Library Clerk - Part-Time (On-Call)

Library Clerk - Part-Time (On-Call)

Salary

$20.45 - $23.70 Hourly

Location

585 Liberty St SE Salem, OR

Job Type

Temporary/Seasonal (Part-Time)

Job Number

26-Temp-0302-01

Department

Library

Org

Library Admin Svcs

Opening Date

08/17/2026

Closing Date

8/23/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

This is a part-time Library Clerk On-Call opportunity, assigned to work up to 29 hours per week and a maximum of 1,200 hours per calendar year.

Make an impact:

The City of Salem is seeking energetic, customer-service-minded individuals who are interested in working on-call as a part of the Salem Public Library team. The successful candidates for these positions will have excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work with diverse customers, age groups, and staff.

The City of Salem welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds and communities as we strive to deliver the highest quality of service to everyone we serve. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering a workplace culture rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. By embracing our differences, encouraging diverse perspectives, and fostering a culture of listening and continuous learning, we strengthen our ability to serve the community effectively.

What you will do:

Library Clerks perform a variety of tasks and provide support to library staff. This role will sort, retrieve, process, and shelve library materials. The Library Clerks will also assist patrons on the customer service desks with registering for new library accounts, provide routine reader's advisory, account assistance, answer library questions, and provide directional assistance. This position requires evening and weekend availability.

The successful candidates for this position enjoy working with the public in a diverse environment. They are organized, have attention to detail, and can manage responsibilities while adapting to changing priorities.

Learn more about the Salem Public Library at: https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/library

Additional information on job responsibilities:

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Assist library users at a customer service desk or virtually via email or phone at the Main Library and the West Salem Branch Library. This includes:

• Checking out materials

• Answering questions about library services

• Assisting library users with technology questions at our public computer stations and assisting with printing, copying, and scanning of documents

• Answering general reference and readers' advisory questions

• Registering library users for new library cards and updating existing accounts

• Resolving low-level library account issues and escalating complex issues in a timely manner

• Providing directional assistance and help locating materials

• Checking library users into study and meeting rooms

• Shelving library materials both numerically by Dewey Decimal Classification and alphabetically by author.

• Review shelves for correct organization of books, magazines, and newspapers.

• Activity involves exertion, including lifting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects with or without accommodation.

• Perform tasks that may require the incumbent to balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, use manual dexterity, perform repetitive motions, grasp, and feel with or without accommodation.

• Work environment is inside work with infrequent travel between library branches.

• Assist with projects and other work duties as assigned.

Work schedule:

On-call Library Clerks work on an as-needed basis with variable hours, including evenings and weekends. There is no guarantee of a minimum number of work hours per week. Candidates must be able to commute between the Main Library and the West Salem Branch Library and must be available to work evenings and weekends as needed. Additionally, clerks are required to work at least two on-call shifts per month and a minimum of 120 hours per year.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check and drug test (including marijuana).
• High School diploma or GED and one year library experience or other relevant customer service positions or one year of in-person customer service or related work experience, or equivalent combination of education or coursework, experience and/or training that would demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and the ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

Preferred Qualifications (Not required to apply):

• Associate degree or higher preferred.
• Spanish language bilingual or biliteracy skills highly desired.
• Experience working with diverse populations and age-groups.
• Experience with computers and mobile devices and troubleshoot basic computer issues on public computers.
• Technology skills are highly desired, including experience with Google and/or Microsoft Word processing, and Microsoft Excel, including spreadsheets creation, formatting, data entry and sorting data, using shortcuts, filters, and additional software and applications such as integrated library systems.

What you will bring along:

• Experience with library operations involving in-person and frequent public contact or retail and customer service experience working with diverse populations;
• Knowledge of effective decision-making strategies, with demonstrated adaptability and flexibility to working with diverse and competing demands;
• Experience working with a high level of attention to detail, accuracy shelving library materials using both alphabetical order and the and Dewey Decimal Library systems;
• Experience assisting customers with computers and mobile devices across digital platforms;
• Experience fostering and supporting a diverse and inclusive team oriented workplace, with a commitment to respecting, understanding, and valuing individual differences;
• Knowledge of modern office or library environments, practices, tools, techniques, principles, and technologies, including emerging technologies;
• Knowledge of how to adapt to change and maintaining a positive attitude;
• Experience using excellent communication skills.

About us:

Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for the Library Clerk, On-Call.

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application. Make sure that you specify how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification and complete the application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City through the Job Interest Cards - sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

This announcement is not an implied contract and may be modified or revoked without notice.

For benefits information, please go to:

https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/jobs/employment-information/unrepresented-employee-benefits

01

What is your highest level of education? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• High school graduate or GED
• Some college, no degree
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorates degree
• N/A

02

How many years of experience do you have with customer service desk in a public library setting, working in retail, or related customer service experience? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• 6-12 months
• 1-2 years
• More than 2 years

03

Please select your experience working with individuals from various age groups. (Select all that apply.) We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Adults
• Teens
• Children
• Senior
• None

04

Please select the number of hours you are available to work per week. We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Less than 4 hours
• 4-6 hours
• 7-12 hours
• 13-20 hours
• 21-29 hours
• Available any number of hours

05

Please select the days you are available to work between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Select all that apply.) We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday

06

How many years of customer service experience do you have in a library, retail, or similar work environment within the last 5 years? (Experience must be reflected in your application work experience)

• No Experience
• Less than 6 months
• 6-11 months
• 1-2 Years
• More than 2 years

07

Please select your level of experience with technology and using computer software applications? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No Experience
• Basic skills: Limited understanding and experience with technology such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, and data entry.
• Intermediate skills: Proficient with everyday technology tasks and common software applications, such as technology such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, and data entry. Can learn and use basic technology but requires guidance.
• Expert: Extensive knowledge of technology such as technology such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, and data entry. Highly skilled and comfortable learning and using new technologies with ease.

08

How many years of experience do you have with organizing, filing, or shelving materials in a library, retail, or related field? We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• 6-12 months
• 1-2 years
• More than 2 years

09

Please select your level of Bilingual skills in the Spanish language: (Select all that apply.) We encourage you to include supporting details in your application.

• Speak
• Read
• Write
• None of the above

Required Question

Employer City of Salem

Address 295 Church St. Suite 210

Salem, Oregon, 97301

Phone 503-588-6102

hrrecruiting@cityofsalem.net

Website https://www.cityofsalem.net/jobs