City of Palo Alto

  • SENIOR LIBRARIAN

  • City of Palo Alto
  • Palo Alto, California United States View Map
Description

Shape the Collections That Inspire a Community | Join the City of Palo Alto Library

The City of Palo Alto Library is looking for an experienced Senior Librarian - Collections to select adult materials for the Library.

This is an opportunity to help shape the books, digital collections, and online resources that thousands of community members discover every year. Working alongside collection managers and library leadership, you'll play an important role in ensuring our collections remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving interests of one of the Bay Area's most engaged communities.

If you're passionate about public libraries, thoughtful collection development, and connecting readers with materials they'll love, we encourage you to apply.

Schedule: Sunday to Thursday
The Opportunity
Collection development is at the heart of every public library, and this position plays a key role in shaping the library experience for our community.

As our Senior Librarian - Collections, you will:
  • Use collection data, publishing trends, and community interests to guide thoughtful collection decisions.
  • Collaborate with collection managers to ensure collections remain current, balanced, and representative of our community.
  • Evaluate emerging resources and technologies that enhance library services.
  • Support collection policies and systemwide initiatives.
  • Provide outstanding public service by connecting customers with books, information, and library resources.

Who We're Looking For
We're seeking someone who is passionate about public libraries and believes great collections are built through curiosity, collaboration, and a deep understanding of community needs.

The ideal candidate enjoys balancing professional judgment with data, stays current on publishing and library trends, and is excited to help build collections that serve readers of all ages and interests.

Experience with public library collections, digital resources, multilingual collections, and collaborative projects will help you thrive in this role.

Preferred Qualifications
  • At least two years of library experience in a public library
  • At least one year of library collections experience, preferably in a public library, that includes experience selecting print materials , e-books, audiobooks, audio visual materials, and online resources.
  • Experience with collections development and maintenance for all ages and in languages other than English is ideal.
  • Bilingual


Why the City of Palo Alto Library?
The City of Palo Alto library is recognized for its innovative approach to public service and its commitment to creating welcoming spaces where people can discover, learn, and connect.

Our five libraries serve a community that values lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity, and equitable access to information. Here, you'll have the opportunity to shape collections that reflect the diverse voices, interests, and experiences of our community while working alongside talented colleagues who are passionate about exceptional library service.
Why You'll Love Working Here
  • Help shape the collections that inspire thousands of readers each year.
  • Join a collaborative team that values curiosity, innovation, and lifelong learning.
  • Contribute to a library system recognized for outstanding public service.
  • Build collections that reflect and celebrate the diversity of our community.
  • Help connect people with books, ideas, and resources that enrich their lives.

Ready to Apply?
If you're excited to help shape the future of collection development at the City of Palo Alto Library, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help connect our community with books, ideas, and opportunities to learn for years to come.

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • 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, chairs or serves on library wide materials order review committee and participates on materials weeding team. 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.
  • Develops, organizes, and maintains variety of up-to-date collections (such as reference resource files and government document files) not cataloged in usual manner.
  • 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 COM readers, microfilm reader printers and photocopiers, and computers.
  • Assists with recruitments, interviews, schedules, trains, initiates and coordinates work of regular, temporary and volunteer staff as assigned; assumes responsibility of unit.
  • 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.
  • Administers the Library web page, including architecture, content and layout; works with other library staff to maintain the web site.
  • May assist customers wit the use of library technology.

Related Functions:
  • Coordinates system-wide library committees and may serve on City or library system committees.
  • Handles sensitive personal contact with library customers relative to information needs or library services; refers to supervisor when necessary.

Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

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 experiece 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: 8/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Palo Alto

City of Palo Alto

650-329-2376

The Community


The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News

City Government

Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.

Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.

Join an Award Winning Team 

Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.

Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."

Contact Us

Phone: 650-329-2376   

Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov   

Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

 

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