Employment

Circulation Assistant

The San Juan Island Library is seeking a customer service- oriented and enthusiastic individual to assist with Library circulation operations. Responsibilities include working with Library staff, checking materials in and out, shelving materials, creating patron accounts, assisting with reports, offering service in person and by telephone, and other general library operations. Excellent people skills, computer skills, and a high school degree or GED are required. Experience with computers in libraries and customer service preferred.

Complete job description available here

This position offers 12 hours weekly with Thursday-Saturday shifts, with hourly wages of $18.10 per hour, prorated leaves, with no health insurance or retirement benefits.

Submit cover letter and resumé by email (sjlib@sjlib.org), mail (San Juan Island Library, Attn: Circulation Manager, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250), through the book return, or in person at the Library.

Position open until filled.

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Fundraising Associate

The San Juan Island Library District is seeking a passionate, proactive, and experienced individual to plan and conduct fundraising activities to support operations and maintenance of the current library, and for a new library building project.

Complete job description available here

This is a part-time hourly position for 15 hours per week with some flexibility as to schedule. Workdays are both traditional and non-traditional as necessary to support events and other activities. Partial remote work is possible. This position reports to the library director.

Salary: $35/hour. Benefits: prorated paid vacation and sick leave; paid holidays. No retirement or health benefits.

Requirements include a minimum of two years’ of experience in a nonprofit or educational development office; proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; excellent verbal and written communication skills, including large group presentations; ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects to meet deadlines; excellent interpersonal skills.

Preferred requirements included an Associate’s or Bachelor’s  degree in a related field; familiarity with San Juan Island community and library services/programs; database management experience (Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge or similar); event planning
experience; graphic design experience

Submit cover letter, resumé and three professional references with contact information by email to Director Laurie Orton (sjlib@sjlib.org ), or by mail (San Juan Island Library, Attn: Director, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250), or in person at the Library.

Position is open until filled

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Trustee Position Available on the San Juan Island Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the five-member library board.  The non-paid term of office is a partial term, starting from January 1, 2024  to December 31, 2025, and the trustee is eligible for reappointment to another full five-year term.  Recommendation will be submitted by the current Board of Trustees, and the appointment made by the San Juan County Council.

Job Title:  Library Trustee

Appointed by the County Council for a five-year term. This is filling a vacated position, which will serve the remainder of the term, from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. The trustee will be eligible for reappointment to another full five-year term.

Accountable to:  The taxpayers, the County Council, the library staff, and the people served by the library.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, Director, and Library Staff:  The Library’s trustees serve on a governing board.  The Board establishes library policies; plans for the future of the Library; oversees overall effectiveness of the Library; promotes and advocates for the library in the community; oversees budget process; hires and evaluates the library director.  The Director oversees the operations of the Library, including administration, human resources, programs, services, public relations, collections, enforcing policies, establishing procedures and practices, etc.  The Director hires and manages library staff.  Library staff carry out the policies set by the Board, and the operational directives set by the Director.

Expectations:

  1. Fulfills a five year term
  2. Attends monthly meetings, special meetings, committee meetings, and annual retreat
    1. Prepares for meetings by reading board minutes, agenda, and other materials sent out prior to meeting
    2. Offers expertise and leadership to board for the good of the Library
  3. Takes on special assignments and projects as needed outside of regular meetings
  4. Establishes and administers policy for the Library in accordance with state, federal laws and guidelines of the America Library Association and Washington Library Association
    1. Once adopted by the board, Library staff carry out the policies on a day-to-day basis establishing appropriate procedures and practices
    2. Abides by majority decisions reached by the Board and publicly supports these decisions
  5. Develops long-term plans for the Library assuring continuous implementation of the Library’s mission and objective statements
  6. Oversees the distribution and expenditure of tax funds allocated to the Library district
    1. Approves annual budget
    2. Approves significant or costly contracts as appropriate
    3. Monitors budget against levy returns
  7. Oversees revenue sources to the library district
    1. Identifies need for levy adjustments
    2. Explores and develops alternate funding sources
  8. Becomes informed about the services offered by the Library and promotes those services in the community
  9. Hires and supervises the Library Director to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Library in accordance with Library policy
  10. Supports basic library tenets such as: Intellectual Freedom, Freedom to Read, Confidentiality of Patron Records, Library Bill of Rights, and the Public’s Right to Information

Qualifications:

  • Interest and commitment to the Library
  • Understanding of the Library and its roles in the community
  • Closeness to community
  • Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, lead meetings, and communicate effectively
  • Ability to devote time and effort required to the duties of trusteeship
  • Exposure to or knowledge of personnel procedures
  • Understanding of establishing impartial policies
  • Understanding of governing boards and legal requirements of public agencies
  • Ability to publicly represent the Library
  • Sound judgment, a sense of fiscal responsibility, legal understanding, and political awareness
  • Open to new ideas and willing to learn

Desired Areas of Knowledge (one or more of the following):

  • Law/Government
  • Architecture/Construction/Interior Design
  • Accounting/Finance
  • Technology
  • Business, Administration
  • Real Estate
  • Marketing
  • Fundraising
  • Major Project Oversight
  • Library Operations
  • Other relevant experience . . .

Important Note:

Interested applicants should be aware that the Library is planning for a new library.  Consequently, over the next few years, trustees’ focus will include a multitude of activities related to the project, including design, construction and funding (through both public and private sources), as well as engaging the community in every step of the development process.

Another focus is on funding the operations and maintenance of the current library.

For more information contact Paul Peterson, Library Trustee, at 612-718-9258, or Barbara Sharp, Library Trustee, at 360-472-0148.  Official letters of interest and qualifications should be sent to the Board of Trustees, San Juan Island Library, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA  98250.  Alternately, letters and qualifications may be sent via email attachment to ppeterson@sjlib.org.   Submissions will be considered as they are received.  Opening will be closed when position is filled.

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Early Learning Associate

The San Juan Island Library District is seeking a highly capable, enthusiastic, creative, and customer service-oriented individual to initiate, plan, and implement early learning programs and storytimes for preschoolers at the library and off-site in the community; to oversee, administer, and to promote our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program to patrons and the community to educate about the importance of early literacy skill building for ages 0-5.

The successful candidate will have experience working directly with children ages 0-5, planning and implementing storytimes, background and knowledge of early childhood development and the importance of early literacy skills, and a willingness to create effective relationships with children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree; certification in early childhood development and/or equivalent; experience working in early childhood literacy and/or early childhood education, ability to work with a diverse population and effectively work within the community to build positive relationships with other staff working closely with youth and their caregivers.

Other preferred qualifications include prior experience conducting storytimes in a public library or preschool setting, dual (English/Spanish) language skills, and proficiency with Canva and/or other creator content online platforms for making promotional materials.

Complete job description available here.

This is an hourly, temporary position with a one-year contract, fully funded through a financial grant. Position includes accrued vacation leave and Washington’s paid sick leave. It DOES NOT include other Library District salaried employee benefits. There is potential for renewal at the end of the annual term.

Pay rate is $30 per hour with an estimated flexible schedule of 12 hours weekly or a maximum of 52 hours monthly. Must be available to work on Friday mornings from 9-1 PM.

Submit cover letter, resumé, and three professional references with contact information by email (youthservices@sjlib.org), mail (San Juan Island Library, Attn: Youth Services Manager, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250), or in person at the library.

Position remains open until filled, but ideally a candidate would be selected by January 2024

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