Thank you for your interest in the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County! The Library is a wonderful place to work. The Library offers a variety of jobs such as Librarian, Clerk, Shelver and Maintenance worker.

Library Clerks
Very briefly, a Library Clerk is responsible for assisting patrons by checking in and out a patron's library materials, registering borrowers, maintaining various files and records, shelving library items, and other related duties. Some of the requirements are that you must be able to work well with the public and have good alphabetizing skills. Computer skills are necessary for this position as well. You will need to be available to work at least 24 hours per week (often scheduled as 8 hours per day, 3 days per week, sometimes 4 hours per day shifts are necessary) and able to work at our various branches throughout the Mahoning County, if needed. You will be required to work days, evenings and Saturdays on a rotating basis and Sundays, if needed.

Potential Library Clerk Q&A

Are you available to work a rotating schedule that includes day, evening AND weekend shifts?

Are you friendly, and quick with a smile?

Do you have direct customer service experience?

Do you have experience with problem-solving in a customer service position?

Have you operated a cash register or handled cash transactions?

Do you know how to operate a computer?

Are you proficient with word processing, spreadsheet or database software?

Can you accurately keyboard at least 30 wpm?

Have you worked as part of a team?

Are you prepared to spend a majority of your workday , excluding scheduled breaks, serving patrons at the circulation desk?

Can you push or pull a cart loaded with library materials?

Can you add and remove materials from library shelves?

Can you alphabetize?

Can you put items in order numerically using decimal numbers?

Are you known for your attention to detail?

Are you organized?

Are you dependable?

Shelvers

A Shelver is responsible for shelving and maintaining library materials such as books, periodicals, audiovisual items and microforms in proper order. You must be able to alphabetize and file with 85% accuracy, recognize sequences of numbers and letters sufficient to sort, shelve and find items accurately, and recognize the authors, titles and call numbers of library materials. This position is only at our Main, Austintown, Boardman, or Poland locations and you would be assigned to work at only one of these locations when hired. Shelvers are part time only, working a maximum of 4 hours per day, 4 days per week.

Can you commit to a schedule of approximately 16 hours per week?

Are you prepared to spend your full workday , standing or walking as you sort and shelve?

Can you push or pull a cart loaded with library materials?

Can you add and remove materials from high and low library shelves?

Can you alphabetize?

Can you put items in order numerically using decimal numbers?

Are you known for your attention to detail?

Are you organized?

Are you dependable?

Librarians

Librarians are responsible for assisting patrons by answering their questions; locating and obtaining desired materials and information, presenting programs for all ages, selecting or suggesting materials for the library collection and/or needed equipment to help better service the public and are required to have a Masters of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited library school. Experience working with the public, especially children, is desirable.

Every so often, Paraprofessionals (Library Assistants) are hired to do librarian work. They are not required to have the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree, but must have a 4-year college degree. Most have past library experience or past experience working with children.

Maintenance

Our Custodial/Maintenance personnel perform such duties as picking up and making deliveries and some janitorial duties such as minor repairs, outdoors work and general housekeeping. A valid driver's license and a good driving record are required as well as specific vocational training.

More Information Regarding Our Positions…

For all of our positions, it is very important that you maintain a dependable attendance record and that you be willing to work a flexible schedule. All of our positions require that you be willing and able to work days, evenings, Saturdays and Sundays, if needed.

All positions, with the exception of the Shelver position, come with benefits such as paid vacations, earned sick time, an opportunity to accept health coverage, and life insurance. Retirement packages like Ohio Deferred Compensation and OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System) are provided for all positions, including the Shelver position.

The positions we most frequently hire for are usually part time Library Clerk and Shelver. However, you are invited to express interest in any of our job positions.

Q. Often we are asked, “Are you hiring?”

A. Our recruitment process is ongoing, as vacancies can arise intermittently. Applicants are screened and interviewed months before openings occur or arise, which is why we are always accepting resumes for any of our positions – Part-time or Full-time. Consequently, we encourage you to send in a resume along with a cover letter stating which position(s) is of interest to you and if your preference is for full time or part time work. Please send your resume and cover letter to:

The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County
ATTN: Human Resource Assistant - # 2
305 Wick Ave.
Youngstown, OH 44503.

An Equal Opportunity Employer
M/F/V/D

Your resume will remain on file for one year. If you have further questions about a career at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, you are welcome to call our Human Resource Department at 330.744.8636, ext. 115.

The Internet is also full of information. The following sites are a good place to begin your library career research.

How to Become a Librarian

American Library Association

Kent State University School of Library & Information Science

University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences

Clarion University of Pennsylvania