Job Description
About Our Job
DPL’s Older Adult Services (OAS) Department serves people aged 50+ across all aspects of library service in all 27 locations and beyond. We have pioneered a positive aging approach that is research-based and rooted in the most current understanding of geriatric psychology, neurology, neuroplasticity, and the developmental stages of adulthood.
At DPL, we view age as a gift, and we provide older adults with the information, services, and programs they need to have a fulfilling, meaningful, connected, and healthy older adulthood. At the same time, we recognize the real challenges of aging, especially among older adults who are economically disadvantaged, those who are living with a physical or cognitive disability or medical condition, those who are unhoused, and those who are members of a marginalized community.
We have a culturally aware and intersectional approach to our work, recognizing that the experience of aging is impacted by other identities, including but not limited to race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, and ability. We also work intergenerationally, and we seek to support older adults who are raising children and grandchildren. We provide services and programs in a number of different languages, including English and Spanish.
For folks age 50+ in Denver, we:
Foster a sense of intrinsic worth
Provide resources (tech, tools, information) to solve problems
Provide opportunities for learning and growth
Create experiences that cultivate joy
Provide opportunities for connection
Work toward a library, community, and culture that is age positive and anti-ageist and that treats older adults with warmth and respect
Our programming and services areas for older adults include but are not limited to:
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Caregiving
Mindfulness
Creative Aging
Lifelong Information (health, financial wellness, government benefits, etc.)
Lifelong Learning
Technology Skills
Older Adult Literacy
Death/Dying
Grief and Loss
Anti-ageism
Community Engagement
Alleviation of Social Isolation
Health Equity
Intergenerational Engagement
If you are hired as the OAS Library Programming Associate you will:
Support the OAS Program Manager and OAS Program Administrator to provide programs and services for older adults throughout Denver that meet the social, emotional, and developmental needs of people as they age.
Create and facilitate programs at branch libraries, at offsite community partner locations, and outreach locations in the program service areas listed above.
Build and maintain community relationships through outreach to senior living sites, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and organizations that support older adults.
Take a culturally-responsive, intersectional approach to your work.
Advise library staff and others in the community about best practices in serving older adults.
Work toward creating an anti-ageist library and community.
Handle external communication for OAS programs and services, including but not limited to social media content creation, flyer creation and distribution, and writing high quality and informative program descriptions for DPL’s monthly Engage magazine and library website.
Stay up to date with training and internal communications regarding external program marketing.
Handle internal communication for OAS programs and services, including but not limited to content creation to promote OAS program and services within the library system.
Manage program budgets.
Field customer questions and requests about OAS programs and services.
Assist in the creation of programming menus and materials for system wide focus months.
Provide customer service to library patrons.
About You
The ideal candidate for this position has:
Expertise in one or more of the programming services areas described above.
Knowledge and experience in developing and presenting programs for older adults and/or programs for the dementia community.
Ability to travel all over Denver and present programs and services in geographically diverse locations
Ability to thrive working in an environment with constant public contact with people from all backgrounds and age groups, including people without English language proficiency.
Ability to facilitate group conversations
Ability to work remotely and at any of our 27 locations on various days at various time
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
Familiarity with and investment in Denver Public LIbrary’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
Only applicants who meet the following minimum qualifications will be considered:
A Bachelor's degree in a related field of study (for example, gerontology, social work, physical therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, psychology, education, and so on) OR appropriate related experience in place of the education requirement.
At least two years of related experience
Reliable transportation
The following qualifications are strongly preferred, but not required:
Experience programming for older adults and/or people with Alzheimer’s/dementia
Proficiency in a language other than English
Demonstrated knowledge of the needs of older adults.
Applicants who are themselves older adults (that is, age 50+) are strongly encouraged to apply
Please provide a resume and cover letter with your application highlighting your relevant skills. Your cover letter should explain with specificity why you are interested in the position.
Applications without a cover letter will NOT be considered.
We expect this position to close on 6/4/2024. Please submit a resume and cover letter at your earliest convenience.
About Everything Else
Job Profile
LA2397 Library Program Associate
To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.
Position Type
Unlimited
Library Hiring Range
$22.76 - $28.45
Assessment Requirement
The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.
It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.
Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.