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Customer Service Clerk (Youth or Adult)

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Customer Service Clerk (Youth or Adult)

Salary

$17.98 - $19.97 Hourly

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

37268

Department

Houston Public Library

Division

HPL - NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY SYSTEM

Opening Date

10/07/2025

Closing Date

10/13/2025 11:59 PM Central

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

POSITION OVERVIEW

APPLICATION ACCEPTED FROM: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

DIVISION / SECTION: Customer Service / NL and Central

Workday & Hours: Rotating Shift - Monday - Sunday - 8a.m. - 8p.m. *includes evenings and weekends

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Houston Public Library (HPL) is seeking team-oriented people with a passion for customer service to work as Customer Service Clerks (Youth or Adult Services) in our Neighborhood Libraries and Central Library. Successful candidates will provide exceptional customer service at the customer service desk to find basic information and library material, assist customers with library services, policies, procedures, resources, basic technology, and computer usage, retrieve library materials and shelve returned materials, assist with programs and other library services, and enjoy interacting with people of all ages from diverse backgrounds. In addition to these duties, the following specialized tasks may be part of the daily work.

The Customer Service Clerk (Youth) will:

+ Assist with innovative programming in the library for youth of all ages including story time, crafts, STEM kits, after school programs, and passive programming.

+ Collaborate and conduct outreach with local community groups, other libraries, and city departments, as well as schools and day care centers.

+ Utilize general knowledge of literature and resources to promote many services like literacy and homework help resources such as Brainfuse and Learning Express Library.

+ Enjoy working with youth and creating quality experiences for them and their families; and

+ Work one evening a week and every other weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday) 8:00 am - 8:15 pm / Rotating Shift.

The Customer Service Clerk (Adult Services) will:

• Assist with programming in the library for all ages including open job labs, computer classes, English classes (ESOL), Citizenship classes, and adult literacy classes.

• Collaborate and conduct outreach with local community groups, other libraries, and city departments.

• Utilize general knowledge of library resources for adults to promote library resources such as international services and library technology.

• Work one evening a week and every other weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday) 8:00 am - 8:15 pm / Rotating Shift. (80 hours bi-weekly).

Applicants are encouraged to submit a Cover Letter and Resume when applying. For a location listing of our 37 Neighborhood Libraries and Central Library, please visit: https://houstonlibrary.org/all-locations

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The position occasionally requires stooping or bending. Occasional very light lifting, such as three or four reams of papers or books (up to 20 pounds or an equivalent weight) may be required. There are no major sources of discomfort, i.e., essentially normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature and air conditions. Requires the ability to make simple gross motor responses within large tolerances.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires a high school diploma or a GED.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Six months of clerical/customer service experience are required.

PREFERENCES

+ Proficient computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

+ Experience working with people of diverse backgrounds.

+ Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

+ Experience working in a public library setting.

+ Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with others.

+ Experience working with youth and families.

+ To better serve our diverse communities, fluency in a foreign language is highly preferred.

*Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.*

GENERAL INFORMATION

SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED

The selection process will involve application review and/or Interview. The department may administer skills assessment test.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION - NO

If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

PAY GRADE - 10

SALARY INFORMATION

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during active posting period. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov

To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call 832-393-0473).

If you need special services or accommodations, call 832-393-0473. (TTY 7-1-1). If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.

Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided.

Applicants are encouraged to attach a cover letter and resume along with their completed application when applying.

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:

+ Medical

+ Dental

+ Vision

+ Wellness

+ Supplemental Insurance

+ Life insurance

+ Long-term disability

+ Retirement pension

+ 457 deferred compensation plan

+ Employee Assistance Program

+ 10 days of vacation each year

+ 11 city holidays, plus one floating holiday

+ Compensable Sick Leave

+ Personal Leave

+ Flexible schedules

+ Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions

+ Professional development opportunities

+ Transportation/parking plan

+ Section 125 pretax deductions

+ Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

+ Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves

+ Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html

01

Are you a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces (United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) for more than 90 consecutive days and received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions?

+ YES

+ NO

02

What is the "highest" level of education you have successfully completed?

+ 9th to 11th grade completed.

+ High School Diploma / GED.

+ Associate degree.

+ Bachelor’s degree and beyond.

03

Please indicate the amount of verifiable "paid" clerical/customer service experience you possess?

+ Less than 6 months.

+ 6 months to less than.

+ 1 year to less than 3 years.

+ 3 or more years and beyond.

04

Have you been a previous employee and/or a current Houston Public Library employee?

+ YES

+ NO

05

What kind of customer service do you have the most experience with? (Check all that apply)?

+ Retail.

+ Restaurant or Fast Food.

+ Administrative.

+ Call Center.

+ Customer Service.

+ No experience.

06

Which of the positions are you most interested in? (Candidates will be considered for all positions regardless of their selection.)

+ Youth Customer Service Clerk

+ Adult Customer Service Clerk

07

Do you have any of the following experiences working with youth or adults?

+ Reading aloud to children

+ Arts and Crafts with youth

+ Science activities with youth

+ No Youth Experience

+ Teaching Technology skills

+ Teaching English classes

+ Teaching citizenship classes

+ Assisting with job seeking

+ No experience teaching adults

08

Please indicate your proficiency level in Microsoft Word & Excel, and Internet Research:

+ Beginner (ex: create basic documents and/or spreadsheets with limited experience with other functionalities)

+ Intermediate (ex: insert page breaks, header/footer, and/or generate auto-calculating and basic cell formatting)

+ Advanced (ex: insert table of contents, generate tables, create mail merge and/or conditional formatting, table formatting, sort/filter cells, cell data validation/consolidation)

+ No Experience

09

Please indicate languages, other than English, in which you are fluent (reading, writing, and/or speaking). Check all that apply:

+ Spanish

+ Chinese

+ Vietnamese

+ Arabic

+ French

+ Other Languages

+ I am not bilingual

10

Customer service jobs such as this one can often involve stressful interactions with customers on a daily basis and requires dealing with people who may become upset with you or be disruptive and confrontational. How comfortable are you with diffusing these types of interactions?

+ Very Comfortable (I remain calm and enforce rules consistently without needing the manager, and feel empowered to call police when necessary)

+ Comfortable (I get the person in charge to assist with more difficult situations) (

+ Very Uncomfortable (I don’t feel comfortable in high-stress situations and need supervisory backup often)

11

Describe your customer service work experience including any experience you have in a public library. If you have none, please put N/A.

12

Describe your experience providing services and programs to youth and/or training adults. (If you do not have experience, please put N/A).

Required Question