Job Description

DEPARTMENT: Library Services
STATUS: Temporary Full-Time (6 months)
NO. OF POSITIONS: One
UNION: CUPE, Local 387
HOURS OF WORK: 35 hours per week
SALARY: $29.49 – $34.62 per hour + comprehensive benefits package (2024 rates)

About New Westminster Public Library

We recognize and respect that New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. As a City and as a Library, we are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.

The City of New Westminster is a socially, economically, and culturally diverse community of approximately 80,000 residents. As a core service, New Westminster Public Library aims to engage, strengthen, and connect the community by inspiring exploration, imagination, creativity, and lifelong learning. We emphasize the development and delivery of innovative programs and services that reflect our commitment to the principles of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion delivered through the lens of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice. We are committed to reconciliation with First Nation and urban indigenous communities. We seek to constantly learn, evolve, and adapt our practice to the changing needs of our community, seeking always to identify and remove barriers to service.

The New Westminster Public Library has an exciting opportunity for a temporary full-time Library Assistant 3 to join our staff team due to a temporary staff absence. We are a busy, customer-focused library serving a diverse clientele in an urban setting. We plan to fill this position immediately, with an anticipated start in April 2025, for six months, with a possibility of extension dependent on operational need.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
In this role, you will support a busy circulation department and work alongside your colleagues and the public to provide great library service to the New Westminster community. If you already possess some supervisory experience and are ready to jump right in, this opportunity is a good fit for you.

What you’ll do:

• The Library Assistant (LA) 3 works with the Library Assistant (LA) 4 and under direction of the Manager of Public Services in the training and supervision of library assistants and shelving staff.

• You would be responsible for the smooth operation of circulation functions in the absence of the LA 4 by using excellent customer service skills to respond to customer concerns, overseeing circulation activities, and troubleshooting building and equipment issues.

• As an integral part of the circulation team you would review and make suggestions for improvements to circulation procedures, plan, document, and deliver staff training, communicate with library staff in a professional and timely manner, and participate in planning and successfully implementing changes or additions to library services with colleagues across the Library.

• This position supports the circulation department by: working regular public service desk shifts where you will assist patrons find, borrow, or reserve library materials; using tact and discretion to resolve patron issues and explain library policy; and supervising auxiliary library assistants and shelvers.

• Additional duties may include, but are not limited to, providing clerical support for library acquisitions; processing interlibrary loans, maintaining displays, monitoring and refreshing supplies; programming support; assisting the LA 4 with scheduling; maintaining and updating records, compiling statistics, preparing reports, and other related clerical duties as required.

Your Required Experience, Skills, and Educational Background:
• Completion of Grade 12.
• 3 years experience working in a public library
• Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with staff, supervisors, and the public.
• Ability to provide direction and leadership.
• Ability to approach tasks thoroughly and efficiently, with good attention to detail
• Excellent work habits such as time management, effective organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities to completion.
• Demonstrated general proficiency with Windows desktop applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook; accurate keyboarding; experience with other technology including desktop publishing, social media, and mobile devices required.
• Experience working with Horizon or another ILS, including a good understanding of, and ability to search and interact with bibliographic and membership records.
• Comfort using internet-based resources, and a general understanding of databases and online resources used in Libraries.
• Familiarity and comfort with using consumer technologies such as Google Chromebooks, ebook readers, desktop computers, etc.
• The successful candidate is required to successfully pass and maintain a clear Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Check.
Desirable Qualifications and Education:
• Library Technician Diploma or course work in Library services desirable
• Demonstrated supervisory experience preferred
• Candidates speaking languages other than English, or who possess lived experience in populations traditionally underserved by libraries, or personal understanding of barriers to library service are strongly encouraged to apply.
Hours of Work:
The current schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday:
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9-5 OFF OFF 9-5 9-5 12-8 9-5
This position is eligible to participate in the CDO program, where an extra 30 minutes is worked to accrue time that can be used to take a regularly scheduled day off every three (3) weeks.
*The typical work week for this position is Tuesday to Saturday with one evening shift, but this may change to help cover vacation leaves and other staff shortages.
Interview Process
• Applicants selected for an interview will receive a selection of interview questions in advance.
• A small panel will conduct in-person interviews at the Library. Applications will be reviewed as they come in and interviews scheduled late March 2025.
• Applicants seeking accommodations to this interview process should contact Shelley Wilson-Roberts at [email protected] in confidence.
Applications missing the required documents and required format will not be reviewed.
Apply online with your resume and cover letter as a single PDF or Word document at www.newwestcity.ca/employment by March 17, 2025.

To support a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community; women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversity of our workforce, are encouraged to express their interest.
New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halq’eméylem-speaking peoples.
It is acknowledged by the City that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land.
We are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.
We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This position is only open to those legally entitled to work in Canada.

Required languages: english

Education level: • Completion of Grade 12.

Required skills: • 3 years experience working in a public library • Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with staff, supervisors, and the public. • Ability to provide direction and leadership. • Ability to approach tasks thoroughly and efficiently, with good attention to detail • Excellent work habits such as time management, effective organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities to completion. • Demonstrated general proficiency with Windows desktop applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook; accurate keyboarding; experience with other technology including desktop publishing, social media, and mobile devices required.

Additional skills / Assets: • Experience working with Horizon or another ILS, including a good understanding of, and ability to search and interact with bibliographic and membership records. • Comfort using internet-based resources, and a general understanding of databases and online resources used in Libraries. • Familiarity and comfort with using consumer technologies such as Google Chromebooks, ebook readers, desktop computers, etc. • The successful candidate is required to successfully pass and maintain a clear Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Check.

Closest intersection: 6th Avenue and 6th Street