Library Assistant – Part-Time

New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start — benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description

The Catawba County Library System is seeking a part-time Library Assistant who enjoys helping people and providing excellent customer service in a community-focused environment. In this role, you will assist patrons at the circulation desk, support the use of library technology and resources, and help maintain an organized and welcoming space. As part of an innovative library team, you’ll contribute to the library’s mission of empowering lives and building community by connecting people, information, and ideas.

This position is part-time, working 20 hours per week, and receives benefits (prorated at 50%).

The work schedule includes day, evening, and Saturday hours, and is primarily located at the Conover Branch Library, with other locations as needed. Library hours are Tuesday 12 PM–8 PM, Wednesday-Friday 9 AM–6 PM, and Saturday 9 AM–2 PM.

Responsibilities

• Deliver excellent customer service at the circulation desk by checking in/out materials, managing library card accounts, resolving account issues, placing holds, transferring items, and assisting with sales and fees.
• Assist patrons with technology, including computers, personal devices, copiers, scanners, fax machines, and online library resources.
• Maintain all library resources, including print, non-print, and periodicals, to facilitate user access. Shelve all materials and perform shelf maintenance.
• Support the preparation, promotion, and execution of library events, services, programs, and outreach activities.
• Able to react to change productively and perform other essential tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field; OR
• Associate's degree in Business, Education, English, Communications, Library Science, or a related field; OR
• High school diploma or GED equivalent and 1 year of clerical/public service experience, preferably in a library or a related customer service setting (i.e., bookstore)

Additional Requirements

• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Proficiency with a variety of computer programs and technologies
• This position requires the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds (books, boxes, supplies), push/pull up to 50 pounds (full library carts), stoop/kneel to shelve books, and stand for long periods of time in order to work the circulation desk, assist patrons, and other various duties.

• Prefer applicants with public library or customer service experience
• Ability to speak Spanish or Hmong is a plus

Catawba County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee’s children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

• Annual Leave:Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Sick Leave:Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).