Library Assistant

Position Description

Are you looking for a rewarding career serving the citizens of Anoka County where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others? Do you enjoy providing exceptional customer service and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment? The Anoka County Library system enriches lives by connecting the community to ideas, information, and inspiration. Library staff engage the public through a vast array of library services and resources.

Library Assistants help community members obtain library cards, learn about library offerings and opportunities, and keep books and media flowing throughout the system. They also assist patrons in managing their accounts, using technology, and finding the best sources to fulfill information needs. Library Assistants are an active and essential part of the Anoka County Library team, serving a wonderfully diverse community of library patrons. We are seeking applicants for our current opening at our Johnsville location and for future vacancies. Apply today to join Anoka County's Library team!

This is a part-time, non-exempt, on-site position. This part time position is based on 28 hours per week. Interviews will take place the week of 02/02/2026 for those selected to move forward in the hiring process. 

Pay & Benefits

• Salary: $20.19 to $23.22 annual salary calculation pro-rated based on part-time status.

• Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 24: $20.19 to $26.25, annual salary calculation pro-rated based on part-time status.

• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays, pro-rated based on part-time status.

• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.

• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at Johnsville, located at 12461 Oak Park Blvd NE, Blaine, MN 55434

Expected work hours are:

Week 1

• Tuesday: 9:30am - 6:00pm

• Wednesday 11:00am - 3:00pm

• Thursday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm

• Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm

Week 2

• Saturday: 8:30am - 5:00pm

• Tuesday 9:30am - 6:00pm

• Wednesday 11:00am - 3:00pm

• Thursday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Library Assistant:

• Create a welcoming environment for all by providing excellent customer service.

• Perform circulation duties including checkout, returns, assessing damages, running reports and routing materials.

• Assist library patrons with requests and provide assistance with technology and basic research support. Connect patrons to physical and virtual library collections.

• Organize, maintain and ensure collection tidiness.

• Process materials, link electronic records and ensure efficient movement of materials across the county.

• Assess patron needs to locate pertinent materials and resources, referring patron to librarians, as appropriate.

• Handle cash including processing payments and reconciling the cash drawer.

• Provide reference, information and material loan services to patrons of the library.

• Place and track orders.

• Work closely with library employees providing assistance in processing and fulfilling requests.

• Maintain stockroom supplies and ensures cleanliness and orderly materials.

• Communicate and apply policies and procedures to library patrons.

• Troubleshoot computer software and hardware issues. Identify and resolve issues following standard protocols.

• Maintain current knowledge of county and library policies and procedures. Interpret and communicate policies to patrons, as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Requires a high school diploma

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• 1 year customer service or library experience

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment, warehouse, or public library depending on assignment

• Frequent distraction and multitasking

• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades and brightness.

• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds

• Assignments require several hours of varied physical activity in addition to viewing a computer screen, sitting at a desk, or walking/standing to assist patrons

• Physical activity may include repeated bending, stooping, reaching, frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work, and occasionally pushing carts weighing over 300 lbs.

• Occasional lifting of 20-50 lbs. while moving materials

• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment

• Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed

• Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle

• Work activities may require contact with uncooperative, angry, and sometimes hostile clients

• May be required to use kick stools to reach items from high shelves

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions 

Union Representation

This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between Anoka County and Teamsters - 320.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, Anoka County thrives because of the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. United by our mission- Commitment to Excellence: Through collaborative efforts, we seek to improve lives and serve with care, integrity, and professionalism- we offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences. Together, we work toward a single purpose of serving Anoka County’s 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: http://www.anokacountymn.gov/er-faq

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO