Job Description

Posting number: 3KTB-2026A

Department: Library

Job classification: Library Assistant - Advanced Level - Deep Class

Posting type: Open

Categories: Clerical & Data Entry, Library

Summary

Bargaining Unit: Local 1 - Library Unit

Contra Costa County is recruiting to fill one (1) permanent part-time Library Assistant Advanced Level position within the Library Department. Library Assistants are assigned to either the Library Department or the Sheriff's Office. The eligible list generated by this recruitment may also be used to fill full-time, part-time or permanent-intermittent vacancies as they occur.

Library Department

Why join the Contra Costa County Library?

Contra Costa County’s Library Department is seeking qualified candidates to fill a vacancy for the Library Assistant – Advanced Level classification.

The Contra Costa County Library is a dynamic system of nearly 400 dedicated employees, including multilingual staff who make up 10% of the workforce. Together, they serve 26 diverse communities across the county.

Each year, the Library welcomes more than 2.4 million visitors and circulates approximately 4.8 million items.

The Library’s Strategic Plan guides its commitment to fostering personal and community engagement through literacy and reading. This plan shapes the Library’s priorities, ensuring it delivers essential services and resources in safe and welcoming spaces. The Library is deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and is actively working to advance anti-racist practices within the organization.

As a County Department, the Library works to ensure every resident can learn, grow, and thrive in strong, inclusive communities.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Customer service oriented
• Adaptable to changing situations
• Organized
• Effective in interpersonal interactions
• Works well in diverse communities

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Training and supervising library aides and creating desk schedules
• Packing and unpacking shipments between library branches, recording and submitting statistics, preparing book selections, and loading book carts
• Opening and/or closing a library according to established schedules and procedures
• Answering general reference, information, and readers advisory questions
• Assisting patrons in locating library materials, both physical and digital
• Instructing patrons in the use of the library equipment and software, including but not limited to computers, printers, scanners, email, internet, databases, digital resources, and catalog
• Advising patrons of library policies, procedures, and services
• Modifying daily desk schedules and responding to patron and facility incidents
• Planning and presenting programming under the general direction of professional librarian staff, including story time
• Assessing needs of the local community and makes recommendations to manager to align library services and programs with the library’s strategic goals

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will work in diverse communities that appreciate the library
• You will be part of a team consisting of strong and professional staff
• You will work in an organization that is committed to racial equity and inclusiveness
• You will have the opportunity to be the on-site person in charge at a library outlet

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• There will be complex customer service issues
• You may need to adapt to sudden changes
• While a manager is available, they will not typically be on site, so you may be expected to solve some problems on your own
• You may be working independently often with little on-site staff support

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 months.

Qualifications

Public Library System:

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

AND

Experience: two (2) years of full-time or its equivalent of para-professional experience in a public library which must have included readers advisory, information services and bibliographic searching AND two (2) years of full time or its equivalent experience in a customer oriented environment.

Substitution For Education: Two (2) years of full-time or its equivalent of para-professional experience in a public library which must have included readers advisory and information services and bibliographic searching AND

Either:

(1) possession of 60 semester or 90 quarter unit 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 of para-professional experience in a public library which must have included readers advisory and 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

Supplemental information

1. Application Filing: All applicants must apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/contracosta and submit the information as indicated on the job announcement by the final filing date.
2. Application Evaluation: Depending on the number of applications received, an Application Evaluation Board may be convened to evaluate and select the best-qualified candidates for invitation to the next phase of the examination.
3. Online Skills Assessment: Candidates invited to take the online skills assessment will need access to a computer and internet. Test items may consist of the following assessment categories: Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking, Customer Focus, and Teamwork. Tentatively scheduled for December 3 - 7, 2026. (Weighted 100%)
4. The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.
5. For recruitment specific questions, please contact Austin Wagers at Austin.Wagers@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the Government Jobs’ 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.

Contra Costa County is committed to providing equal access and opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities in its employment practices. If you believe you may anticipate needing reasonable accommodation, please visit our job seeker resources page at: Special Testing Accommodations | Contra Costa County, CA Official Website.