ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Employee Name:
Branch/Department:
Job Title:
Library Associate
Grade: 12GA
FLSA: Exempt
Reporting Relationships: Reports to Branch Manager, Area Librarian, or Librarian.
Contacts normally include public, branch staff, administrative and support staff at Headquarters,
local officials, community leaders, private and public school personnel, and outside vendors.
Supervisory Responsibility: Pages, part-time hourly staff (PTH), or volunteers. May oversee
branch contractual security guard.
Overall Position Purpose: Para-professional level work providing library services, including
reference, readers' advisory, programming and outreach, and library instruction to the public of
all ages. May assume responsibility for branch operations as designated person in charge in
absence of management.
Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with
Bachelor's degree awarded plus one year experience in the one of the following areas: library
service, teaching, social service work, or a related setting preferred.
Necessary Special Requirement:
Attainment of eligibility under Bylaw 1305.04.03 of the
Maryland State Board of Education as a Library Associate and complete Library Associate
Training Institute within two years following appointment; and ability to maintain eligibility by
completing 90 hours of training every 5 years.
Essential Duties: Examples are illustrative of this class of work; they are not intended to
include all of the essential duties of all positions in this class. Certain conditions, e.g. economic
constraints, staffing patterns, changes in system/branch goals and objectives, etc., may
necessitate changes to the duties described in this job description.
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A. Public Service
 Provides information and readers’ advisory services to customers of all ages using
print and electronic resources
 Assists at the Circulation Desk and/or with circulation activities
 Provides instruction on and assists in the use of technology
 Provides assistance through online reference services, such as AskUsNow
 Offers interlibrary loan services when material is not available in AACPL
 Proactively offers assistance to customers in the public service areas (Best practice:
roving)
 Explains and implements system policies and procedures
 Provides proctoring services
 Schedules and/or oversees meeting room bookings
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Promotes library programs, resources, and services using cross-marketing and wordof-mouth marketing techniques
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B. Collection Maintenance
 Assists with branch collection maintenance, including monitoring and weeding
assigned areas
 Maintains magazine and/or newspaper collections
 Creates displays to market collection
 Recommends replacement and requests new materials
 Accepts donations and evaluates them for possible addition to the collection
 Assists with catalog maintenance
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C. Programming & Outreach
 Plans and conducts programs and outreach activities for a variety of age groups
 Serves as an Early Literacy Specialist with responsibility for planning and presenting
early literacy programs and outreach for birth to 5 years
 Plans, schedules and/or presents library instruction, either one-on-one or in groups, on
topics such as computer use, eBooks and Foundation Center resources
 Participates in Summer Reading Club (SRC) activities, including hosting programs
and/or promoting SRC
 Serves as branch Summer Reading Club Coordinator
 Conducts library tours and/or presentations for students, community groups and/or
businesses
 Coordinates and/or visits schools to promote library resources and services
 Oversees programming and services offered through partnerships, e.g. with Anne
Arundel Workforce Development Corporation, Anne Arundel Community College
 Submits and verifies program and publicity information for marketing
 Submits programming statistics
 Submits information and statistics for outreach activities
 Maintains programming and outreach supplies
 Coordinates branch programming and/or develops annual branch plan
 Participates in Library by Mail service to homebound
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D. Supervision
 Instructs and guides staff in the objectives, policies and procedures of AACPL and in
accordance with its vision/mission and goals
 Plans, assigns/delegates and sets work priorities for staff as appropriate
 Schedules regular meetings with staff and communicates updates regarding
branch/department and/or system changes
 Observes, coaches, evaluates and documents performance and recognizes staff
contributions in accordance with AACPL policies
 Assess, identify and coordinate staff training and development needs
 Provides counsel and support to staff in acquiring resources, resolving complaints and
meeting their department/branch and personal development objectives
 Consults with immediate supervisor or Branch Manager/ Department Head and/or
Human Resources regarding personnel concerns
 May collaborate with staff in planning branch/department objectives and goals
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
Maintains a working knowledge of duties, policies and processes in order to fill in for
or assist staff when needed
Demonstrates and acts in accordance with library core values and serving as a role
model and mentor for staff
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E. Branch Support
 Acts as Person In Charge, resolving public service issues, building problems and
emergencies
 Seeks advice and communicates with Branch Manager and/or Regional Supervisor
 Oversees specific areas, e.g. programming, collection, building, tax forms
 Assists in development of processes and procedures
 Prepares monthly staff schedule and/or service desk schedule
 Serves as timekeeper
 Plans and presents staff training Monitors branch email account
 Processes interlibrary loan requests Oversees petty cash
 Serves as equipment troubleshooter and/or liaison to IT
 Updates and maintains phone messaging system
 Coordinates and/or creates signage and event posters
 Maintains bulletin boards
 Coordinates exhibits
 Orders office and/or custodial supplies
 Submits statistics for monthly activity report (i.e. door counts, circulation)
Coordinates participation in system surveys and studies
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F. Other Duties as Assigned
 Willingly and cooperatively performs tasks and duties which may not be specifically
listed in the position description, but which are within the general occupational
category and responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s class of
work.
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G. Work Effectiveness Skills
 Consistently meets the standards of the work effectiveness skills required for this
position.
Accountabilities: (include, but are not limited to the following)
1. Meets system objectives for public service to community.
2. Meets development objectives as established by supervisor.
3. Maintains good working relations with administration, area and system staff, other contacts,
and the public
4. Maintains awareness of current events on local, state, national, and international levels
5. Contributes ideas that improve service, increase efficiency, and otherwise advance the
development of the library system.
6. Participates in training to update professional and technical skills and to meet state
requirements for Library Associate eligibility
7. Performs work in keeping with professional standards, and the policies and procedures of the
library system
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8. Represents library to other library systems, County agencies, community and other outside
groups
Working Conditions:
1. Physical Demands: Job involves a considerable amount of movement and activity to assist
customers, accompany them to resources and retrieve materials from shelves. On an
occasional basis, lifting or handling material weighing up to 30 lbs. Work can also include
pushing booktrucks weighing up to 100 lbs., and moving and arranging heavy meeting room
tables and chairs. Regular use of computer monitor, mouse and keyboard.
2. Emotional Demands: Some stress related to high degree of public contact, including
occasional incidences of complaints or disruptive behavior, normal challenges of supervisory
responsibilities and sustained periods of high-volume activity.
3. Social Environment: Always people to talk to and work with.
4. Physical Environment: Typical office/library environment. Some fluctuations in building
temperature related to HVAC problems can cause some periods of uncomfortable heat or
cold. Some periods of elevated noise levels during programs and peak times may be
experienced.
5. Mental Demands: This is para-professional level work requiring the exercise of initiative,
judgment, and discretion. Although instruction and other guidance are provided at the outset
of employment and in connection with new programs, procedures, and technology,
employees are expected to proceed with considerable independence. Advice and assistance
are normally available.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of or ability to learn standard public library resources (including those in
electronic formats), services, techniques, principles and practices; considerable knowledge of
and ability to use computers in the performance of information work and support activities
2. Ability to learn standard reference and readers’ advisory interview protocols.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and deal tactfully and courteously with a diverse public.
4. Ability to organize, plan, and execute work and to set and reach goals with minimal direct
supervision and in an environment where there are frequent interruptions.
5. General interest in reading and literature, and an awareness of trends in popular culture as
well as current news events as they relate to customer interests and needs.
6. Knowledge and skills necessary to supervise and direct the work of pages, volunteers, and
PTH staff.
7. Ability to work effectively and calmly under pressure.
8. Knowledge and skills necessary to provide instruction to the public in the use of library
resources.
9. Ability to plan and present training for library staff and customers in the use of library
technology, services, and resources.
10. Knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively as part of a team toward the achievement
of common goals and objectives.
11. Ability to plan and execute library programs for the public geared to a targeted age group from babies to adults.
AACPL employees work in a diverse environment and are expected to demonstrate respect for
and relate to co-workers and customers from many different backgrounds and cultures. The Anne
Arundel County Public Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The Library’s policy is to treat all applicants and employees
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equally without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or
disability.
The contents of this job description have been reviewed and discussed. The signatures appearing
below acknowledge an understanding of the major tasks and duties required in this position.
Employee Signature
Date
Supervisor Signature
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Date