Library Community & Information Specialist

Position Description

At Tacoma Public Library (TPL), our mission is to empower our community by bringing people together to discover, connect, create, learn and thrive. Want to make an impact? We're looking for Library Community & Information Specialists who will play a meaningful role on teams in our library branches. As a Library Community & Information Specialist at TPL you will greet patrons with a smile and make them feel welcome at the library, help patrons with essential information services and programs, find the right book, navigate technology, and guide them through research while building awareness of our many services and benefits to the community. Specialists are caring, people-oriented, and enjoy collaboration, problem-solving, and finding creative solutions that help all patrons have a great experience at Tacoma Public Library.

The ideal candidate is passionate about providing excellent customer service, developing strong community relationships, working collaboratively with others, and is committed to racial equity and social justice to respond to Tacoma’s diverse communities’ needs and opportunities. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all Tacoma Public Library employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices.

Responsibilities include:

• Plan and conduct programs for all ages that are responsive to evolving community needs and interests
• Provide a variety of reference services to assist patrons in accessing library materials, technology and online resources
• Provide reader's advisory, helping patrons find the right book for them
• Curate creative displays to help patrons choose their next book or learn more about a topic
• Instruct patrons on how to use library equipment, resources, and systems
• Perform circulation duties, such as checking books in and out, processing reserves, renewals, and applications
• Create a safe and welcoming environment for patrons

Qualifications

Two years of customer service experience.

Desirable Qualifications

• Library or non-profit experience
• Bachelor’s or associates degree
• Bilingual skills in English and another language relevant to the Tacoma community

**Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it!

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.
The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
The Community
Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI
To be Considered for this Rewarding Career
Interested individuals who meet the minimum qualification for this position must apply online. Your application should include job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position. This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the Tacoma Public Library and Local 120. Individuals given a conditional offer of employment must also pass a background check. New employees must successfully complete a six month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.

Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $29.11 - $35.38
Annual Salary: $61,817.60 - $87,068.80

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

Tacoma Public Library Stands Against Racism and White Supremacy
Tacoma Public Library is opposed to white supremacy in all of its forms and is committed to fostering an organization that is actively anti-racist. We believe that Black Lives Matter. We are grieving with our black community and all communities of color who continue to be harmed by institutionalized racism. We are committed to being a trusted community resource available to all and will provide resources and public programs that seek to reflect the values of anti-racism and elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Tacoma Public Library
Tacoma Public Library (TPL) has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for more than 125 years. TPL's neighborhood libraries originated with Andrew Carnegie's visionary philanthropy at the turn of the 20th century and are being transformed into true centers of educational innovation and service--and vital community hubs--that continue to provide far more than free books and materials. Learn more about the Tacoma Public Library and the services we provide at www.tacomalibrary.org and connect with us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and LinkedIn to stay up to date on exciting things happening at the library, and to be notified of other career opportunities with us.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Insurance Plans: You may participate in one of several group health insurance programs. Employees and their dependents are covered by a medical-surgical-hospital plan, vision plan, dental plan, and employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance and Deferred Compensation options are also available.
Employees are covered by the State Industrial Insurance Act.

Paid leave: Library Employees are entitled to receive paid holidays, and Personal Time Off (PTO).

Retirement: All employees of the Library except part-time Pages, temporary employees, and certain project employees, are included in the City of Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacorna.org or by calling (253) 502-8200. All members of the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System are also covered by Social Security.

The Tacoma Public Library is not a department of the City of Tacoma and the Library's employees are not employees of the City. The Library is a separate entity with its own governing body. The Library's governing body is the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees.

Employees of the City of Tacoma who accept employment with the Tacoma Public Library will lose their City of Tacoma employee seniority. They will also find that their leave accruals, and some of the benefits enjoyed as employees of the City of Tacoma do not carry over when they are hired for a position with the Tacoma Public Library.

Closing Date/Time: 11/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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