Position Description

Senior Youth Services Librarian

Summary of Position: Reporting to the Assistant Library Director, this position is responsible for library services for children and teens at the Talbot County Free Library.

Status: Full-time; Salaried; exempt

Supervisory Responsibility: Supervises Youth Services Librarian at St. Michaels branch as well as staff and volunteers working in Youth Services.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Manages and directs daily operations and activities of the Children's and Teen departments.
• Supervises, trains, coaches, and evaluates the work of assigned staff.
• Plans, implements, manages, and develops new children's and teen services, and programs that are designed to fulfill programming and outreach goals and objectives in the Library's strategic plan.
• Works to build strong partnerships with schools and other organizations serving children and teens.
• Evaluates and prioritizes the needs for children's and teen services; recommends new procedures and technologies.
• With the Acquisitions Librarian, coordinates collection development for children's and teen materials.
• Interacts with and assists library patrons in finding and using library materials and resources.
• Participates in grant acquisition including assisting with identification of grant opportunities, research, grant writing, and maintaining records.
• Participates in creating library displays and exhibits.
• Serves as children's and teen services reference librarian.
• Promotes use of the library by children and teens; performs outreach service by preparing publicity for children's and teen programs and addressing community groups, schools, and service organizations.
• Provides a welcoming and friendly environment to children, teen, and adult patrons.
• Regularly works weekdays, evenings, and weekends as scheduled.
• Acts as a Person in Charge.
• Occasionally works at the Circulation and Information Desks.

Nonessential Responsibilities and Duties:

Performs other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Regularly communicates with Library patrons and staff in person by phone online chat, texting, and other networking media.
• Routinely uses computer keyboard.
• Frequently ascends and descends ladders and stairs.
• Frequently lifts and moves materials weighing up to 30 lbs, and pushing book trucks weighing 100+.
• Frequently positions library books and materials in appropriate place on shelf.
• Regularly moves about the library facility.
• Regularly uses telephone and other office equipment.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

• Work typically requires light physical effort in the handling of light materials, boxes, and equipment. Work may occasionally demand strenuous effort in the handling of moderately heavy boxes or materials. Work may require standing for extended periods of time and/or frequently require stooping and bending. Job functions necessitate mobility within the facility.
• The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, and libraries, e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations.

Other Requirements:

Occasional travel for professional development and training.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities include:

• Ability to obtain State of Maryland certification as a Professional Public Librarian or as a School Library Media Specialist within six months of hire.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply best practices in children's and teen literature, library services, programming and outreach.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work courteously and cooperatively with others, including a diverse staff, volunteers, and patrons of all ages.
• Ability to organize, plan, and execute work, to work effectively as a part of a team, and to set and reach goals with minimal direct supervision.
• Experience with information technology and library software applications.
• Ability to work day, evening, and weekend hours.
• Skills and abilities necessary to provide leadership in the area of Youth Services;
• Ability to assess community needs and develop, plan, implement, and execute Youth Services and Programs to meet those needs.
• Ability to prioritize competing interests within an established budget.
• Ability to develop strong interactive community relationships and partnerships.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to supervise and direct the work of others in an environment where there are frequent interruptions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Possession of a Master's Degree in Library Science, Masters in Library and Information Sciences degree, or Masters of Science in School Librarianship from an ALA accredited school of Library Science or international equivalent and a minimum of 1 year of professional librarian work experience in a public or school library/media setting.

Additional Preferred Qualifications include:

• Prefer at least 3 years of experience in a public or school library/media setting.
• Supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of materials selection and cataloging.

The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this job.

This and all library positions are eligible for system-wide transfer.

Talbot County Free Library staff work in a diverse environment and are expected to demonstrate respect for and relate to co-workers and patrons from many different backgrounds and cultures. The Talbot County Free Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Library's policy is to treat all applicants and employees equally without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.