Senior Librarian (Adult Services) Rinconada

Job Description:

Senior Librarian (Adult Services) Rinconada

Description

Description

Connect Adults with Stories, Resources, and Community Join the Palo Alto City Library as an Adult Services Senior Librarian

The Palo Alto City Library is seeking an Adult Services Senior Librarian to help shape welcoming programs and services at Rinconada Library. This role focuses on adult library users, with a special emphasis on engaging Palo Alto’s older adults and retirees.

You’ll work with the Adult Services team, community partners, and colleagues across the library system to develop programs that reflect community interests and needs. You’ll also provide reference and reader services, participate in outreach, and manage designated collections at one or more branches.
About the Library and Rinconada
The Palo Alto City Library connects people with knowledge, resources, and opportunities for discovery. Across five branches, our staff help community members explore new interests, find reliable information, and connect with one another.

Rinconada Library offers a particularly rich setting for adult services. Located across from the Palo Alto Art Center, the branch is home to the Library’s physical Local Interest Collection and provides space for programs, learning, and community gatherings. For a Senior Librarian, it’s an opportunity to build on these resources while developing services that speak to the interests of adults and older residents.

What You’ll Do

• Plan, promote, and deliver programs and services for adults, including older adults and retirees.
  
• Build relationships with community organizations and partners to expand the library’s reach.
  
• Collaborate with the Adult Services team and manager to strengthen services across branches.
  
• Help customers discover information, library resources, and their next great read.
  
• Select, evaluate, and maintain designated library collections.
  

Who Thrives in This Role
We’re looking for a librarian who enjoys connecting with people, turning community interests into engaging programs, and working with others to make library services more responsive. Strong communication, collaboration, and customer service skills are essential. Experience developing programs or services for older adults is especially welcome.
Why Palo Alto?
Known as the birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto brings a spirit of curiosity and innovation to public service. Library staff have the chance to turn that spirit into something tangible: welcoming spaces, thoughtful collections, meaningful programs, and stronger community connections. This position offers room to bring your ideas to life while collaborating with colleagues across the library system.

Schedule: Sunday through Thursday, including one evening shift.

This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to:

• 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. 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.

• 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 microfilm reader printers and photocopiers, and computers.

• 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.

• May assist customers with the use of library technology.

To review full job description, click here.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:

• Master's Degree in Library and Information Science
• Three years professional experience as a librarian. Master's degree in Library or Information Science may be substituted for one year of professional experience.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 10/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$103,043.20 - $125,964.80 Annually