves account issues as needed
• Assists patrons with the use of self check-out kiosks
• Provides readers advisory, reference, and technology assistance using appropriate tools
• Supports and troubleshoots public computers, printers, and mobile devices
• Adheres to library policies and proactively enforces the Library’s Rules of Behavior and refers issues to Supervisors and/or Managers as required
• Provides information on library and community news and events

Community Engagement and Programming

• Participates in community engagement activities with the Book Bike and with the Community Engagement Team as needed
• Assists Librarians in preparing and presenting programs as needed

Collection Management and Maintenance

• Processes and shelves holds, places holds for patrons, and pulls expired holds
• Assists with the selection, deselection, and withdrawing of library materials and with collection analysis, inventory, displays, and other tasks as required

Successful candidates will:

• Work to understand, support, and advance the vision, mission, and strategic priorities of the library
• Have at least earned a high school diploma and preferably some college
• Have some experience working in a library, retail, or hospitality setting
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Be available and willing to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends
• Be open to working 4 to 5 hours shifts - at any service desk - at all three library locations
• Be able to communicate in English and Spanish fluently (a plus)

Details

This part-time position reports to the Patron Services Coordinators and is scheduled for at least 20 hours per week with expectations for some evening and weekend availability. 

As part of the greater compensation package, part-time (20-hour) library staff members receive generous benefits, including:

• Enrollment in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), a premier defined benefit (pension) plan for Illinois municipal government employees
• At least two weeks of paid vacation annually
• 48 hours of paid health leave annually
• 26 hours of paid personal leave annually
• Up to 13 paid holidays each year (only if regularly scheduled to work on the day of the holiday)
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave
• $150 Lifestyle Spending Account to use to improve your physical, financial, and emotional well-being

The starting hourly rate range is $19.50 to $21.50. Offers are made within this range based on competencies, experience, and internal equity. Please apply by Sunday, July 21, to be considered for this position.

Anti-Racism. Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.

The Oak Park Public Library is an equal opportunity employer. We work to create and support an environment of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion for the benefit of our staff, our collections, our programs and services, our patrons, and our community. Members of underrepresented groups and those committed to working in a diverse cultural environment are encouraged to apply.

Salary : $20 - $22