County Library Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $60,715.20 - $75,795.20 Annually
Location : Headquarters, 6135 State Farm Dr, Rohnert Park, CA, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202600001
Division: Collection Services
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 9/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
ABOUT US
Sonoma County Library creates community through discovery, culture and connection.
We are known locally for our engaged, creative, and empowered staff. We rely on community input to guide our decisions, and we proudly champion diversity and equity in all aspects of our organization. Libraries are for everyone. Read more about the library's mission, vision, and values
This is a tremendous opportunity to be part of a mission-driven public agency, and help transform the literacy and education landscape for all Sonoma County residents. If you would like to join our team of dedicated professionals, we invite you to apply.
Description
Sonoma County Library
Announces an Employment Opportunity
LIBRARY SPECIALIST (2 VACANCIES) - COLLECTION SERVICES, HEADQUARTERS
40 HOURS PER WEEK - FULL-TIME
The Collection Services Division has two (2) full-time vacancies available at Sonoma County Library Headquarters: one (1) in the Acquisitions Department and one (1) in the Cataloging Department. We are seeking customer service-driven and detail-oriented individuals to perform routine library work related to the ordering, cataloging, and processing of library materials. The ideal candidates are organized, adaptable, collaborative, and committed to providing accurate and efficient support in a fast-paced library environment.
To be considered for either of these opportunities, applicants must complete the Supplemental Questions. Candidates who successfully complete the interview process will be added to a pre-qualified list and may be considered for other vacancies that arise in the next twelve months.
ABOUT THE POSITIONS:
The Cataloging position performs routine library work related to the cataloging and processing of library materials. Responsibilities include copy cataloging, verifying and updating bibliographic records and item records according to local procedures, reviewing and correcting vendor-provided bibliographic records, verifying call numbers, printing spine and bibliographic labels, processing materials, responding to branch cataloging requests, preparing materials for mending, and assisting with special projects related to record maintenance and digital collections.
The Acquisitions position performs routine library work related to the ordering, receiving, and processing of library materials in all formats. Responsibilities include creating purchase orders in the Integrated Library System (ILS), unpacking, organizing and receiving shipments, processing invoices, communicating with vendors regarding discrepancies, printing spine and bibliographic labels, and processing materials.
Please see the below class specifications for full details about these positions.
SALARY RANGE: $29.19/hour to $36.44/hour
CLOSING DATE: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 11:59pm
EST: OCTOBER 2015REV: JULY 2019
REV: MARCH 2026
FLSA: NON-EXEMPT
LIBRARY SPECIALIST
Represented
DEFINITION
Provides excellent customer service, performs a variety of clerical and technical library work related to materials support, circulation activities, and direct customer service within the Public Services and Community Engagement Divisions; performs basic activities in acquisitions and processing, cataloging, and/or resource sharing within the Collection Services Division according to defined procedures; and performs related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
This class works under general supervision from a Supervising Library Specialist, Branch Manager, or other supervisory classification. Employees may provide assistance to volunteers, Shelvers, and/or other inexperienced staff within assigned area or branch.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is the journey-level customer service and materials support class in the clerical and technical library support series. Incumbents are assigned responsibility for the full range of circulation or collection services support activities, including direct user support and routine ordering, receiving, resource sharing, cataloging, and processing tasks. Incumbents advise users of library policies, procedures, and services, resolve library user issues within established policies, and provide basic technological and reference support to library users. Responsibilities also include assisting and training users on self-service equipment, answering routine directional and informational questions, and referring the more difficult technical or involved questions to appropriate paraprofessional or professional library staff.
At this level, incumbents work independently within identified parameters and resolve problems of diverse scope where analysis requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Maintaining confidentiality and security of user accounts is an important part of the position. Performance expectations include the application of broad job knowledge in performance of the full range of responsibilities within the classification. This classification also performs shelving work and incumbents may provide general administrative and clerical support as needed. The Library Specialist is distinguished from the Supervising Library Specialist in that the former has supervisory authority over assigned classes.
EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)
All Assigned Areas:

• Maintains accurate and detailed records, verifies accuracy of information, researches discrepancies, and records information.
• Uses a computer and the Integrated Library System (ILS) to enter and retrieve information, record statistics, perform basic circulation and/or system-wide functions to locate library materials and/or to route processed materials to appropriate branches.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Public Services and Community Engagement Assignments:

• Uses a computer to enter and retrieve information, locate library materials, and check materials in and out.
• Registers library users, enters user information into library database, and issues new and replacement library cards, updates user records and accounts.
• Answers questions about library accounts; resolves account issues and circulation problems such as partial returns, claims returned, and damaged and lost items.
• Informs and advises users of library policies, procedures, operations, and services.
• Demonstrates and provides assistance in using library technology equipment including self-service checkout machines, public computers, copy machines and microfilm readers; refers more technically advanced questions and demonstrations to appropriate staff.
• Provides assistance by answering basic questions about the location of general sections of the library collection; refers users to the appropriate library staff, service desks and departments.
• May provide basic reference (i.e., informational and directional) using the online catalog, library databases, and other immediately available resources to assist in the location of specific items. Refers more professionally advanced reference questions to appropriate library staff.
• Levies and collects payments for damaged or lost materials; may waive fees within authorized limits and refer complex waiver questions to a supervisor or manager.
• Carries out hold list responsibilities, fills hold requests; searches shelves for holds, scans items into the automated computer system and prints hold slips; maintains hold shelves.
• Carries out other responsibilities pertinent to computer-generated reports and searches, including searches for trace, missing and lost items.
• Balances cash drawers and vending machine monies and prepares deposits.
• Retrieves, gathers, checks in, and organizes, sorts, routes, and shelves materials.
• May collect, receive, and process returned materials using automated materials handling equipment.
• Ensures library material is in proper order and appearance (e.g., outward-facing covers); searches for and corrects sorting errors on bookshelves; relocates library materials as required.
• Sorts book and media delivered from other locations according to their branch stickers or user hold/request slips; prepares materials for delivery to other branches and library systems.
• Keeps library premises clean and in good order, collects loose books and materials, and performs item counting and sorting.
• Keeps periodicals, newspapers, and other ephemeral materials current and available for library users.
• Notifies management, security and/or appropriate library staff of issues related to safety.
• Cleans, mends, and repairs library materials according to effective conservation techniques within branch parameters; replaces bar codes, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, encodes RFIDs, and other identification as necessary.
• Orders supplies, distributes mail, and prepares outgoing mail.
• May perform minor and routine maintenance on copy machines or computers.
• Maintains and processes various files, records, and reports; may perform other clerical and general office support tasks.

Collection Services Assignments:

• Applies and encodes radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags.
• Accurately prints and applies bibliographic labels and spine labels.

Acquisitions and Processing Assignments:

• Places orders for new books and materials in all formats; creates purchase orders in the Integrated Library System (ILS); receives and enters invoices into ILS.
• Receives and organizes shipments of library materials; opens boxes and unpacks contents; verifies that contents of shipment match packing slip; inspects condition of materials.
• Communicates with external vendors, reports shortages, damaged items and other discrepancies to the appropriate vendor.
• Places orders for departmental supplies; distributes supplies to vendors and branches as needed.
• Works with events staff to manage Book Club inventory for the system; distributes books to branches.
• Oversees inventory, distribution to branches, and restocking of community resources.
• Opens, organizes and date stamps magazines, newspapers and microfilm received in the mail; reviews periodicals for damage and requests replacement issues from vendor; checks in periodical issues in the ILS; prints and applies periodical labels and barcodes; makes changes to serial control records and prediction patterns as needed.
• Processes books, media, periodicals, toolkits, and other materials according to local specifications by covering, casing, applying appropriate labels and other identifying information.
• Sorts and distributes mail.
• Processes all lease book returns.

Cataloging Assignments:

• Accurately performs copy cataloging; searches for and verifies the correct catalog entry; edits records according to local procedures; verifies call numbers according to established standards and guidelines.
• Reviews vendor-provided Machine-Readable Content (MARC) records for accuracy; makes corrections as needed; maintains accurate bibliographic records and call numbers.
• Prepares material from branches and special collections for mending, binding, archival housing, and processing based on current standards and techniques for preservation and conservation; operates bindery machine.
• Monitors Cataloging Request System for change requests, corrections, inquiries, and potential projects; makes changes and corrections; updates information when making reassignments and changes in the ILS; interfaces with all branches and levels of staff regarding cataloging changes.
• Participates and assists with one-time special projects such as retrospective call number changes, relabeling projects, and preparing, linking and uploading records for digital collections.

Resource Sharing Assignments:

• Receives and opens LINK+ materials from other library systems; processes for distribution to branches within the ILS and specialized LINK+ software.
• Processes returns of LINK+ material from branches and from other library systems.
• Processes and packages library materials to loan to other library systems.
• Uses postage machine to print postage and prepare outgoing mail.
• Receives, tracks and mails courtesy returns to other library systems.

COMPETENCIES
Knowledge of:

• Core library operating principles, including confidentiality of customer information, freedom of information, and intellectual freedom.
• Principles, practices, and techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively working with library users, vendors, contractors, and library staff.
• Alphabetic and numeric systems for classifying and organizing library materials.
• Standard library practices and procedures including circulation, acquisitions, copy cataloging, and processing.
• Applications of automated library systems.
• Library classification, cataloging, and bibliographic terminology.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Basic record keeping principles and procedures.
• Basic principles and practices of data collection and report preparation.
• Basic arithmetic principles and cash handling.
• Modern office practices, methods and computer equipment and applications.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Ability to:

• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
• Inspect the wor