Library Associate

Compensation Range
$20.40 - $26.13
Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume. If interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Who We Are:
At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries.
We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world!
Our Core Values:
Stewardship: We manage the city’s resources responsibly and make decisions that sustain High Point’s future. In other words, we take care of what we have today to build what we’ll need tomorrow
Welcoming: We create a friendly, open environment where residents, partners, and visitors feel valued and embraced. We want everyone who connects with High Point to feel welcomed, like they belong here.
Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and ethical responsibility in everything we do. That means doing what’s right – even when no one’s watching. This is how we earn our community’s trust.
Productivity: We stay focused on results, fostering creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking. We don’t just get things done – we find smarter, better ways to do them.
What We Offer:
The City of High Point offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefit package for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:
A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
401K and 457B Retirement Plans
PTO earned within first year
13 Paid Holidays per year
Tuition Reimbursement Plan
Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one
What You'll Do:
Perform responsible para-professional work and simple professional work planning and implementing programs and services of the Children’s Services Division of the Public Library. Work involves bringing children and their parents and teachers together with books and information through reference work, programs, etc.; does related work as required. Work is performed under regular supervision, but requires a high degree of personal accountability, motivation, communication, and record keeping.
Essential Tasks & Responsibilities:
Demonstrates a positive attitude and supports library goals and objectives.
Maintains current knowledge of organizational procedures, processes, policies and operations.
Provides outstanding internal and external customer service in accordance with library policy and in a manner to enhance the reputation of the library as a public service organization.Performs general reference and reader's advisory work, searches for information upon request using automated system, the Internet and other informational tools and assists in locating needed books and materials;
Assists the division with the collection through checking in and out materials, straightens books, CDs, DVDs, LOTs, and checks each assigned shelve locations to assure it is in proper classification sequence (shelf reading).
Assists in maintenance of the collection through repairing, cleaning, discarding where necessary, and weeding materials based on condition or at managers’ request.
Assists the division with signature events like Spring Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, Summer Jubilee, Holiday Stroll and others.
Assists in supervision of Junior Friends and other children volunteers for summer reading, programs, events, and meetings
Prepares flyers digitally and in print for promoting programs, literacy, libraries, and seasonal changes.
Assists in ordering and receiving supplies and equipment necessary for programs;
Represents the library at community events and in community organizations;
Plans and conducts active and passive programs at the library, including special programs holiday programs, story times, puppet shows, flannels boards, crafts, tours, book clubs, reading contests, and others;
Proficient in Microsoft and Google suites for record keeping and statistics. Assists in collecting library statistics and surveys.
Acts as public relations representative to the community for public schools, private schools, homeschool groups, childcare providers, businesses, other city entities etc.;
tours, teacher packs, field trips, online resources, and representing the library at community events.
Collaborates with other library and city departments to achieve the Library’s mission and values. Including encouraging lifelong learning and library use.
Creates displays for promoting programs, literacy, libraries, and seasonal changes
Assists in creating reading lists for grade level, genre, BOB.
Maintains positive working relationship with partner institutions.
Pursues professional development including staff meetings, workshops, webinars, and conferences as budget allows. Pursues professional development and growth to stay current with technology and library trends.
Available to work on rotating evenings and weekends and during our summer reading program.
Assists in special projects at managers requests
Collaborates with other divisions to achieve the Library’s mission and values.
Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.
Qualifications:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Formal education
Bachelor’s degree required. Liberal arts preferred.
Extensive experience in the use of computers, Microsoft Office products, and graphic design (Canva or Photoshop preferred)
Must upload a Cover Letter and Resume with Application.
Must be an avid reader and familiar with writers and popular reading genres, and able to discuss both books and movies with customers.
Must be comfortable speaking in front of people and preparing presentations, which may include curriculum and basic lesson plans.
Must be comfortable leading programs in person or through virtual programming.
Must be able to learn and teach the use of electronic library resources and use our computerized circulation system.
Must be able to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, and holidays.
Customer Service/Retail experience required, Public Library experience desirable.
Must be able to relate to and communicate effectively with the public, other employees, and supervisors to maintain a positive customer service and work environment.
Must have good listening skills.
Must be able to follow written and oral instructions.
Must have a valid, appropriate driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina.
On-the-job training: approximately six weeks.
Physical Requirements
Hearing/Speaking - Expressing and/or receiving information by means of spoken word are both necessary to communicate with people in person and over the telephone, due to regular contact with the public and co-workers.
Visual Abilities – the ability to perceive via eyesight is required for this position:
Acuity, far – Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Both eyes 20/25 – R 20/30 – L20/30 corrected.
Acuity, near – Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Both eyes 20/25 corrected.
Depth Perception – Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they are. Depth perception – 4
Field of Vision – Area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point.
Accommodation – Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This item is especially important when doing near-point work at varying distances from eye. Must be able to adjust lens of eye so worker can perform more than one task at the same time using both hands.
All five aspects are judged to be important in carrying out the essential functions of this job.
Physical Strength – degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include:
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to carry and/or move books and non-print materials. Work usually requires walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, lifting, pushing carts of materials or containers, and climbing to a significant degree, however, the worker does sit on occasion. Must be able to climb a small ladder to set up freestanding or bulletin board displays.
Type of Physical Demands
Reaching, Handling, and Fingering: (Reaching – Extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, bu