DUTIES:

Reports to the Head of the Reference Department

• Staffs Reference desk, assisting patrons in using print, electronic resources, and technology, and providing exceptional and engaging reference and reader’s advisory services
• Develops, selects, and maintains library collections as assigned
• Works on readers advisory, displays, interlibrary loans, patron requests, grants
• Promotes new and existing library collections, services, programs, and events through outreach and in-library efforts, and via print, web, and social media
• Encouraged to participate in programming and internal committees
• May fill in as-needed at other public service desks, including Circulation
• Attends professional workshops, seminars, conferences, and continuing educational opportunities
• Keeps current in trends and best practices in the library world
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• MLS from an ALA accredited library school, and at least two years of professional or equivalent experience
• Ability to deal with the public effectively and pleasantly
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively across all departments
• Ability to perform basic troubleshooting of library technology
• Experience with social media preferred
• Ability to speak two or more languages a plus

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential function.

Physical Skills

Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.). Job requires ability to bend, lift and carry library materials and pull book carts (up to 50lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents in print and on the computer, for general understanding and for analytical purposes.

Hours: 40 HOURS PER WEEK, INCLUDING EVENINGS AND SATURDAYS, AND FIVE (5) HOURS OF PAID LUNCH WEEKLY.
Salary: $1,381.67 weekly, plus benefits 
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Union: SMEU B
Date Posted: May 4th, 2026 
 

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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.