Lower School Library Assistant

Lower School Library Assistant

Department:Lower School
Location:Bethesda, MD

Position Start Date:09/01/2023

Status:Part-time

The Lower School library assistant works closely with our Librarian to manage the library and ensure that its operations run smoothly. Candidates should have strong interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as a deep knowledge of children’s books. This position is part-time, 30 hrs per week.

The library assistant is responsible for the upkeep of digital records, ongoing sorting, shelving and repair of library books, assisting children, families and teachers with finding books, and ensuring that the library runs smoothly.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Perform circulation functions, including charging/discharging library materials, processing holds, and sorting/shelving library materials.
• Conduct regular digital and physical collection maintenance, including correcting digital records in Follet Destiny Library Manager, shelf reading, repairing damaged books, and assisting with annual inventory.
• Assist Head Librarian with weeding projects after they have selected titles by deleting records, processing, and organizing the titles for donation.
• Pull books at the request of the Head Librarian.
• Receive and process books, including performing original and copy cataloging, creating labels for books, and using ready covers.
• Print, copy, format, organize, and scan materials at the request of the Head Librarian.
• Support Head Librarian preparing for and during PK-4th grade Library classes, including setting out materials and assisting with supervision of children.
• Attend mandatory meetings and training.

Position Qualifications

• Communication: Engage students and teachers in friendly dialog to ascertain their information needs and to present the library as a warm and friendly place to be.
• Problem-Solving/Research Skills: Possess well-honed problem-solving skills in order to help students and teachers find the information they need.
• Accuracy: Be detail oriented and dedicated to the minute details of cataloging and record keeping for the circulation of materials.
• Organization: Demonstrate and use highly developed organizational skills to maintain the library in good working order.
• Reliability: Arrive at work on time and maintain an excellent attendance record.
• Work under pressure: Be able to work under pressure and be flexible enough to deal with an ever-changing environment.

Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Coursework in education, library science, child development and /or children’s literature is preferred.
• Library experience preferred. Work experience in a school setting is preferred.
• Excellent computer skills are required, especially in Word and Excel; familiarity with Google Apps for Education is preferred.