Job opening: Children's Librarian, Dover Public Library (NH)

LIBRARIAN II – Children’s Librarian

(40 hrs/week; $21.83--$30.91 per hour)

The Dover (NH) Public Library (http://library.dover.nh.gov) is accepting applications for a Children’s Librarian (Librarian II). We are seeking an innovative, enthusiastic, creative, and customer-oriented professional to provide vision, leadership and expertise related library services for children (birth through Grade 6).

This person should possess:  a wide knowledge of children’s literature, media, and e-resources,  the talent to develop inventive and imaginative programming, and the passion to nurture lifelong reading habits in Dover’s youth.  This person will oversee all aspects of the library’s Children’s Room and will supervise a part-time staff of six assistants and three pages. Position requires a multi-faceted self-starter, capable of handling planning, organizational, and supervisory duties while working in a busy public service desk environment. The Children’s Librarian is part of the Library’s administrative team and reports to the Library Director.

Dover is the fastest growing city in New Hampshire and its 5^th largest with a population of 30,655. Just 10 miles from the NH seacoast, Dover is about one hour away from Manchester NH, Portland ME and Boston MA. The library circulates 290,000 items annually and its budget is $1.1 million.  Our DoverNet consortium shares its Koha automated library system with the City’s five public school libraries.  We are keen proponents of social media as an outreach tool and currently have over 6000 online followers on various platforms.  Recently, our website was completely overhauled, not only to accommodate responsive design features, but also to add new content and advanced patron access tools.

Responsibilities

·         Supervises daily operations of the Children’s Room, including part-time library assistants, pages, and volunteers.

·         Selects new materials in varying formats for the Children’s Room, including those for retrospective purchase. Also works collaboratively with another librarian who orders materials for teens.

·         Determines the location, organization and display of all materials. Assists with cataloging and classification practices to facilitate access.

·         Evaluates collection for balance, comprehensiveness and current value and interest.  Updates the Children’s Room’s Collection Development Plan as needed.

·         Determines which Children’s Room materials shall be weeded on an annual basis.

·         Works at public service desk, performs all circulation functions, and offers reference and readers’ advisory help.

·         Instructs patrons in use of library’s print, non-print, and electronic resources. Offers download help for customers’ personal reading and viewing devices.

·         Conducts weekly story times for preschoolers.

·         Recruits, interviews and selects new personnel for the Children’s Room. Trains and mentors new employees, assigns tasks and delegates responsibility, determines work schedules, and formally evaluates Children’s Room employees annually.

·         Plans, conducts, and evaluates children’s programs to encourage reading and spark imagination, including Summer Reading Program, story times, special performances, after-school and vacation activities, and early literacy initiatives. 

·         Supervises constructively, evaluates existing operations, and initiates new services to better serve the public.

·         Establishes liaisons and develops outreach partnerships with school librarians and other community organizations serving children.

·         Prepares flyers, displays, bulletin boards, and signage. Prepares monthly Children’s Room newsletter. Writes press releases and other promotional material to attract new users. Maintains children’s pages and calendar listings on the library’s website.

·         Interprets services and policies to customers. Resolves complaints in a timely, pleasant and professional manner.

·         Participates in staff training and development opportunities as a member of the library management team. Encourages staff to engage in continuing education. Attends meetings and conferences representing the library.

·         Serves on community committees, if asked, with goal of advancing the library and the library profession.

·         Insures that physical spaces are in good order, maintaining a colorful, stimulating and inviting appearance.

·         Stays abreast of children’s reading trends, high-demand authors and titles, and emerging formats. Pays attention to current events and to popular culture with a view to its relevance for the Children’s Room.

·         Assists Library Director with short- and long-term planning and annual budget preparation.

·         Maintains accurate records of programs and attendance figures and prepares regular statistical reports. Controls expenditures to stay within appropriate levels set for the Children’s Room.

·         Keeps current with technological advances, innovative services and procedures. Stays open to change, readily taking on new tasks and learning new skills.

·         Contributes regularly to library’s various social media platforms.

·         Conducts class visits and library tours for groups.

Knowledge, Skills and Ability Requirements

·         Understanding of child development, behavior, and learning.

·         A genuine respect and consideration for children and considerable experience working with children in a library or other educational setting.

·         Ability to define and communicate the role of the public library’s service to children to the community.

·         Ability to organize and to work independently with minimal supervision.

·         Ability to create and collaborate with others as part of a team.

·         Capacity to handle multiple competing priorities while working at a public service desk.

·         Exemplary knowledge of children’s literature, media, and electronic resources.

·         Proficiency with an automated ILS. (Koha experience a plus.)

·         Proficiency with e-devices of all types.

·         Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to adjust style and content to accommodate diverse audiences of varying ages.

·         Working knowledge of social media, community engagement tools, and website authoring software.

·         Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite, including Publisher.

·         Experience working with, and instructing, customers with all ranges of technical expertise.

·         Evidence of a high degree of versatility, flexibility, and initiative, a committed customer service focus, and a desire to explore and master new technologies.

·         Ability to maintain effective working relationships with department heads, employees, and the public and to deal with service problems courteously and tactfully.

·         Attention to detail, a spirit of collaboration, and a commitment to excellent customer service are imperative.

Education Requirements:                                                                                                     

Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited graduate program. Some previous supervisory experience is required. Experience with an automated integrated library system (ILS) is essential.

If you are committed to delivering outstanding library service to children and wish to join a library that believes in continual improvement and exemplary customer service, your next job may be at the Dover Public Library. To see the complete job description and download the job application, go to: http://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/executive/human-resources/employment/ Responses must be received by November 9, 2015.