Job Description
The Denver Public Library (DPL) is a growing urban library system that serves the City & County of Denver. DPL sees more than 4 million visitors every year across its 27 locations, serves Denver’s most vulnerable communities through outreach and mobile services, hosts thousands of programs a year and manages a collection of more than 1.4 million physical and digital materials. We believe a strong library is vital for a strong community. DPL is committed to serving the evolving needs of Denverites through inspired programming, diverse collections, culturally-representative spaces and equitable policies & procedures.
The Mobile Services Department’s reach spans across the city of Denver, meeting community members where they are to provide library services and access. Under the umbrella of the Communications and Community Engagement department, the Mobile Services department delivers library programs and services through a mobile fleet to increase library access to target populations, including children, teens, and older adults. We provide library services and resources including intergenerational programming to a diverse customer base outside library locations and create positive experiences for library customers visiting the bookmobile by checking out books and other materials.
DPL is hiring a Library Program Associate in the Mobile Services Department to design dynamic outreach and programming opportunities, implement library services to a diverse customer base, and strengthen community connections. This role provides assistance in providing community access to a wide variety of library services and represents the Denver Public Library to stakeholders and the community. You will often assist customers with questions, provide resources, offer readers advisory and help navigate technology, perform clerking and shelving duties while providing bookmobile service. In this role, you will work collaboratively with other staff and library branch locations to identify library outreach needs in metro Denver, assist in the planning and participation in special events, and utilize mobile tools, including driving large vehicles, to increase library presence in the community. You will develop and maintain strong and lasting partnerships with community partners and work directly with community members to understand and deliver on their library needs.
Our ideal candidate has:
- Knowledge of and experience with community engagement practices.
- Knowledge of presenting and providing library services to customers with varying levels of experience and knowledge.
- Knowledge of positive youth development practices or experience (personal or professional) working with youth.
- Skill in using and assisting customers with technology.
- Skill in choosing appropriate materials for programming and outreach.
- Ability to listen to and evaluate community needs and design services and programming to meet those needs including the ability to facilitate group conversations.
- Ability to work in a physically demanding environment with continuous lifting of objects weighing up to 75 lbs and moving heavy carts in tight spaces. Much of this work is done in an outdoor environment.
- Ability to provide equitable and empathetic customer service drawn from lived experiences and knowledge of EDI concepts and practices.
- Ability to create a welcoming environment for all ages.
- Ability to work as independently as a subject matter expert and leader.
- Ability to thrive working in an environment with constant public contact with people from all backgrounds and age groups. Including the ability to demonstrate positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a sense of humor in working with customers, coworkers and community.
- Ability to creatively solve problems, negotiate, and handle stressful situations in a positive manner including setting boundaries and safety expectations with coworkers and community members.
- Ability to safely operate large vehicles.
- Ability to pass a background check when the offer to hire has been made.
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Experience with program design and evaluation.
- Experience with event planning and community partnership building.
- Second language proficiency (preferred, not required).
We know your time is valuable. Applicants who meet the following minimum requirements will be considered:
- A Bachelor's degree in a related field of study (additional appropriate experience may be substituted for the education requirement).
- Two years of experience teaching or presenting information.
- A valid Colorado driver's license with a good driving record.
Other things to know:
- City Employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All persons offered a position will be required to provide valid proof of vaccination prior to starting employment.
- DPL is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion; diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
- This position requires a flexible attitude for working in outreach including a variety of connectivity, bumpiness, motion, climate and environmental factors that could impact working conditions. This includes a large amount of outdoor work.
- The schedule will be determined by the needs of the department and will include weekend and evening hours.
- This position is based at the Central Library, which has no free parking. Our business office hours are 8am to 5pm, with occasional evenings and weekends.
We anticipate this posting will close on December 3, 2021. Please submit an application at your earliest convenience in order to be considered.
Benefits & Additional Compensation Info
The full City and County of Denver benefits package will be offered. Though the full salary range is provided, we anticipate offers to fall between $21.28 and $23.94 per hour.