Library Specialist (HCPL @ MAM Branch Library)

Position Description

Harris County Public Library (HCPL) - History The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system, established in 1921, began as a collection of small libraries located in stores, post offices, and private homes. Over the years, it has grown into a robust network comprising 26 branch libraries, two technology service centers, and two partner locations that provide collection and circulation services. HCPL serves the communities of unincorporated Harris County and cities without independent library systems. In 2024, HCPL received the prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor awarded to libraries in the United States. Bestowed annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), this award recognizes institutions that deliver exceptional service to their communities. The library was recognized for innovative initiatives like HCPL Connected, Enhanced+ Library Cards, and its Mobile Outreach Librarian program. HCPL is also recognized as one of the best places to work, offering a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Its dedication to employee well-being, diversity, and community impact makes HCPL more than just a workplace - it’s where individuals can grow, inspire, and contribute to meaningful change.

What you will do at Harris County Public Library:The Library Specialist I provides frontline customer service and entry-level specialized support for daily library operations. The position assists patrons with library card registration, account maintenance, circulation transactions, readers' advisory, basic reference and research, digital resources, and technology or lab activities; processes, sorts, shelves, and maintains library materials; and plans, delivers, and promotes programs for patrons of all ages. The position also supports collection maintenance, community outreach, opening and closing activities, facility readiness, and accurate service records while protecting patron confidentiality. The position contributes to safe, organized, welcoming, and inclusive access to information, technology, and learning resources.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provides courteous, responsive, and inclusive frontline customer service to patrons in person, by telephone, and through approved electronic communication channels.
• Greets patrons, identifies their needs, explains available services and resources, and connects them with the appropriate staff member or service when additional assistance is required.
• Performs circulation and patron-account functions using the integrated library system and established procedures.
• Registers patrons for library cards; verifies and updates account information; checks materials in and out; places and processes holds; renews materials; explains notices, fees, and account status; accepts approved payments when assigned; and maintains accurate transaction records.
• Protects the confidentiality of patron registration, account, circulation, reference, technology-use, and other service information in accordance with applicable law and library policy.
• Provides readers' advisory and basic reference and research assistance for patrons of all ages.
• Uses the library catalog, print materials, databases, digital collections, and credible online sources to help patrons locate, evaluate, and use information and refers advanced, sensitive, or specialized requests to professional staff.
• Assists patrons with public computers, printers, scanners, copiers, wireless access, e-books, databases, mobile devices, digital resources, and approved makerspace or lab equipment.
• Provides basic digital-literacy instruction, explains standard technology procedures, troubleshoots routine equipment or access issues, and reports unresolved problems.
• Plans, prepares, delivers, and promotes assigned educational, cultural, literacy, technology, and enrichment programs for children, teens, adults, older adults, families, and other community groups.
• Develops activities within established guidelines; coordinates logistics and promotion; records attendance and feedback; and recommends service improvements.
• Supports community outreach and engagement by promoting library services, participating in approved off-site activities, and maintaining cooperative relationships with schools, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, and other community partners.
• Supports collection development and stewardship by recommending materials based on customer requests and community interests and by assisting with selection projects as assigned.
• Shelves and shelf-read materials; maintains accurate order and attractive displays; assists with merchandising, inventory, missing-item searches, weeding, and collection projects; and follows collection-management guidelines and staff direction.
• Processes and routes library materials accurately and efficiently, including returns from service desks and book drops, holds, transfers, deliveries, and items requiring repair, review, or special handling.
• Supports daily branch operations by assisting with opening and closing procedures, service-desk coverage, room and equipment readiness, public-area organization, signage, supply monitoring, and assigned operational checklists.
• Explains and applies library policies, procedures, service standards, and customer-conduct expectations consistently and respectfully.
• Resolves routine account, service, and customer concerns within assigned authority and promptly refers policy exceptions, repeated complaints, threatening behavior, suspected legal issues, or other complex matters to designated staff or management.
• Promotes a safe and welcoming environment by observing branch conditions, following emergency and incident procedures, documenting significant events as directed, and promptly reporting safety, security, accessibility, maintenance, or facility concerns.
• Maintains accurate program, outreach, circulation, collection, equipment, inventory, payment, and service records and provides data or reports needed to monitor activities and support operational decisions.
• Works collaboratively with branch employees, volunteers, and community partners to coordinate service coverage, exchange information, complete assignments, and support branch and system initiatives.
• Participates in staff meetings, required training, committees, workgroups, activities, and professional-development opportunities and applies updated procedures and service practices to assigned work.
• Uses approved communication and promotional tools, including email, calendars, flyers, web content, and social media, to share accurate information about library resources, programs, and services in accordance with established guidelines.
• Performs routine administrative and operational tasks, including preparing forms and correspondence, maintaining schedules and files, monitoring supplies, and assisting with special projects.
• Performs other related circulation, programming, collection, customer-service, technology-support, outreach, and operational duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned

This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

All applicants must register and take theHRT Clerical Skills Testandscore a minimum of 80% with a typing speed of 30 wpm and 80% accuracy. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx/jobs/998426-0/hrt-clerical-skills-test Please see testing instructions in the General Information section below.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• One (1) year of experience planning, delivering, or supporting programs or activities for all ages of children, teens, adults, older adults, families, or community groups.
• One (1) year of customer service experience involving direct interaction with customers, clients, students, visitors, or members of the public is required under each education and experience option.

OR

• Associate degree in any field or 60 hours of secondary education credits from an accredited college or university
• Three (3) years of experience planning, delivering, or supporting programs or activities for all ages of children, teens, adults, older adults, families, or community groups.
• One (1) year of customer service experience involving direct interaction with customers, clients, students, visitors, or members of the public is required under each education and experience option.

OR

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
• Five (5) years of experience planning, delivering, or supporting programs or activities for all ages of children, teens, adults, older adults, families, or community groups.
• One (1) year of customer service experience involving direct interaction with customers, clients, students, visitors, or members of the public is required under each education and experience option.

Additional Requirements:

• Available and reliable transportation for work-related duties
• Unofficial copies of transcripts are required along with the application

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of public library customer service, circulation, materials handling, shelving, and collection maintenance.
• Knowledge of readers' advisory, basic reference, research, digital literacy, and appropriate referral practices.
• Knowledge of program planning, delivery, promotion, outreach, and evaluation for diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of patron privacy, records handling, safety, and consistent application of library policies.
• Ability to provide courteous, accurate, inclusive, and solution-oriented service and to communicate effectively with patrons, employees, volunteers, and community partners.
• Ability to organize work, manage competing assignments, meet schedules and deadlines, maintain attention to detail, and complete routine tasks independently within established procedures.
• Ability to exercise initiative, sound judgment, discretion, and appropriate problem-solving when responding to routine customer, circulation, program, technology, collection, and operational issues.
• Ability to recognize matters outside assigned authority and promptly refer or escalate safety, security, legal, policy, employee, or high-impact customer concerns.
• Ability to plan and conduct activities and programs, speak before groups, assist patrons with technology, and adjust service approaches to meet varied customer needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, contribute to teamwork, accept direction and feedback, and work respectfully in a diverse public-service environment.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, collect and report service data, handle approved payments, and perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Proficiency with integrated library systems, Microsoft 365, the internet, email, social media, digital resources, mobile devices, scheduling or reporting tools, and standard office and library equipment.
• Ability to use personal mobile device for the County's multifactor authentication process.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.Preferences

Experience:

• Experience working in a public, school, or academic library; government agency; nonprofit organization; or related public-service environment. (preferred)
• Experience serving diverse age groups through customer service, programming, outreach, learning activities, or digital-literacy assistance. (preferred)
• Experience using an integrated library system to perform circulation, patron-account, materials-processing, or shelving functions. (preferred)
• Experience providing readers' advisory, basic reference or research assistance, and supporting collection displays, inventory, weeding, or selection activities. (preferred)
• Experience using Microsoft 365, social media, digital devices, makerspace or lab equipment, and online communication or promotional tools. (preferred)

Language:

• Bilingual (preferred)

General Information

Register Online for the HRT Clerical Skills Test using the following link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx/jobs/998426-0/hrt-clerical-skills-test Click the above link to the HRRM Clerical Skills Test registration page Click on "Apply" to submit your request for testing You will receive a test invitation and instructions via e-mail within 48 hours You will have no more than 5 calendar daysto access and complete testing Your score will be automatically uploaded to your application The test may be taken once every 30 days Most recent test scores are retained for up to 6 months

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Part-time | Regular
• Work is primarily performed in a public library environment and includes regular interaction with patrons and employees, frequent movement throughout the branch, and extended periods of computer use. The position is generally scheduled Monday through Saturday and may include rotating daytime, evening, and weekend shifts based on operational needs. Occasional travel to other library locations and attendance at off-site meetings, training, outreach activities, programs, and community events may be required. Some assignments may be performed outdoors with exposure to inclement weather and varying temperatures.

Salary:

• $20 Per Hour
• Paid Biweekly

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• Driving and Travel: Reliable transportation is required for work-related travel to library locations, meetings, outreach activities, training, and community events when assigned.
• Office Equipment and Technology: Daily use of computers, keyboards, copiers, scanners, printers, calculators, telephones, mobile devices, integrated library systems, Microsoft 365 applications, email, internet-based resources, and other standard library or office equipment.
• Physical Activities: Work includes extended periods of sitting and computer use and frequent movement throughout the library. Duties may require walking, standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, shelving materials at varying heights, and setting up program spaces or equipment.
• Lifting: Regularly lifts, carries, pushes, pulls, or moves books, bins, supplies, furniture, and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Communication and Information Access: Work requires reading printed and electronic information and communicating effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic systems, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Environmental Conditions: Work is primarily performed in a public library or office setting with overhead lighting, frequent public interaction, interruptions, moderate noise, extended screen time, and changing activity levels. Some assignments may be performed outdoors in varying weather and temperatures.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports To Position: Library Manager I, II, or III
• Supervises Positions: None

Work Location:

• HCPL @ MAM Branch Library - 1625 Blalock Rd, Houston, TX 77080

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

Benefits

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*
• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com