Alexandria is a historic city located in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C.  Distinct neighborhoods including Old Town, Del Ray and the West End offer something for everyone.  Headquarters to several prominent organizations, including the Patent and Trademark Office and the National Science Foundation, our city of nearly 160,000 residents is a diverse community—a distinctly urban area that retains a small town atmosphere.

Alexandria Library celebrates equity and diversity within our community and staff by:

• Offering programs and resources that reflect our uniquely multicultural community.
• Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Fostering an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
• Providing opportunities for all staff members to grow and excel.

Alexandria Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites applications from all qualified individuals. Proficiency/fluency in Amharic, Arabic or Spanish is highly desired, but not required for these positions. These positions require the successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including a criminal background screening.

Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at Alexandria Library!

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

Branch Manager (Librarian III) - Burke Branch Library

Library Operations Supervisor (Library Associate III) - Beatley Central Library

Youth Services Assistant (Library Assistant II) - PT 20 Hours Per Week - Burke Branch

Library Assistant I (Sunday) - PT 4 Hours Per Week - Duncan/Barrett

Processing and Digitization Intern - Local History/Special Collections Branch

Branch Manager (Librarian III) –  1 position
Burke Branch Library 

 Full-Time (40 Hours Per Week)

The Librarian III is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a branch library.  The Librarian III supervises the Section Managers of a branch and receives general supervision from the Deputy Director of Libraries.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepares annual goals and objectives for the branch library, utilizing the Library’s Five-Year Plan as a guide
  Views all tasks, roles, and responsibilities with a focus on equity
• Plans and coordinates library initiatives at the branch level
• Supervises staff including delegating duties, assigning special projects, approving leave, evaluating work performance
• Responsible for overseeing scheduling of staff to fit the needs of the branch including both daily and weekly schedules
  Interviews, selects and trains staff
• Schedules, plans and leads monthly meetings with staff
• Responsible for developing and evaluating adult material collections
• Interprets library policies, resolves customer complaints and provides library information for the public
• Writes monthly, annual, and special reports for Library Administration
• Recommends revising or developing new library policies and procedures for Library Administration
• Liaison for the Friends of the Library at the branch library
• Plans special library programs at the branch library
• Analyzes the local community for outreach opportunities and partnerships with local non-profit and civic organizations
• Secures and ensures the security of the building and the safety of employees
• Reports to Library Administration on any building issues that arise and serves as contact point for General Services on repair and maintenance issues
• Serves on various committees to assist with implementing library initiatives
  Represents the library at regional professional meetings and community meetings

Skills and Abilities:

• Management and supervisory skills, including team building, time management, and planning
• Ability to supervise and train professional, paraprofessional and support staff in the various activities of a branch library or a major section of the library
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, both written and oral
• Knowledge of integrated library systems and emerging technologies
• Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with a diverse group of employees and library customers
• Ability to analyze professional and administrative issues and make recommendations for their solution
• Thorough knowledge of professional library principles, methods, materials and practices
• Thorough professional knowledge of reader interest levels, books and authors, periodical and pamphlet materials and appropriate library guides and publications
• Ability to utilize electronic databases and computers and to perform database searches
• Ability to understand and interpret library policies and objectives to community groups, public officials, business and education leaders and the general public
• Ability to participate in the development or improvement of professional library methods and standards, and to establish and maintain effective public relations

 
Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Library Science from an accredited ALA library school
• 3-5 years supervisory/management experience of professional and paraprofessional staff
• Previous public library experience
• Applicant must possess or obtain, within 3 months of hire, a license to practice as a registered professional librarian issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia

 
Preferred Requirements:

Active involvement in ALA, PLA and/or other related professional association
Salary:  $63,295.44 - $111,385.04

Benefits:  Earns annual and sick leave and is eligible for health insurance, retirement, life insurance, long-term disability insurance and long-term care insurance

Schedule:  Hours are scheduled to meet the staffing needs of the library, and will include days, evenings, two Saturdays per month, and occasional Sundays.

Application instructions:

Click here to apply attaching a cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references, preferably supervisory.  Address Cover Letter to Richard Drosin, HR Manager, Alexandria Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA  22304.  Contact with questions:  703-746-1799, or careers@alexlibraryva.org.

Position will be Open Until Filled

Alexandria Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites applications from all qualified individuals.  This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including a criminal background screening.

Library Operations Supervisor

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library

Full-Time (40 Hours Per Week)

The Alexandria Library is looking for an enthusiastic individual to lead its Central Library Circulation Team.  The ideal candidate will have exceptional customer service skills and the desire to develop new staffing and service models.  Under the direction of the Central Library Manager, the Library Operations Supervisor develops library circulation policies and procedures, while managing the circulation department of the Beatley Central Library.

Management Duties:

• Provides vision and leadership for the Central Library’s Circulation Department;
•  Facilitates and plans monthly Circulation Manager meetings with the Branch Library Circulation Managers, planning and coordinating system-wide initiatives and services, resolving system-wide issues, and reviewing and revising system-wide circulation policies and procedures;
• Schedules employees, approves leave requests, assigns work and special projects, reviews performance and completes annual evaluations, monitors and approves time records, provides ongoing training and feedback regarding performance and contributes to annual and long-term goals and priorities;
• Assists in preparing job postings, interviewing, and selecting candidates for circulation positions;
• Implements and evaluates new policies and procedures;
• Helps develop guidelines for circulating new types of materials;
• Oversees and manages meeting and conference room requests, as well as inventory and repair of library materials;
• Conducts regular meetings with circulation staff;
• Under the guidance of the Central Library Manager, participates in Central Library Department Head Meetings and building-wide initiatives;
• Meets with other branch staff to recommend goals and events, as well as coordinate work;
• Opens and closes the Central Library through opening and re-securing the building; preparing daily cash receipts for transfer and reconciling discrepancies;
• Participates in Library committees;
• Resolves sensitive account issues and explains library policies and procedures to patrons;
• Performs related work as required.
   

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Management and supervisory skills, including team building, training, mentoring, time management, and planning.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Extensive knowledge of technology including digital services, integrated library systems, and online databases.
• Knowledge of public library resources and operations.
• Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing library environment, analyze problems, and recommend solutions.
•  Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to interact courteously and effectively with the public, with the library’s business contacts, and with other staff, even in stressful situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers and staff.
• Thorough knowledge of paraprofessional library methods, procedures and practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to create schedules for a large team of full and part-time staff members.
• Ability to maintain records, prepare reports, and meet deadlines.

Minimum Requirements:

Four-Year College degree and one year of experience equivalent to a Library Assistant III, or some related paraprofessional management experience using specialized computer systems; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

2-5 years supervisory/management experience of professional and paraprofessional staff
 

Salary:  $53,123.98 - $84,794.32 Annually

Schedule: Hours are scheduled to meet the staffing needs of the library, and will include days, evenings, rotating Saturdays, and occasional Sundays at the Beatley Central Library

Application instructions:

Click here to apply  attaching a cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references, preferably supervisory.  Address Cover Letter to Richard Drosin, HR Manager, Alexandria Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA  22304.  Contact with questions:  703-746-1799, or careers@alexlibraryva.org .

Open until filled

Alexandria Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites applications from all qualified

individuals.  Proficiency/fluency in Amharic, Arabic or Spanish is highly desired, but not required for this position.  This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including a criminal background screening.

Youth Services Assistant (Library Assistant II)

Burke Branch Library

Part-Time (20 Hours Per Week)

The Burke Branch Library is seeking enthusiastic, creative candidates for a Library Assistant II position. The ideal candidate will have exceptional customer service skills and the desire to contribute to a growing Youth Services Department that serves a very diverse community. Under the supervision of the Youth Services Manager, this position is responsible for staffing the Youth Services Desk, planning and presenting programs to children and young adults, maintaining the youth collection and creating displays.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Staffing the Youth Services Desk to assist library users with reference services, library technology, reader’s advisory, and circulation services
• Providing technology instruction to customers and troubleshooting in the use of the Internet, word processing, computers, printers and copiers
• Furnishing information about library activities, facilities, rules and services
• Creating displays and other promotional materials
• Assisting in developing and maintaining the youth collection
• Suggesting and evaluating children’s materials
• Shelving, shelf-reading and conducting other collection management related tasks
• Assisting customers in choosing and finding Children’s/Young Adult materials
•  Planning and presenting story times for very young and elementary-aged children programs for up to age 18, summer reading and special programs
• Working with, and collaborating with, tweens and teens, ages 10-18, including those with diverse backgrounds and abilities
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Abilities:

• Two-year college degree
• At least one year of experience at the level equivalent to the Library Assistant I; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Some knowledge of library practices and procedures
• Familiarity with integrated library and computer systems
• Knowledge of Children’s/Young Adult literature and programming
• Excellent command of the English language
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and customers
• Applicant must demonstrate patience with children of all ages and their families, teachers and caregivers
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience in working with very young children
• Some teaching experience to provide guidance when using library resources and to assist with technology instruction
• A passion for serving people from many cultures
   

Schedule:

Hours are scheduled to meet the needs of the branch and will include mornings, afternoons, one evening per week and rotating Saturdays.

Location:

Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304

Salary:  $19.40-  $23.07 per hour, depending on qualifications.

Position Closes: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Application Instructions:
Click here to apply attaching one document containing a cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references, preferably supervisory. Address Cover Letter to Richard Drosin, Human Resources Manager, Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304. Contact with questions: 703-746- 1701, or careers@alexlibraryva.og  .

Alexandria Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites applications from all qualified individuals.  This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including a criminal background screening. Proficiency/fluency in Amharic, Arabic or Spanish is highly desired, but not required for this position.  This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including a criminal background screening.

Processing & Digitization Internship

Local History/Special Collections Branch

July 2023 - June 2024

20 hours per week

The Alexandria Library is seeking an intern for one year starting July 2023 through June 2024. This is a grant-funded 20 hour a week internship to work on rehousing, preservation assessments, and digitization of select portions of four archival collections and select microfilm reels related to early Civil Rights history in Alexandria, Virginia. The internship is funded by a grant in partnership with New America. The selected intern will be responsible for rehousing, basic preservation assessments, scanning, Qualified Dublin Core metadata description, handwriting recognition using Transkribus software, name authority records for portions of the Alexandria Library Company Records, Alexandria Library Records, Armistead Boothe Papers, and the Mary Powell Scott Papers. The intern will also gain experience with the ingest process for Preservica and software integrations between Preservica and ArchivesSpace. The internship will end with a culminating project to present to key stakeholders and summarize the learning experience. 

Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will be enrolled in a graduate degree program in Library & Information Science or no more than 6 months post-graduation. There is no guarantee that interns will be hired for future employment. The ability to read cursive writing is preferred.

Additional qualifications for interns include:

•  Excellent written and oral communication skills

•  Outstanding customer service skills

•  Ability to work independently and with a team

•  Organized and detail oriented

•  Dependable and punctual

•  Basic computer skills

•  Interest in Virginia history, early Civil Rights (1930s onward), and /or community history

•  A basic awareness of various descriptive standards and digital asset management software, such as ArchiveSpace or Preservica, is preferred

All interns will also need to complete a successful reference and background check.

Pay:                       $17.55 per hour

Benefits:              This position is not eligible for benefits

Schedule:            20 hours a week for 52 weeks

Location:             Local History/Special Collections Branch – 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

 
Application Instructions:
Click here to apply attaching a cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references, preferably supervisory. Address Cover Letter to Richard Drosin, HR Manager, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA  22304. Contact with questions: 703-746-1799, or careers@alexlibraryva.org.

About Us
The Alexandria Library Company (ALC) was founded on July 24, 1794, at the home of John Wise as a subscription library for the Alexandria community. A week later the members elected officers and first Librarian, Edward Stable in Wise’s long room, part of today’s Gadsby’s Tavern. On January 9, 1799, the Alexandria Library Company was chartered by the General Assembly of Virginia. The Company joined the City’s efforts to create a free public library in 1931 and contributed its holdings toward the modern-day Alexandria Library. Today, those holdings form the nucleus of the Local History/Special Collections Branch.

The Local History/Special Collections Branch (LH/SC) is co-located with the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library in Old Town Alexandria. The LH/SC Branch contains resources focused on Alexandria and Northern Virginia which cover genealogy, local history, and rare books.  Archival collections focus on the local community and represent organizations, families, and architecture.

Alexandria Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites applications from all qualified individuals.  This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including a criminal background screening.

SUNDAY LIBRARY ASSISTANT I

2 Positions (Duncan/ Barrett)

Part-Time (4 Hours Per Week)

The Alexandria Library is seeking an energetic and reliable staff member to join the Sunday Services team at the Alexandria Library as a Library Assistant I.

DUTIES:        

• Assisting library users in routine selection and location of library materials;
• Checking library materials in and out for library users;
• Collecting fines and fees, issuing library cards and revising registration records;
• Assisting patrons with the use of self-check machines, library catalogs and other databases, Internet computers, printers and copy machines;
• Shelf-reading, inventory and withdrawal of library materials;
• Maintenance of one or more sections of the collection; and
• Additional duties as assigned.
   

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Willingness to acquire some knowledge of library practices and techniques;
• Some knowledge of and interest in literature;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the public, in busy and sometimes difficult circumstances;
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;
• Ability to work both as part of a team, and independently, without constant supervision;
• An aptitude for customer service.
   

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• A two-year college degree;
• Proficiency in verbal and written English and basic arithmetic and computer skills;
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities;
• Ability to lift and carry at least 15 pounds;
• Foreign language skills and customer service experience preferred.
   

SCHEDULE: 

4 hours per week each Sunday the Library is open for service.

COMPENSATION:   $18.53 per hour.

BENEFITS:  

Not eligible for benefits as the position is temporary.

LOCATIONS: 

• Waller Barrett Branch Library – 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
• Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Click here to apply   attaching one document containing a cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references, preferably supervisory.  Address Cover Letter to Richard Drosin, HR Manager Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA  22304.  Contact with questions:  703-746-1701, or careers@alexandria.lib.va.us .