City of Valdez, AK is hiring: Public Services Library Assistant in Valdez

Salary: $27.31 - $31.03 Hourly
Location : 212 Fairbanks Street, AK
Job Type: Hourly Permanent Part-Time
Job Number: 25.11
Department: Library
Opening Date: 08/28/2025

The City of Valdez Consortium Library is hiring a Permanent-Part Time Public Service Library Assistant. The Public Services Library Assistant is an enthusiastic, innovative, collaborative, and flexible public servant with strong customer service and communication skills.

Under the direct supervision of the Head Librarian, the Public Services Library Assistant assists the public with the use of Library resources and services, develops and presents adult programs, and promotes the Library and its services. This permanent, part-time, year-round position may require evening, weekend, and holiday availability. The Public Services Assistant performs a wide variety of general library work in public services to assist patrons with daily operational needs of the Library, such as materials processing, circulation and shelving library materials; performs related duties as assigned.

This 40% position is perfect for person looking to work a modified schedule of 15 hours per week as follows:

• Tuesday: 12 pm - 5 pm
• Thursday: 2 pm - 7 pm
• Saturday 11:30 am - 5 pm (with lunch break)

A permanent-part time position is benefit eligible and include:

• Retirement plans to include city match
• PLT earned at 40% rate of full-time
• Medical insurance at a pro-rated premium
• Continuing education benefits
• Holiday pay

This position is open until filled, review of applications begins September 16, 2025. Please submit updated resume and letter of interest with application package.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Circulation - Greets the public and teaches patrons how to use the Library's resources; informs the public of Library policies and procedures; processes holds and interlibrary loan requests, searches online catalog to determine availability of items, checks materials in and out, creates new patron records, collects fees and fines
• Technical Assistance - Assists patrons in the use of Library computers and specialized software; enforces usage rules
• Reference Services - Answers routine reference questions; helps patrons find information and locate research materials in print and electronic formats
• Readers' Advisory - Connects readers with books through recommendations, book lists, websites, displays, and other means
• Collection Management - Processes materials, shelves items according to the Dewey classification system, suggests items to be weeded from the collection, suggests titles to be added, routinely shelf, reads to keep items in order
• Adult Program Development and Presentation - Under the direction of the Head Librarian, develops and provides responsive adult programming and special events within the Library and through outreach to the community
• Displays - Develops age-appropriate and culturally responsive displays of library materials
• Marketing - Designsflyersandothermarketingmaterialstopromotelibraryeventsand services
• Collaboration - Partners and communicates with City departments and local organizations to design and promote Library programs
• Performs routine clerical tasks and other related duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS ANDOTHER CHARACTERISTICS:
Knowledge of:

• City and Department policies and procedures
• Standard library practices and techniques
• Library trends and resources to best assist patrons

Skill in:

• providing customer service and responding to customer inquiries
• using library computer systems
• story telling and effective group communications
• ability to speak before groups and engage with patrons of all ages

PHYSICALREQUIREMENTSANDWORKENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in an office environment. Will require speaking, walking, standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing stairs, lifting, carrying, and reaching both laterally and overhead.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A High School Diploma or GED equivalent; and one(1) years' experience in customer service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
The City of Valdez offers an enticing benefits package that includes affordable health insurance, optional life insurance, matching retirement plans, retirement planning advisor, ample paid time off, and many other perks.

HEALTH INSURANCE

• Currently monthly employee paid premium is approximately $132.00 per month for comprehensive family medical, RX, dental, vision, & hearing.
• Basic life insurance policy provided.
• Effective 1st day of month following 30 days of employment.

Medical

• Low deductible: $100 per person not to exceed $300 per family.
• $488 maximum out of pocket expense after deductible has been met.

Prescriptions

• Generic Co-Pay $5.
• Non-Generic Co-Pay $10.
• Up to a 90-day supply from either mail order or brick/mortar pharmacy.
• Extensive formulary.

Dental

• Deductible: $25 per person not to exceed $75 per family.
• Maximum annual benefit of $2500 per person.
  • Cleaning & exams pay at 100% with no deductible.
• Orthodontics for dependents up to age 19.
• Implants are covered not to exceed annual benefit maximums.

Vision

• No deductible.
• One exam per family member per year.
• Lenses each year covered at 90%.
• A year supply of contacts annually covered at 50%.
• Frames every other year covered at 90% not to exceed $200.
• Lasik coverage - $2000 lifetime benefit.

Hearing

• No Deductible.
• Exam is covered at 90%.
• Device is covered at 50%.

Optional life insurance

• Based on employee age and amount of coverage
• Spouse coverage available
• Coverage for children of $10,000 at $.56 per pay period for all children on plan.

RETIREMENT PLANS
State of Alaska Public Employee Retirement System

• 8% pre-tax contribution to PERS Tier IV Defined Contribution Plan.
  • 5% city match.
  • 5-year vesting schedule.

Optional deferred compensation plan & city matching 401(a)

• Pre-tax contribution into a 457 plan, not to exceed federal limitations (2025 is $23,500) - no waiting period to enroll.
• City will match not to exceed 6.2% for regular employees and 9.3% for executive staff into a 401(a) after 90 days of employment.

PAID TIME OFF

• New employees accrue 24 days per year for first 2 years of service.
• Hourly employees can accrue compensatory time in lieu of overtime at the rate of 1.5 hours per hour worked.

HOLIDAYS

• The City recognizes 13.5 holidays per year
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents Day
  • Seward's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • 4th of July
  • Labor Day
  • Alaska Day
  • Veteran's Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Friday following Thanksgiving
  • ½ Day on Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day