Description
San Mateo County Libraries is seeking candidates for the position of Senior Librarian!
Proud to consistently be named one of the top-rated libraries in the nation, we are champions of learning, sharing, and exploration of open minds, new ideas, and bright futures. It is our mission and our passion to strengthen our community by creating an inclusive sense of place and an environment for learning. We seek enthusiastic team players, creative risk takers, and flexible individuals who proactively search for new opportunities to make public library services relevant to all members of the community. Successful candidates will be excited about new challenges, eager to learn, and energized by working with people from a variety of backgrounds.
While this recruitment may be used for additional and future Senior Librarian openings throughout San Mateo County Libraries, we are currently seeking to fill two immediate vacancies: one in our Access Services Division based in San Mateo, and one at the North Fair Oaks Library in Redwood City. Library staff are required to work weekends and evenings.
Access Services Senior Librarian: Dedicated to enhancing access to library collections, you will ensure that our library's acquisitions are both relevant and easily accessible, while promoting equity in our community. You will play a pivotal role in streamlining operational processes, expanding our library's cardholder base, and increasing library engagement, all while guiding and mentoring a close-knit team of staff members.
Community Library Senior Librarian: Dedicated to strengthening community connections, you will help ensure that our library is a trusted resource for everyone. Through excellent programming, public service, outreach, and partnerships, you will help create an inclusive environment where all community members feel welcome and supported. You will also contribute to guiding, supporting, and mentoring a creative team of library staff.
We respect, value, and celebrate our community’s diversity. Because of the diversity of the communities we serve, bilingual language skills (Mandarin, Cantonese, or Spanish) are strongly preferred.
Ideal Candidate & Duties - The ideal candidate will be:
Passionate about the library’s vision and enthusiastic about inspiring a team to apply it to daily operations and goal setting.
Engaged and skilled in every aspect of public libraries, able to juggle many tasks and model excellence in library operations.
Excited about new projects and challenges and energized by working in a rapidly changing environment.
A creative problem solver who has great ideas to share with others.
A positive, enthusiastic librarian with strong interpersonal and advanced technological skills.
Skilled at promoting library services to the community through education and outreach.
A relationship builder who is skilled at creating impactful community partnerships with diverse groups.
Skilled at recruiting, supervising, and retaining a diverse and talented team of staff.
An excellent communicator, able to adjust communication styles for a variety of audiences and stakeholders.
Passionate about staying ahead of library trends and presenting to colleagues locally and nationally.
A good listener and communicator, with a positive attitude, who enjoys working cooperatively as a team member and places top priority on customer service.
Able to foster a welcoming and inclusive library environment through user-centered and equitable patron service practices and consistent staff development.
Passionate and creative about marketing and able to advocate for clear campaigns with measurable goals to provide the greatest level of service to our community members.
Ensuring our practices and guidelines are centered on community needs and are regularly updated with corresponding training for all public services staff.
Able to collect and rigorously interpret data related to library performance and submit statistical reports regularly.
An advocate for the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement, and Freedom to View Statement, recognizing that freedom of access is a fundamental tenet of a public library.
San Mateo County Libraries is a Joint Powers Authority composed of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside, and the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. We serve approximately 280,000 residents and cover a service area of 351 square miles. Our 13 community libraries are open 7 days per week and are vibrant hubs for learning, creativity, connection, and exploration.
Our mission is simple and powerful: Together, we build meaningful connections and inspire lifelong curiosity.
From book clubs to bike clinics, video game design to resume workshops, Mid-Autumn Festivals to salsa tastings-our libraries offer a rich mix of programs and events that reflect and celebrate the diversity of the people we serve. Whether you're seeking inspiration, information, or a sense of belonging, San Mateo County Libraries is where community comes to thrive.
To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit www.smcl.org.
NOTE: The eligible list generated by this recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout San Mateo County Libraries.
Qualifications
Education: Master's of Library Science or recognized equivalent degree, from an American Library Association-accredited college or university.
Experience: Any combination of experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is two to three years of experience as a librarian, or a combination of library and supervision experience.
Knowledge of:
Principles of functional supervision including organizing and coordinating activities.
Principles of staff supervision including work planning, scheduling, evaluation, employee training, and performance coaching.
Best practices in assessing the diverse composition of communities and their needs.
Principles of customer service.
Library values, ethics, and purposes.
Best practices in library programming, services, outreach, organization, and procedures.
Principles of library materials selection and current knowledge of adult, teen, and/or children's literature, film, and/or music.
Technology related to library and general office functions, as well as best practices for troubleshooting.
Skill/Ability to:
Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with staff, the public, and community organizations.
Provide excellent customer service.
Analyze library problems and implement their solutions.
Lead efforts for improvement and change.
Plan and develop services and programs.
Plan and supervise the work of staff, and provide training as needed.
Develop library programs/projects.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Conduct needs assessments.
Work with a variety of library and general office technologies and assist in the implementation of new technologies.
Learn and grow in a changing environment.
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.
Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026, 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: September 14 - 18, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interview: October 6 and/or 7, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
