Library Page (Part-Time) - Library Department

Job Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The award-winning San José Public Library (SJPL) consists of more than 600 employees, a 23% bilingual workforce, and has 24 branch libraries across San José, in addition to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which is the city’s main library jointly operated through a unique partnership with San José State University. SJPL serves a diverse community of roughly one-million residents and currently has nearly 700,000 library members It annually attracts over 6 million visitors (pre-pandemic) and circulates more than 8 million items per year.

Over the past few years, SJPL has cultivated a 21st century library experience dedicated to public service and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core. In addition to providing library services to the community, SJPL proudly leads two citywide initiatives - the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and the SJ Access digital equity initiative, which has become the number one provider of free public access to Wi-Fi connectivity, tech device lending, and multi-lingual digital literacy programs and support. SJPL is led by Jill Bourne, City Librarian, who was nationally recognized in 2017 as Library Journal’s “Librarian of the Year."

SJPL enriches lives by fostering lifelong learning and ensuring that every member of the community has access to a vast array of ideas and information. The library department is a place where people do great work and make a difference in our community. To see examples of SJPL’s work and learn more about its impact, visit www.sjpl.org. Join us to make a difference!

Position Duties

The San José Public Library is looking to fill openings across all our branch locations and units. Library Pages selected will be scheduled to work 16 hours per week year-round. The days and hours assigned vary depending on location and the scheduling needs of that branch/unit. Typical schedules will include evening, Saturday, and/or Sunday shifts.

Library Pages are responsible for providing direct customer service and handling library materials, which can include the following: Filing materials on the shelves quickly and accurately, providing assistance at the customer service desk, assisting in maintaining an orderly and welcoming environment, answering questions from customers in person and over the phone, explaining library policies and procedures, addressing challenging customer behaviors, conducting basic searches on library catalogues, checking materials in/out, helping customers register for a borrower's card, collecting fines and other monetary payments, interacting with and working well with other team members, etc.

These positions require pushing or pulling carts loaded with materials; packing, unpacking and transporting shipment boxes; reaching, bending, and stooping to put materials on low and high shelves; actively moving for several hours at a time, retrieving items from deep bins, and standing for periods of time.

Bilingual skills are preferred but are not required for this position.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions within the library department. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for all available opportunities that may utilize applicants from this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications

These qualifications are typically required. An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job may be substituted.)

Education and Experience
Completion of two (2) years of high school.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise - Demonstrates and applies knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles, practices, and Citywide and departmental procedures/policies.

Communication & Customer Service Skills- Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and the ability to anticipate customers' needs; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts; delivers library services effectively, efficiently using a professional demeanor

Flexibility - Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Multi-Tasking& Problem Solving - Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s); has the ability to problem solve and evaluate alternatives, while making decisions selecting the best course of action through logic and common sense

Reliability - Follows procedures and instructions, attends to duties of the job and completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills; offers support and assistance to others; is approachable and open to suggestions.

Digital Skills - Experience with e-resource platforms including, but not limited to: Hoopla, Kindle, Kanopy and Libby, as well as experience with common business computer applications in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Excel).

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy, or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, please email Irina Orozco at Irina.Orozco@sanjoseca.gov

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

Part-time positions(less than 40 hours per week) are required to participate in the City’s PTC 457 Deferred Compensation Plan per Federal regulations. Employees are required to contribute 3.75% of gross earning and the City contributes a matching amount of 3.75%. The funds contributed by the City are 100% vested upon initial deferral and will be held in a stability of principal investment. This plan is in lieu of social security and does not include any healthcare benefits or contributions.

Part-time employees may elect to contribute additional retirement savings through the City’s Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Additional Information on both plans can be found on the City’s website.

Closing Date/Time: 10/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific