Selection Services Librarian
Not Disclosed•Full-TimeHybrid
location_onTerrace Street & 5th Avenue, Terrace Street, First Hill, Seattle, King County, Washington, 98104, United States
The Seattle Public Library's mission is to bring people, information, and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. Since 1891, we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class system with 27 locations. We work daily to foster a healthy city and democracy, guided by principles of intellectual freedom, literacy, racial equity, privacy, and innovation. As an active partner in the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative, we value respectful communication, diversity, and a growth mindset.
Technical and Collection Services (TCS) is a quality-controlled production environment located at the Central Library. TCS is responsible for the selection, acquisition, cataloging, and processing of library resources for circulation. In 2025, the library added 200,000 new items to a collection of approximately 1.8 million, supported by a 2026 materials budget of approximately $10 million.
This Selection Services Librarian position is a member of the Selection team within TCS, reporting to the Technical and Collection Services Manager. The team includes four other selection librarians dedicated to curating the library's holdings.
The role focuses on the selection and coordination of library materials—including print, media, and digital resources—for adults, teens, and children. The successful candidate will begin by selecting for the adult and teen comics and graphic novel collections, with opportunities to expand responsibilities based on knowledge and experience. This position serves as a bridge between the library's collection and the community, requiring collaboration with authors, vendors, and publishers, as well as responsiveness to patron suggestions and inquiries.
This is a regular, full-time, benefitted position based at the Central Library (1000 4th Ave., Seattle, WA). The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, with hours between 7 am and 6 pm. The role offers a hybrid opportunity, requiring a minimum of three days in-office per week. After approximately six months, there is an option to work remotely two days per week, subject to operational needs.
Candidates are invited to submit an application, cover letter, and resume via NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on May 26, 2026. The cover letter should describe how your experience aligns with the role and explain your interest in the position.
Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening is based on a review of application materials; employment history must validate responses to supplemental questions. The most competitive candidates will be invited to a series of one or more interviews. Job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history and verification of information provided.
The Seattle Public Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. We consider qualified applicants regardless of background. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us. This recruitment may be used for up to 90 days following the closing date to fill regular and temporary vacancies.
Work model: Hybrid
Terrace Street & 5th Avenue, Terrace Street, First Hill, Seattle, King County, Washington, 98104, United States
Seattle, Washington
Reading and writing fluency in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Amharic, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, or Somali. 2 years of professional experience developing and maintaining a public library collection.
Skills: Microsoft Office365, Teams, Sharepoint Online, Integrated Library Systems, Oclc, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Amharic, Spanish.
Education: Master of Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited library school required.
