Library Assistant - Journey Level

Job Description:

Library Assistant - Journey Level

Description

The Position

Bargaining Unit: Local 1 - Library Unit

Why Join Contra Costa County?
The Office of the Sheriff offers a full range of services to over 1,000,000 residents in the 715-square mile county. The duties and mission of the Sheriff's Office are unlike most police agencies. Responsibilities include unincorporated area policing, contract cities (Danville, Lafayette, and Orinda) and special districts, air support (helicopters), marine patrol, dispatch, investigations, coroners, county detention facilities, custody alternative, court security, forensic services, police academy, and Office of Emergency Services.

Contra Costa County is recruiting to fill one (1) Part-Time, Library Assistant - Journey Level position within the Custody Services Bureau.

About the Sheriff’s Department:

Whether supporting community libraries or specialized departmental services, Library Assistants play a key role in connecting people with information, ideas, and opportunities. This position is used county-wide and offers variety in work settings, opportunities for skill development, and the chance to contribute to meaningful public service.

Library Assistants assigned to detention or departmental libraries support access to reading and educational materials in a secure environment. Work may include organizing and distributing materials, maintaining inventories, tracking usage data, and coordinating activities that promote literacy and learning.

When assigned to detention facility work, employees may be eligible to receive a five percent (5%) pay differential applied to their base salary, in accordance with the applicable labor agreement.

About the Library Department


The Library is made up of nearly 400 employees serving 26 communities throughout Contra Costa County. Its mission is to “Bring People and Ideas Together.” The Library seeks to enrich lives by delivering a consistent, high quality, and inviting experience at all points of contact.

It is an innovative, entrepreneurial, and dynamic civic institution that is committed to providing exceptional services to its communities. The Library assumes critical roles in making the communities strong, equitable, resilient, and progressive.

The Library’s core goal is to champion personal and community engagement through literacy and reading. It has implemented several programs to ensure easy, equitable access to library services for all. This was exemplified by the Library saying “Farewell to Fines” at the beginning of 2019! By promoting library services and programs to the community we meet our mission of “Bringing People and Ideas Together.”

We are looking for someone who is:

• Customer service oriented. Provides courteous, responsive assistance and helps users access library materials, services, and information
• Adaptable to changing situations. Able to adjust to shifting priorities, service needs, or work settings
• Organized. Maintains accurate records, materials, and work areas in accordance with established procedures
• Effective in interpersonal interactions. Able to communicate clearly and professionally with patrons, coworkers, and other staff
• Works well in diverse communities. Able to serve individuals from a wide range of backgrounds with respect and cultural awareness

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Customer service at the front desk, answering general reference questions
• Assisting patrons with selecting and locating books and other information
• Processing library materials to circulate them
• Assisting reference staff with planning and presenting programming
• Opening and closing a library
• Assisting patrons with how to use library materials, including the catalog

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will directly support learning, access, and literacy
• You will gain experience with library systems and public service work
• You will have variety in your daily work
• You will work in a team-oriented environment with guidance from experienced library professionals

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Adjusting to changes in priorities, schedules, or service needs
• Working with a wide range of users in a public service setting
• Responding to complex or sensitive customer service issues professionally

Competencies Required:

• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Adaptability : Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail : Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Handling Stress : Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Learning Agility : Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to one’s work
• Professional Integrity & Ethics : Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management : Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Oral Communication : Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing : Communicating effectively in writing
• Customer Focus : Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Professional Impact : Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization
• Teamwork : Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

To read the complete job description, please visit the website, www.cccounty.us/hr .

The eligible list established from this recruitment may remain in effect for six (6) months. The eligible list generated by this recruitment may also be used to fill part-time, full-time, or permanent-intermittent vacancies in other department's as they arise.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
AND
Experience: Two (2) years of full time or its equivalent experience in a customer oriented environment or one (1) year of full time work experience in a library.

Substitution for Education: two (2) years of full-time experience in a customer oriented environment OR one (1) year of full-time or its equivalent of work experience in a library AND

Either :
1) possession of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university OR

2) a Certificate of Library Technology from an accredited college or university ; OR

3) Two (2) years of full-time or its equivalent paraprofessional experience in a public library which must have included readers advisory, information services and bibliographic searching.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Prior experience and expressed interest in libraries
• Experience working in and with diverse communities
• Training or certification related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Selection Process

Application Filing & Evaluation: All applicants must apply online at www.cccounty.us/hr and submit a completed Supplemental Questionnaire at the time of application. Applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed to determine which candidates demonstrate the minimum qualifications for the position. Online Skills Assessment: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in an online skills assessment. The assessment will be administered remotely and will evaluate knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the Library Assistant - Journey Level classification. Competencies assessed may include, but are not limited to: Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking, Customer Focus, and Teamwork. Candidates must achieve a 70% or higher on the assessment in order to advance in the recruitment process. (Weighted 100%)

• Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the assessment process should notify Human Resources as soon as possible.

Department Interview: The department's hiring team will contact referred individuals TBD

If you apply for another recruitment that uses this exam and the test is scheduled within six (6) months of the date you took the test this time, you will not have the option to re-take the exam.

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Norma Martinez at [email protected]. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at +1 855-524-5627.

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identify, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits

Closing Date/Time: 3/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$58,977.19 - $75,316.30 Annually