Department: Public Library Position: Youth Services Librarian Status: Full-Time FLSA: Non-Exempt
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library seeks a creative, energetic individual with a genuine passion for working with youth to serve as Youth Services Librarian. Are you eager to share the love of reading and literature, develop capable users of information and technology, and encourage each child’s development to their fullest potential? Can you design and provide engaging activities that help young people develop their creativity, interests, and talents? Is empowering and motivating younger community members important to you?
The Youth Services Librarian is responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating all activities associated with Youth Services, which serves patrons from birth through twelfth grade.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED:
- Works under the immediate supervision of the Library Director.
- Supervises the Youth Services Assistant.
- Assigns tasks to Library Assistants, Library Clerks, work-study students, interns, or volunteers as needed.
SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS:
- The regular schedule for this position is Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.
- Employees are required to have the flexibility to adjust their schedule when needed for programming and circulation desk coverage. This may include evening and weekend hours.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
- Oversees all aspects of the Youth Services Department including reference services, reader’s advisory services, programming, and collection development.
- Proactively develops, organizes, and conducts engaging programs for youth and parents which encourage reading, viewing, and listening skills and the use of library facilities and materials to help create lifelong library users. Supervises program presentations by partners/volunteers. Programming includes regular storytimes and afterschool programming.
- Plans, organizes, and coordinates the library Summer Learning Program.
- Evaluates youth resources for balance and comprehensiveness. Reviews selection aids, publisher catalogs, and brochures. Selects resources of interest to youth.
- Weeds youth resources on a continuing basis.
- Oversees youth services budget allocation for programming and collection development. Ensures expenditures stay within appropriate levels.
- Provides instruction to youth, parents, and teachers in the use of library resources, answers reference, and reader’s advisory questions.
- Conducts library tours for interested groups including schools, classes, groups, and organizations.
- Develops and coordinates all youth outreach programs to local preschools, daycare centers, youth organizations, and visits schools. Represents the library at community events and meetings as needed.
- Acts as a liaison to local public and private schools, community agencies serving children, colleges, and teachers.
- Maintains a comfortable and stimulating library atmosphere, especially for children and young adults. Maintains children’s area and youth room. Monitors the behavior of youth in the library.
- Keeps informed of current trends, technology, and developments affecting librarians through professional reading, continuing education opportunities, and participation in professional organizations. Attends workshops, conferences, and training as needed.
- Communicates with the Library Director regarding the operations in youth services and prepares regular narrative and statistical reports.
- Creates attractive and educational displays to enhance the library experience and to promote the use of library resources.
- Continually seeks and finds ways to promote the library’s youth services.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Greets visitors to the library and provides friendly, high-quality customer service to library users.
- Assists in promoting youth services programs and resources. Provides youth services content for public relations staff to add to the library webpage and social media.
- Coordinates activities with other library staff and cooperates as a team member in performing library duties.
- Performs circulation duties and procedures including loaning and returning materials, placing reserves, checking in materials, shelving materials, shelf reading, checking for damaged materials, taking interlibrary loan requests, and issuing library cards as needed.
- Assists patrons with questions, issues, and using physical and electronic library resources.
- Responds to phone, email, and in-person questions.
- Assists patrons in the use of library services and facilities.
- May solicit funds and find grant opportunities, especially to purchase children’s materials and fund children’s programs.
- Maintains knowledge of the automated circulation and technical services systems and assists with technical services tasks, as needed.
- Coordinates, trains, and provides supervision to volunteers and staff.
- Assists with other library programming as needed.
- Performs other tasks, duties, and projects as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science or Education degree from an accredited college/university required.
- Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited program preferred.
- Three years’ experience working in youth services and considerable knowledge of the needs and abilities of children.
- Considerable knowledge, skill, and ability in public library operations, particularly as it relates to youth services.
- Knowledge of children’s and young adult resources including print, electronic, audiovisual, and other resources.
- Prior supervisory experience is desirable.
- Valid Driver’s license required.
- OR, an equivalent combination of education and experience.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to engage with children, young adults, parents, and teachers in a warm, friendly way with humor, energy, flexibility, and persistence.
- Ability to become familiar with the needs and interests of youth in the community.
- Ability to interact with and assist the public in a friendly and responsive manner.
- Ability to communicate with patrons and coworkers courteously and professionally.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patrons and coworkers.
- Ability to problem solve in a positive, constructive, and supportive way.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, be flexible, positive, and adapt to a busy and changeable work environment.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to effectively present information in both verbal and written formats to library patrons, youth, the media, and the general public.
- Experience working with technology, office equipment, and software such as Microsoft Office products, PCs, tablets, smartphones, copiers, fax machines, and email. Knowledge about using computers, online catalogs, electronic resources, and social networking resources.
- Ability to understand, interpret, and implement library policies, procedures, and rules.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
- The employee is frequently required to remain in a standing position for extended periods of time.
- The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; operate office equipment; and reach with hands and arms.
- The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch.
- The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, lift up to 25 pounds above the head, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with assistance.
- The employee must also be able to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee primarily works indoors.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
BENEFITS:
- This position offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, life, and retirement.
The City of Vermillion is a proud equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please submit a completed City of Vermillion Employment Application, cover letter, and resume. Documents can be submitted via the City website. If you have any questions, please call the library at (605) 677-7060.
