What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Librarian - Collections position at Palo Alto City Library?
The City of Palo Alto Library is looking for an experienced Senior Librarian - Collections to select adult materials for the Library.
This is an opportunity to help shape the books, digital collections, and online resources that thousands of community members discover every year. Working alongside collection managers and library leadership, you'll play an important role in ensuring our collections remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving interests of one of the Bay Area's most engaged communities.
If you're passionate about public libraries, thoughtful collection development, and connecting readers with materials they'll love, we encourage you to apply.
Qualifications:
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- May perform duties of Librarian as required.
- Responsible for selection and de-selection of library materials in one or more subject areas on a rotating basis, chairs or serves on library wide materials order review committee and participates on materials weeding team. Evaluates need to add or retain collection materials based on variety of criteria; verifies and evaluates customer requests for purchases; responsible for daily collection maintenance and evaluation; coordinates processing of discarded materials.
- Develops, organizes, and maintains variety of up-to-date collections (such as reference resource files and government document files) not cataloged in usual manner.
- Monitors physical arrangements and other requirements relevant to collection size and promotion of specific areas/collections in the library. Monitors maintenance requirements for and assists public in use of a variety of library equipment including COM readers, microfilm reader printers and photocopiers, and computers.
- Assists with recruitments, interviews, schedules, trains, initiates and coordinates work of regular, temporary and volunteer staff as assigned; assumes responsibility of unit.
- Responsible for security of building and safety of customers and staff.
- Responsible for all elements of library programming including planning, coordination, promotion and conducting of programs. Cooperates with other City departments, community and library groups in co-sponsorship of programs.
Conducts reference interviews; analyzes, interprets and answers inquiries at all level of complexity utilizing resources in Palo Alto Libraries as well as other libraries and in the community, when required to meet public information needs; keeps informed of new and outdated resources; provides direct assistance to customers of all ages in location and selection of appropriate library materials and may specialize in service to children; assists customers in use of facility, materials and access tools. - Selects, evaluates, tests, demonstrates and promotes on-line databases and other on-line products.
trouble-shoots problems with products in-house and remotely as needed; gathers statistics and makes recommendations based on use, value and fit in the collection. - Administers the Library web page, including architecture, content and layout; works with other library staff to maintain the web site.
- May assist customers wit the use of library technology.
To review the Senior Librarian Full Job Description click here.
Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Aug 3, 2026, 11:59PM PST.
Salary : $103,043 - $125,965