Job Description
The City of Westminster is seeking a dynamic, compassionate and collaborative Library Associate who loves working with Children and Tweens ranging from birth to middle school ages. The Library Associate II - Youth Services position is responsible for complex and technical paraprofessional library work in the Public Services area. This includes planning and performing story time for children ages birth to preschool and their adults, assisting with services and programs for birth to middle school tweens; providing readers' advisory, reference services, community outreach, supporting the librarian with collection development tasks and providing patron assistance on the use of electronic devices and resources.
The ideal candidate for this role has a heart for public service, champion’s teamwork, is customer-focused, and values empathy-based service in a public library setting. Someone with innovative programming ideas, passion for Youth Services, tech savviness, and ability to navigate supporting both kiddos and caregivers alike will thrive in this environment.
The College Hill branch is a destination library that services the surrounding community as well as an array of college students. It is jointly operated with the Front Range Community College and often partners with the upstairs academic Front Range library for circulation and various services.
Applicant must be available to work days, some evenings, some weekends, and some holidays including one weekend day shift. The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster offers a bonus of up to $1,500 per year depending on the employee's fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Laotian and/or American Sign Language (ASL).
Additional Qualifications Include:
- A thorough knowledge of and maintain a working knowledge of children's and young adult nonfiction titles, as well as popular authors and titles within a wide range of genre categories in fiction
- A basic knowledge of library reference databases, electronic resources and basic library procedures, methods, and techniques
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Creative and critical thinking skills
- Strong customer service skills, and courteously work with the public, supervisors, and co-workers
- Skills in computer searching by title, author, keyword, and subject
- A working knowledge of the Horizon System
- Experience with public internet use
- A working knowledge of Microsoft Windows and personal and office software including Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Basic knowledge of early literacy skills and the ability to apply those concepts to program presentations
- Plan, organize, publicize, and present story time, give tours, and provide special programs for youth
- Help patrons with the processing of purchase requests, interlibrary loan requests, holds and the use of electronic resources
- Work independently and make independent decisions in the absence of a supervisor
JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
1. Provides staff coverage and exceptional internal and external customer service for the Westminster Public Libraries, including:
- Recommending titles to patrons
- Helping students find materials for assignments
- Helping teachers and caregivers with topic searchers
- Directing patrons to other areas of the library
- Placing and filling holds for patrons
- Help patrons access electronic resources
2. Community outreach and programming duties include:
- Give tours of library facilities, and provide programs, readers' advisory/reference services, and library instruction for classes or groups of children and teens visiting the library and outreach programs for various Westminster community groups and organizations
- Participate in planning/implementation of the annual Summer Reading Program and other special community programs
- Plan, organize, publicize, and present weekly story time to babies, toddlers, preschoolers, parents and caregivers.
- Prepare bulletin boards, book displays, and bibliographies
- Provide occasional clerical assistance in the preparation of reports, statistics, and updates for the library website
3. Administrative duties include:
- Assist librarians in weeding, mending, and ordering of books and materials
- Provide assistance to other public service areas, which may include staffing the information desk in the adult area
- Travel to the library's various facilities and other locations in the provision of library services and programs
4. Work effectively with computers and software systems, including:
- Proficient with keyboarding skills
- Search online databases, the internet, and the library catalog
- Working knowledge of Word and Excel
- Ability to assist others with e-books and various e-readers
5. Possess a valid driver's license and maintain a safe driving record
6. Maintain regular and punctual attendance
The Community
Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Graduation from High School or GED
- Experience working with children in a daycare, preschool, elementary school, or children's department of a public or school library
- Possess a valid driver's license and maintain a safe driving record
Preferred:
- Graduation from a four-year college or university
- Experience working with children or general library experience
- Working knowledge of children's and young adult literature
- Experience designing and presenting story times to children, specially preschoolers, toddlers and/or babies
- Experience in planning and implementing programs for children and young adults
- Spanish speaking ability
Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.