Library Assistant

Key Responsibilities

• Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
• Provide assistance to librarians in the maintenance of collections of books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, and audio-visual and other materials.
• Process new materials including books, audio-visual materials, and computer software.
• Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
• Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers.
• Send out notices and accept fine payments for lost or overdue books.
• Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair.
• Plan or participate in library events and programs, such as story time with children.
• Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
• Design or maintain library web site and online catalogues.
• Operate small branch libraries, under the direction of off-site librarian supervisors.
• Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
• Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment.
• Select substitute titles when requested materials are unavailable, following criteria such as age, education, and interests.
• Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
• Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
• Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
• Perform accounting and bookkeeping activities, such as invoicing, maintaining financial records, budgeting, and handling cash.
• Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers.
• Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
• Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.
• Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
• Schedule, supervise, and train clerical workers, volunteers, student assistants, and other library employees.
• Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
• Take action to deal with disruptive or problem patrons.
• Classify and catalog items according to content and purpose.
• Deliver and retrieve items to and from departments by hand or using push carts.
• Acquire books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and other library supplies by checking prices, figuring costs, and preparing appropriate order forms and facilitating the ordering process by providing such information to others.
• Assist in the preparation of book displays.
• Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials.
• Prepare library statistics reports.
• Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.