Overview

FLSA Exempt: This is a professional position in the County Library System. Employee works as part of a Youth Services Team under the direction of the Youth Services Coordinator and the Library Director to assist in providing library services for youth and families.

Essential Leadership Functions

Act with Integrity and Build Trust

• Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions

• Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints

• Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives

Drive for Results

• Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes

• Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results

• Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring

Develop Talent and Effective Teams

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth

• Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential

• Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team

Lead with Vision and Strategy

• Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives

• Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully

Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking

• Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives

• Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment

• Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others

Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization

• Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking

• Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders

Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service

• Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community

• Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes

• Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

• Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations

• Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks

• Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others

Essential Job Functions

Works with location supervisors and staff to provide library services and superb customer services that embody and further professional librarianship principles of lifelong learning, community engagement, and intellectual freedom.

Maintains a working knowledge of trends and best practices within the field of librarianship.

Provides excellent reader's advisory services for patrons as it relates to children's and young adult literature and other library materials.

Develops, plans and conducts programs for youth ages infant through high school and their families. Programs include story times, teen programs, crafts, games, reading incentive programs, contests, booktalks, puppet shows, demonstrations, special promotions, tours, etc.

Frequently and independently carries and transports program materials, which are sometimes bulky and/or heavy, between storage and program locations, which may include climbing and/or descending stairs.

Prepares items for use in programs such as readying craft supplies, creating story props, constructing models for contest entries, putting up displays, preparing games, and creating computer-generated handouts.

Uses initiative to make sure that activities are varied and of interest to children. Uses a variety of materials, props and activities to present programs, including books, puppets, songs, dramatics, crafts, games, etc.

Performs assigned tasks as related to collection development and collection maintenance; must maintain a working knowledge of collection development practices.

Prepares publicity pieces such as signs, displays, handouts, and newsletters using desktop publishing programs and other materials.

Keeps records and statistics for use in evaluation and planning. Maintains youth services files, supplies, storage items, etc.

Conducts presentations for adult groups, such as for staff meetings, teacher groups, and parents.

Completes assigned tasks to assist with the development of the physical spaces within the library.

Communicates with various groups including schools, businesses, government, and other organizations for library support and promotion.

Frequently and independently prepares program space, which may include stacking, unstacking and re-arranging of chairs or other seating arrangements, moving of tables and other furniture, moving large divider walls, and hanging or tearing down of large props, backdrops, and supplies.

In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative and respectful at all times with the public and community contacts. Also establishes and maintains a courteous, cooperative, and respectful working relationship with other employees, supervisors, and public officials.

Employee is expected to report to work when scheduled, with minimum use of sick leave, to build up sick leave balance for income protection for unexpected illness.

Physical demands:

Large percentage of time is spent reading, writing, hearing, using computers, using near vision, and moving about the library and programming areas, lifting, carrying and moving program materials, which may be bulky or awkward to carry and may weigh up to 40 lbs.

Materials must be carried up and down stairs and loaded and unloaded from vehicles and returned to storage, which may include lifting to heights above head.

Sits and stands for long periods, and does physical activities which require running, sitting on the floor, climbing up and down staircases, and other such movements. Some time is spent traveling to library locations and to other sites in the various communities for program presentations and activities.

Tasks may involve exposure to blood/body fluids.

Work Hours:

Position requires a varied work schedule that fluctuates day to day and week to week including rotating weekends based on the needs of the Library. Work shifts will rotate between five County library locations based on the needs of the Department. Vacation planning and other absences are discouraged during critical program times, including June and July.

Related Job Functions

This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative.

This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Current knowledge of children's and young adult literature and familiarity with books, authors, audiovisual media, etc., which will be of interest to all ages of children.

Professional knowledge of learning and behavior theory as it applies to children and teens.

Professional knowledge of library functions and American Library Association philosophies and Code of Ethics.

Must have good written and oral communication skills, good computer skills, including proficiency in using various publishing and data management programs, skills in use of the Internet for research and in use of the library computer catalog.

Visual design ability to create publicity and displays that are clear, appealing and effective.

Ability to engage in energetic physical activities with children.

Ability to communicate enthusiastically with children individually and in groups.

Ability to present dynamic, crowd-pleasing programs, which includes good read-aloud skills, dramatic skills, organizational skills, and creativity.

Ability to prepare creative program materials, working with art supplies such as paint, glue, cardboard.

Ability to be creative and spontaneous during programs.

Ability to adapt readily to size of groups, locations, broken equipment and other factors requiring flexibility.

Ability to effectively use large-group management skills.

Ability to effectively provide reader's advisory and reference service for youth.

Ability to be an effective draw for children and teens, and for establishing relationships with them.

Ability to relate with children's parents and other adults, including library staff members.

Ability to work well individually or on a team, and ability to take supervisory direction.

Ability to operate various equipment (projectors, computers, etc.) and creatively develop and incorporate program materials.

Training, Experience and Other Requirements

Bachelor's degree (Master’s preferred) from accredited college or university in Library Science or Education.

Previous work experience that has demonstrated ability to relate to children individually or in groups and to provide stimulating activities which interest them.

Must possess talents or skills which will enhance children's activities (examples: ability to organize creative dramatics, direct arts and crafts projects).

Experience in preparing displays, handouts, etc.

Experience in teaching or program planning and in use of children's literature.

Experience in providing effective reader's advisory to children, teens, and readers of all ages.

Consideration may be given for an appropriate combination of a related degree, coursework, experience, and/or special abilities.

Must have a valid driver's license and access to transportation.