Posted 10/20/2009: Children's Librarian, Albion District Library, Albion, Michigan

Supervised By: Director of Library
Supervises: Children’s Room Staff
Hours: 35 hours/week, including weekends and evenings
Classification Full-time, 35 hours/week, non-exempt
Wage Range: $17 - $21 per hour

General Position Summary:

• Supervises and coordinates the activities of the Children’s room and provides professional library services to assure effective children’s library services.
  
• Supervises library aides assigned to the Children’s Room.
  
• Manages the collection development and programming budgets allocated to the section.
  
• Plans, coordinates, and performs children’s programming and outreach activities to assure the most efficient use of staff resources; monitors performance to assure that activities meet department and ADL standards and objectives.
  
• Plays a lead role in advocating children’s services and actively provides liaison with schools and other agencies and organizations relating to children’s services.
  

Essential Duties/Major Responsibilities:

1. Plan, coordinate, and supervise the activities of the Children’s room. Schedule staff, establish goals, and oversee and coordinate all Children’s programming and community outreach activities.
2. Participate in selection and schedule and supervise the work of Children’s room staff. Recruit, train, and supervise Library aides. Assure compliance with ADL’s policies and procedures.
3. Manage programming and collection development budgets allocated to the section including funding provided by the Friends of the Library.
4. Assist patrons in the use of Library collections through reference interviews, reference and literature searches; and instruction in the use of computer software to locate requested materials. Maintain current knowledge of materials, resources, and services throughout the ADL and refer patrons as required.
5. Select children’s materials. Maintain collection through periodic review and discarding of worn or non-circulating materials.
   
6. Develop, schedule, present, and facilitate children’s programs.
7. Perform outreach activities with local schools, caregivers, parent groups, and other organizations associated with children’s services. Promote library services, conduct tours, present book talks and stories, prepare book lists and provide other services as community needs dictate.
8. Perform administrative record keeping and reporting as assigned.
   

Secondary Duties:

1. Assist in the preparation of the annual budget request.
   
2. Perform related duties as assigned.
   

Communication:

Contacts are normally made with ADL employees and customers, patrons, etc. Contacts are regularly made at the supervisor’s request, on the employee’s own initiative, or are initiated by a third party. The
position has a requirement to interact with customers frequently; communications occasionally contain discussion about confidential/sensitive matters.

Initiative:
The children’s services librarian operates from established procedures and is responsible for problem solving at the department level. The position may develop new library programs or concepts, and the job involves a moderate degree of complexity. The children’s services librarian operates independently with minimal supervision, and recurring work situations are encountered with occasional variations
from the norm. Decisions are made within specific organizational policy constraints/guidelines.

Accountability:

The position encounters frequent interruptions, so maximum flexibility is required. The children’s services librarian considers his/her own work and the work of others when formulating plans and must be able to forecast for the near future. Operational planning is required at the department level. The position makes decisions that have impact across a limited number of work units, and work is seldom monitored or checked by the supervisor. An error or delay could result in workflow disruptions and dissatisfied patrons. Resources under the immediate control of the position include the children’s book and craft budgets, supplies for the children’s area, and the Children’s Department budget. Records maintained include statistical records on applicable library programs such as the Summer Reading program, story times, etc.

Leadership:

The position is responsible for mentoring staff. The position is responsible for role modeling and promoting organizational values within the work unit or department and as a representative of the
organization in the community.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:

• Master’s of Library Science Degree from an American Library Association accredited school of librarianship or comparable experience, with supervisory experience preferred
• Classroom and on-the-job training applicable to children’s library services and ADL policies, procedures, and systems
  

Necessary Knowledge, Ability and Skills:

• Considerable knowledge of reference sources, authors, literature, publishers, and online resources
• Thorough knowledge of children’s needs and interests in reading for information, recreation, and education
• Considerable knowledge of computer hardware and software as well as the Internet in support of children’s library functions
• Knowledge and support of the principles of intellectual freedom
  

Ability to:

• Effectively listen to other employees and patrons as part of understanding their needs and concerns
• Relate to the unique needs of children, both individually and in groups
• Use diplomacy and tact to establish and maintain relationships with employees, patrons, and subordinates
• Clearly and succinctly communicate ideas and thoughts both verbally and in writing
• Read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with staff and patrons
• Manage several projects at once and adapt to changing needs
• Communicate effectively with a diverse population
  

Skills in:

• Operating effectively as a member of a team in performing daily duties, developing programs, and dealing with problem situations
• Using discretion in contact with public/patrons and employees
• Making presentations, particularly those relating to children
• Maintaining a calm demeanor under circumstances that may be unsettling
• Using computer hardware and software and the Internet
• Developing and training assigned staff
  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Michigan driver’s license

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The position requires continuous standing, keyboarding, talking, reaching, bending, hearing, stooping, kneeling or crawling, and the repetitive motions of hands/wrists. Close, distance, and peripheral vision are required, as is depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Lifting, pulling, and carrying up to 50 pounds and pushing carts weighing up to 100 pounds are required by the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a library environment. Working evenings and weekends, heavy lifting, constant standing, extensive close work (eyestrain), and extensive PC monitor work are required. There may be
some exposure to angry or hostile individuals.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between ADL and the employee, and is subject to change as the needs of ADL and the requirements of the job change.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

1. Interested applicants must complete an ADL job application

2. In order to be considered as an applicant for this position, you must write and submit two typed, double-spaced essays (250 to 300 words per essay question) in response to each of the following:
a. “What are the most important things to remember when communicating with children?�
b. “Please discuss one or two trends that affect service to children in a public library. What are some ways that the library can effectively respond to these trends?�

Applications that are submitted without the above requested essays will not be considered. Please include your essays with your completed ADL job application form.

3. Mail your completed ADL job application, cover letter, resume, two essay responses, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references to:
Albion District Library
Attn: Kathleen Seidl
501 S Superior
Albion, MI 49224

Benefits: Retirement, Medical, Dental, Sick Leave, Vacation Leave, Paid holidays

When applying, please mention that you saw this ad on LISjobs.com/Library Job Postings on the Internet.