Public Library Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The San Mateo Public Library is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Library Assistant I/II in the Children Services Division at the Main Library. The Library Assistant helps children and adults with reference inquiries, prepares materials and conducts outreach and class visits, helps with storytimes, maintains displays, performs clerical tasks including typing, organizing books and other materials, and maintains statistical information and division-specific documents.

The San Mateo Public Library builds community by inspiring imagination, discovery, and learning. The Library is a dynamic community resource and destination that includes the Main Library, a state-of-the-art LEED Gold rated green building, and two community branch libraries. The Library provides library services to residents of the City of San Mateo and the Town of Hillsborough and is part of the Peninsula Library System (PLS), a consortium of public library jurisdictions and community college libraries in San Mateo County. The Library is also part of the Pacific Library Partnership, a consolidation of four library systems in the greater Bay Area of Northern California.

The Library provides an array of core services for all age groups: a collection of library materials comprised of books, magazines, newspapers, databases, compact discs, DVDs, downloadable e-books, and technology lending; information and reader's advisory service; free access to information technology via public computers and wireless Internet, library programs for children, tweens, teens and adults; literacy instruction; specialized collections in the areas of business and biotechnology; a world languages collection that includes titles in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Farsi; and an extensive volunteer program that integrates the community with opportunities to help fulfill the Library's mission.

The Library Assistant I/II performs a wide variety of library support work and technical library tasks related to such activities as acquisition, cataloging, classification, circulation, and assisting patrons; and performs related work as required. The current vacancy may be filled at either level based on experience. Depending upon class level and assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepare print and non-print materials for introduction into the library materials collection, including use of an automated system to retrieve cataloging data and produce catalog cards; preparing and affixing identification labels and pockets to materials; pull discarded materials from catalog card files.
• Assign routine tasks and provide technical instruction to part time and other subordinate positions in area of responsibility.
• Assist in the acquisition, processing and maintenance of the periodical, microform, audio visual, business, historical, or other special collection for the library.
• Assist adults and children in locating materials in the library and in placing requests for materials not available. Refer more difficult or technical questions to appropriate library staff.
• Handle patron complaints for overdue and lost materials; refer delinquent accounts to an agency for collection.
• Maintain statistics of library use; use computer produced and manual data to prepare reports on circulation processing, inquiries received and other activities.
• Assist in ordering and receiving books, records, cassettes, periodicals, and other library materials and preparing associated paperwork for payment.
• Perform routine clerical assignments, including typing, maintaining files, and routing mail.
• Use a microcomputer or the City's mainframe system for word processing, data file management, and statistical record keeping.
• Process incoming and outgoing interlibrary loan requests; receive and send requests via computer as well as by mail; verify requests for accuracy.
• Provide story hours to children and participate in other programs for children and young adults.
• Prepare and maintain displays and exhibits; develop artwork for publicity materials.
• Recruit and keep records of the work of volunteers in the library; screen potential volunteers and direct to appropriate library division for assignment.
• Assist and advise outreach volunteers and serve as library liaison to Peninsula Library System Outreach Service in the City of San Mateo.
• Check out library materials to patrons; check in and prepare materials for return to the circulating collection; register new patrons; collect overdue fines.
• Respond to patron in person and telephone requests for library materials, services, and information.

The Library Assistant I/II receives direction from higher level personnel. The Library Assistant II may provide technical supervision over lower-level library positions.

For a complete list of duties, reference our job specifications at www.cityofsanmateo.org.

Library Assistant I:

• You possess knowledge of the general types of library materials, including services and terminology; modern office methods, practices and procedures; and basic arithmetic.
• You possess the ability to learn library practices and procedures, and the location of materials in the libraries; perform a variety of library technical and clerical work with speed and accuracy; assist patrons in the location and use of library materials; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; speak and write clearly; learn the use of appropriate library automation systems; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work; work with numbers and alphabet accurately; and type at a speed necessary for adequate job performance.

Library Assistant II (in addition to the Library Assistant I qualifications):

• You possess knowledge of standard public library procedures of a complex nature including cataloging, bibliographic search procedures and the use of a variety of reference sources and materials; and modern office methods, practices and procedures.
• You possess the ability to work independently; supervise and train assigned staff; and establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Library Assistant I: One year of experience performing general clerical or related work in a public library system. Possession of the equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by clerical and specialized college level courses in library science.

• Library Assistant II (in addition to the Library Assistant I qualifications): Two years of technical and clerical library experience performing duties comparable to those of a Library Assistant I for the City of San Mateo.

Bonus Points (highly desirable): Bilingual Skills: Spanish and/or Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese)

Apply. Submit an online application, résumé (required), and supplemental questionnaire at www.calopps.org or to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, (650) 522-7260.

Application Deadline Recruitment will close by Monday, September 7, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m. OR upon receipt of the first 50 applications and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first.

Interview Process All applications, résumés (required) and supplemental questionnaires received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. Résumés are recommended but do not take the place of a completed employment application. A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application, including work history. Applications with "see resume" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with unclear past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these; a Zoom oral board is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 5, 2026.

An eligible list will be established for those who pass the examination process. Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list. The list will remain in effect for at least six months with the possibility of an extension for an additional six months. Once placed on an eligible list, and at the time a vacancy occurs, eligible candidates may be contacted by the hiring department and scheduled for additional department interviews.

Date Posted – August 10, 2026