About Our Job

The Denver Public Library (DPL) isn't just a place to borrow books; it's a vibrant, essential hub for our diverse city. As a growing urban library system with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors, we're deeply woven into the fabric of Denver.

Join a team where your values align with your work. At the Denver Public Library, we're not just serving our community; we're building a culture guided by values that empower both our staff and the public. 

• Welcoming:  We make our resources, services, and expertise accessible for all, recognize the inherent dignity in each person, and provide safe places where everyone can be themselves.

• Curiosity: We foster a culture of exploration, innovation, and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.

• Connection: We are neighbors. We foster relationships, listen and act to build and strengthen our community. We bring people together to share information, ideas, and experiences.

• Equity: We work to change inequitable practices, structures and policies, and attitudes that drive them, to provide opportunities for every person in our community to thrive. As we do so, we actively examine our roles in perpetuating oppressive systems.

• Stewardship: We are accountable to our community, using our resources responsibly. We lead with honesty and integrity, protect privacy and preserve and share the full history of our Denver community.

If you're passionate about service, community engagement, and creating positive change, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come join a team that believes in the power of knowledge, connection, and equity.

Unrivaled Benefits

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:  

• Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance  

• Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer matches at 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan  

• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), 8 quarterly wellness hours, and 12 paid holidays

• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits  

• Enhanced Work/Life Balance: Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program

• Professional Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources ; Education Refund Program

• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides) 

• For more information please visit our website.

 

About Our Department

The Special Collections and Archives (SCA) department at Denver Public Library comprises two archival repositories: located at the Central Library and the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. Our team of over twenty-five librarians, archivists and paraprofessionals are committed to exceptional access, preservation and customer service for our world class collections.

About Our Position

DPL is hiring a Collections Assistant for the Special Collections and Archives department. You would work at the Central Library to create positive experiences for library customers by retrieving, transporting, and returning library materials according to the library’s classification systems so that library customers are provided with materials in a timely manner. As part of this position you can expect to:

• Retrieve and reshelve materials in a timely manner to fulfill the needs of researchers and return all materials to the correct location

• Spot-check books and materials for needed repair

• Identify worn or damaged items for withdrawal / replacement decisions

• Assist in a variety of assigned special projects and services, including RFID tagging, process improvement suggestions and implementation, shifting of materials, and document encapsulation

• Use technology and other mechanical tools related to the processing of library materials.

• Provide administrative support for the department which may include ordering and inventorying supplies, creating requisitions, creating work orders and other related activities.

• Work as a small team within the larger subdivision, cooperating and communicating well

• Other duties as assigned 

What You Would Bring

Do you have a passion for libraries, archives, and art? Are you passionate about public service? Do you have a strong sense of inquiry and excitement to share the story of our region’s history? Are you a team player with a strong track record of collaboration and problem solving?

We are looking for candidates with some or all the following skills and experience:

• Skill with attention to detail

• Excellent customer service skills

• Ability to be organized and reliable

• Ability to work quickly and accurately with numbers and letters

• Ability to work in a physically demanding position with continuous lifting and lowering of objects that can weigh up to 50 pounds; frequent squatting, kneeling, and reaching

• Ability to spend a significant amount standing and walking

• Ability to multitask, prioritize and adapt to the ebb and flow of material requests, new acquisitions, and in-house use

• Ability to use workplace technology, including email, Internet, Google Suite, and automated software

• Ability to perform RFID tagging, shifting of library materials, encapsulation (training will be provided), and other collaborative projects as needed

• Ability to work with people from all backgrounds and age groups

• A positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity and inclusion, and good-humor in working with customers, coworkers, and the community

• Ability to effectively and openly communicate and collaborate with other team members and supervisors

• Ability to interact tactfully and effectively with colleagues and customers in the course of your work

• Ability to perceive potential improvements in workflows and communicate those to coworkers

• Adaptability and willingness to learn

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET or TASC Certificate. 

• Two (2) years of clerical experience. 

Substitutions:

• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirement. 

Don't let a "checklist" hold you back! Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups often self-select out if they don't meet every qualification. If you're reading this and feel a true passion for making an impact, we wholeheartedly encourage you to apply, as an equal combination of education and experience will be considered for all applicants. Your excitement for this work matters just as much as your resume.

Work Environment & Location

The Denver Public Library's branches are the arms to the community—each a unique reflection of the dynamic, diverse communities we serve. At DPL, we pride ourselves on showing up and providing support whenever there is a need. While you may be hired for a specific location, please know that we are hiring with the expectation that at any time, you may be required to work at any one of our branches based on operational needs. This allows our staff to experience the full breadth of Denver's communities and ensures we consistently deliver the highest level of service across our branches.

DPL employees may be redeployed to work in other locations or capacities to support core functions of the library system during branch closures or other emergencies. 

This position will require weekend hours. The anticipated schedule will be Tuesday through Saturday. Schedule may change at any time based on operational needs.

We highly recommend including a cover letter that outlines your experience as it relates to the position. You can submit your cover letter via the document link on Workday or by combining your cover letter and resume into one file and uploading as your resume

This position is located at the Central Library in downtown Denver. Please note that there are no free parking options surrounding our building, but it is easily accessible by public transportation.

Application & Additional Info 

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Job postings will close at 12AM on the posted ending date. If interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible.

Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history and employment verification  

All Denver Public Library employees must apply through their internal profile.

Ready to learn more and see how you can contribute? Visit us at denverlibrary.org and connect with our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

LC1497 Administrative Support Assistant III

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Library Hiring Range

$21.26 - $26.57

Target Pay

Agency

Denver Public Library

Assessment Requirement

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.