Public Service Assistant - City of Ottawa, Ottawa

Position Summary: Public Service Assistant at Ottawa Public Library

The City of Ottawa is seeking a dedicated Public Service Assistant to join the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) team. This full-time permanent position offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to vital public library services within Ottawa. As a key member of the Branch Operations Service, you will play a crucial role in providing accessible, innovative library and information services that meet the unique needs of diverse communities across the City of Ottawa. This is a fantastic opportunity for those seeking government jobs Ottawa, specifically within the public library system.

Working within the Public Service units, you will be responsible for delivering customer-centric public library activities, programs, and services across OPL's 33 branches, mobile, and digital platforms. This role emphasizes providing customer service excellence, adhering to the Library's corporate culture, mission, core values, and customer experience guidelines. You may also be the senior person in charge, overseeing the day-to-day operation of a library branch.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing information, reference, and readers advisory services within the library, community, mini-libraries, nursing homes, and other locations.
• Delivering circulation and page services in the library, community, mini-libraries, nursing homes, and other locations.
• Performing routine collection maintenance duties.
• Promoting a wide range of Library services.

What You'll Bring to the Ottawa Public Library

To succeed in this Public Service Assistant role with the City of Ottawa, candidates should possess a blend of formal education, relevant experience, and a strong set of skills and abilities. The Ottawa Public Library values individuals who are committed to providing exceptional public service and have a solid understanding of library operations.

Education and Experience:

• Completion of a 2-year college diploma in Library and Information Technician Program, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of related experience.

Candidates should demonstrate knowledge in various aspects of library operations and public service, including:

• Adult/children’s literature in a variety of formats, readers’ advisory services, trends in reading, literacy, ESL collections, and library programming.
• Reference resources in print, microform, and electronic formats, and current developments in reference services.
• Electronic database and other bibliographic searching techniques.
• Principles of collection development and maintenance.
• Methods and techniques for sorting and shelving library materials according to alphabetical, Dewey Decimal, or other prescribed sequence and procedures.
• Library circulation procedures and practices.
• Multiple technology platforms (e.g., tablets, phones, e-readers, Android, Apple, Blackberry) as they relate to library offerings.
• Methods and techniques of responding to inquiries and resolving patron complaints.
• Desktop applications, intranet, internet, and keyboarding procedures, to the extent where demonstrating usage to colleagues or library patrons may be required.
• General knowledge of library policies and procedures.
• Applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers.

The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and technical skills, along with the ability to manage various public service tasks effectively. Key competencies include:

• Ability to use tact, discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Ability to exercise effective judgement and independent decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to carry out a range of circulation/page activities, including registration, collecting fees, and to respond effectively to a range of library service inquiries and resolve complaints.
• Ability to perform routine clerical tasks.
• Minimum keyboard skills of 25 wpm.
• Data entry, retrieval, and keyboarding skills, including use of standard office equipment and operation of an IBM compatible computer in Microsoft Windows.
• Ability to think quickly.
• Ability to learn on the job and apply learning to new technologies as required.
• Ability to create and design thematic displays.
• Ability to handle and account for cash and to prepare bank deposits.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks concurrently.
• Customer service orientation, including the use of tact, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ease of comfort with technology.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to deal with the public and handle problems as they arise.
• Flexibility, ability to adjust priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Strong commitment to quality customer service.
• Ability to perform routine manual tasks and manoeuvre book carts and lift boxes up to 40 pounds.