Job Title: Youth Programming Specialist

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Admin Level: Associate Administrator

Beginning Salary: $18-$19

Schedule and Hours: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday and scheduled Saturdays; including some evenings

Summary: Responsible for implementing library programming and outreach for ages zero to eighteen and their families, providing library services to patrons, and helping to maintain a safe and welcoming branch environment.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

Minimum:

3 years library experience or 60 college credit hours

Preferred:

Bachelors Degree
College credits with an education emphasis
Experience in public library youth services

Duties and Responsibilities include the following, but not limited to:

Plan and Present Youth Programs and Materials

Plan and present youth programs for ages zero to eighteen, including weekly early literacy based storytimes for ages 0-6
Assist with the planning and implementation of annual library reading challenges
Record statistics of programs and evaluate for effectiveness
Maintain knowledge of youth programming and literature trends
Prepare book lists and promotional literature as assigned
Attend regular professional development training opportunities
Oversee an annual supply budget and make necessary programming purchases
Create timely and innovative displays and decorations for the children and teen areas
Prepare passive activities for the children and teen areas
Conduct youth library tours as requested
Assist the Branch Manager and Administration with special projects and tasks
Travel to other branches as needed to assist with programs

Staff the Youth Areas of the Library

Maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment
Monitor youth services areas, enforcing policy as needed
Promote programs while at the desk, including assisting patrons with registering for programs
Maintain the children and teen collections, including shelving, straightening, shifting, and weeding
Oversee the Racing to Read play area, including maintaining the organization and cleanliness of early literacy manipulatives and activities
Help ensure all patrons have access to facilities and services
Train staff to operate the youth services desk; support Branch Manager in keeping YS Desk staffed; particularly during periods of high traffic

Reference and Readers’ Advisory

Assist patrons with the use of library online catalog, reference materials, internet and library databases
Guide patrons through the shelving arrangement to locate materials
Assist patrons in placing a hold on desired items, including via MOBIUS or Interlibrary loan
Be familiar with the contents of and technology needed to access the library’s digital collection, and teach patrons to use these resources on their own devices
Assist with patron inquiries on a wide variety of topics using reference interview techniques
Utilize readers’ advisory tools and methods to suggest library materials to patrons

Participate in Youth Outreach Services

Provide onsite outreach services for area schools, preschools, daycares and community organizations
Represent and promote the library at community outreach events
Work with the Outreach Department as needed

Staff the Service Desk as Needed

Check in returned materials and process items appropriately
Evaluate the condition of items upon return, checking for components and assessing damage
Shelve materials as needed
Maintain patron and materials records, including registering patrons for new library cards and adding charges for lost or damaged materials
Process incoming and outgoing holds for patrons
Accept cash, check, and credit card payments on overdue, damaged, lost items
Issue receipts for monetary transactions as needed
Collect money for printing, photocopies, and faxes
Reconcile money collected with the electronic record of payments
Complete deposits of all money collected at the service desk according to the guidelines set by the Business Office

Person in Charge Responsibilities

Act as Person in Charge (PIC) of the branch as determined by Branch Manager
Follow and interpret library policies and procedures to make decisions and take action to ensure the safety and satisfaction of patrons and staff
Document issues via the security log and/or incident report
Communicate with necessary individuals about incidents that occur during PIC shift
Travel to other branches as needed to assist with PIC duties

Communication with Administration and Coworkers

Effective, timely, thorough, and respectful communication with co-workers in person, by phone, in writing, by email, or email chat system
Effective, timely, thorough, and respectful communication with Administration about scheduling, absences, co-worker performance issues, procedures, policies, etc.

Effective, timely, thorough, and respectful communication with district departments such as IT, Facilities, Communications, Outreach, etc.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee could be expected to do the following:

Must be able to perform tasks on a ladder for decoration and display purposes
Frequently move about or position self to access library materials and office equipment on the floor, in bins, and shelves up to 6 feet in height
Frequently move up to 50 lbs.
Frequently move rolling carts and bins weighing up to 300 lbs
Frequently move about or position self to maintain the cleanliness of the children’s and teen areas
Regularly operate a computer, printer, barcode scanner, and other office equipment
Occasionally work in outdoor weather conditions for programs or events

Knowledge, skills, and other abilities needed to be successful in this position:

Excellent customer service skills
Proficient computer skills: internet, office productivity software (i.e. Google Workspace, Microsoft), and email
Ability to work with scanners, printers, and photocopiers
Working knowledge of reader interest levels, books, authors, and reference sources
Working knowledge of early literacy initiatives, child development, and current education standards
Working knowledge of automated library circulation systems and online databases
Working knowledge of print, non-print, digital, and online information sources available from a wide variety of sources, including publishers, the internet, and library and vendor-based systems
Ability to present ideas and provide instruction; comfortable with teaching and use of various forms of technology for ages 0-18 in small and large groups
Ability to adapt to multiple demands and changing priorities, to learn, and be willing to embrace change
Ability to develop or demonstrate necessary decision-making, leadership, team-building, strategic, and conflict resolution skills
Ability to set priorities, organize, and coordinate multiple projects
Ability to successfully perform all assigned duties to achieve the desired outcome
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, and by listening
Ability to interact in a positive, effective manner with co-workers, supervisors, and the general public
Ability to perform with minimum supervision, work collaboratively in a team environment, demonstrate professional standards, good judgment, dependability, and timeliness in work environments

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