Youth Services Librarian II | Skokie Public Library
Posted on Sep 12, 2024
YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN II
Pay Grade: 8 (Exempt)
Full-time 37.5 hours per week
Schedule includes one regular weekday evening and a weekend rotation
Under the supervision of the Youth Services Supervisor, exhibits strong independent judgment to proactively assist library patrons by providing information and readers’ advisory services and helping to plan and implement learning experiences and outreach programs and activities. Provide peer leadership to staff. The primary audience served is children, ages birth through fifth grade, and their caregivers. This librarian currently focuses on services to audiences in the community that are underserved.
Essential Job Functions:
- Assist patrons with informational and readers’ advisory questions throughout the Kids room
- Collaborates with staff throughout the organization, especially Learning Experiences, Community Engagement, Safety and Access Services
- In collaboration with staff in Learning Experiences, Community Engagement staff, and colleagues in Youth Services, develop and present services and learning experiences.
- In collaboration with Learning Experiences, plan, implement, promote and evaluate active and passive programs for children and their caregivers
- Identify needs not met currently and trends in services and learning experiences that may be of value to diverse audiences in an inclusive organization.
- Integrate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of work
- Assist with keeping the Kids area welcoming, safe and engaging, including developing passive programs, displays and activities
- Serve as a lead/point person for services to a specific age group or audience and their caregivers, such as birth-5-year-olds, K-2nd graders, 3rd-5th graders, and underserved audiences, including:
- Lead the planning and implementation of in-library programs, services, RA and informational services, focusing on the developmental and learning needs of the audience
- Act as point person for collaboration with other departments, especially with regards to school engagement, community outreach and program development and delivery for the audience
- Help lead and support annual priorities for the audience
- Help represent the department in professional networks as assigned based on audience
- Attend professional development opportunities based on audience and share with other library staff
- Meaningfully contributes to the library’s strategic goals through committees and work groups
- Continues to develop a broad knowledge of children’s literature, and contributes to readers’ advisory tools like booklists, book talks and personalized Bookmatches.
- Uses data to help make decisions about services and learning experiences
- Maintains current knowledge of library and other relevant industries (e.g., education, social work, and publishing)
- Collaborates with Community and Multimedia Engagement department on promotional and social media campaigns
- Participates in team initiatives to meet the changing needs of our communities’ families
- Regular, predictable, and punctual attendance
Other Functions:
- May spearhead or assist with grant and sponsorship opportunities
- Participates in professional networking groups, attends relevant workshops, and may present at conferences
- Performs other related duties as assigned
Working Conditions:
The physical demands and environmental characteristics 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.
- Ability to perform office-related functions including extended concentration on a computer and typing capability.
- Work may include prolonged sitting, standing, stooping, bending, lifting/moving materials, getting down on the floor, as well as near constant computer use.
- Manual dexterity, clear speech, hearing acuity, and correctable vision
- Ability to navigate throughout the building
- Noise level is generally moderate
- Employee must park in designated areas.
- Scheduling may require availability during any library operating hours, including days, evenings, weekends, and occasionally when the library is closed. Although a weekly schedule is established, the needs of the library may require scheduling changes and flexibility.
Skokie Public Library offers:
- An opportunity to work in a collaborative and compassionate environment alongside talented colleagues in service to a diverse, vibrant community
- A pay range for new hires in this position is $26.67 to $33.33 per hour. Offers are made within this range based on competencies, experience, and internal equity.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications: (education, experience, and certifications)
- MLS from an ALA accredited library school
- At least two years' experience in a library or educational setting working with children
- Experience developing services and learning experiences for children
Minimum Competencies: (knowledge, skills, and abilities)
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Broad cultural competency knowledge and skills, and ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse workforce and community
- Commitment to and demonstrated success discussing, integrating, and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
- Understanding of, and commitment to, library values and ethics (ex. confidentiality/privacy, intellectual freedom)
- Strong project management skills
- Commitment to using a growth mindset for ongoing learning and development
Demonstrated ability to:
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and community members
- Anticipate and creatively solve problems with a flexible mindset
- Work independently and handle multiple initiatives while meeting deadlines
- Positively adjust to change, including emerging technologies
- Collaborate with staff in the department and around the library
- Think strategically about the library’s role in providing services to children and caregivers
- Deep personal dedication to public service and strong customer service skills
- Knowledge of children’s literature and information resources
- Understanding of child development and positive approaches to behavior management
- Knowledge of current library trends
Preferred Competencies:
- Multilingual skills in English plus other language(s) relevant to the Skokie community
Location
Skokie Public Library
5215 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL 60077
United States
How to apply
Visit https://skokielibrary.info/about/jobs/ and click on the link to access that application. Position open until filled. In order to be considered, you must include a cover letter and resume along with your application.