Job Summary: The Community Resource Navigator provides information resources to patrons dealing with mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, or exclusion/resource limitation issues and connects them to library and community resources and services. The primary focus is assisting adult patrons with these issues, assessing their needs, and connecting them to external community resources.
This is an a 30-hour per week, at-will, non-exempt position. It may include some evening and weekend hours.
Essential Functions:
- Works with patrons facing housing insecurity and complex life challenges to assess their needs and connect them to existing services such as job search assistance, mental health support, and housing aid. This is provided through various settings, including one-on-one appointments, drop-in sessions, and roving services. The position also involves staffing a library service point for two hours per week. (35%)
- Connects, builds and maintains a professional network of city/county agencies, neighborhood groups, social services agencies, volunteer organizations that provide resources, services and support to vulnerable or at-risk individuals. (20%)
- Regularly visits all library locations to address the individual needs of each BPLD location. (20%)
- Collaborates with and supports their colleagues to address situations with patrons that might benefit from community resources and services and to debrief after incidents. (15%)
- Works with the Library Resources Manager to determine training for colleagues on topics that enhance their understanding of issues related to working with patrons experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse or to focus on safely working with at-risk populations. This may include developing training modules. (10%)
Additional Responsibilities:
- Provides support in potential crisis situations through utilizing de-escalation tactics and calling external services if needed.
- Coordinates with security officers who address at-risk patrons exhibiting adverse behavior to offer resources and services to those individuals.
- Reviews current model of incident reporting and makes suggestions for efficiencies and improvements.
- Serves as a resource to the public, responding to inquiries and providing information on the various types of services, programs, and projects available for the community.
- Regularly makes independent decisions in complex situations regarding how to apply library programs and services and how to enforce library rules of conduct.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education and experience: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and work experience. Prior experience working independently with an increase in responsibilities. Experience working with at-risk populations, explicitly individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Skills: Proven interpersonal and leadership skills, and building relationships across departments. Skilled with assessment and employing de-escalation tactics. Ability to take initiative and work independently, and to set clear boundaries regarding the scope of the role. Proficient in the use of computer software, including MS Office, email, security camera and patron incident tracking systems.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Completed training on trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, and mental health first-aid.
- Previous work experience in a library setting is preferred.
- Spanish language skills and/or experience working with patrons from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Working Conditions:
Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate personal computer, office equipment. Ability to lift 40 lbs. Have and maintain acceptable background information, including criminal conviction history. Vision for reading, recording and interpreting information from printed materials and computer screens. Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities that permits the employee to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person. Ability to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities and conditions. Works primarily in clean, comfortable environment that can be occasionally noisy. Works in a setting subject to continuous interruptions and background noises.
Health and Wellness Benefits
- Group medical, dental and vision benefits to employees who work 20 hours or more per week
- Lifestyle Spending Account for all benefit-eligible employees
- Employer paid basic life and long-term disability insurance
- Employer paid employee assistance program for employees and their household members
- Health Savings or Flexible Spending Accounts for all benefit-eligible employees
- Voluntary, employee paid, group accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity plans for all benefit-eligible employees
- Employees who work 20 hours or more per week are eligible to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care
- Infant at Work Program
Time-off Benefits
- New employees accrue 4 weeks paid vacation
- 80 hours of paid sick leave per year for employees who work 20 hours or more per week
- 12 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays
- Time off for jury duty, bereavement and voting
- Pet adoption leave
- New grandparent leave
Helping Your Future
- Public Employee Retirement Association of Colorado (PERA) Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan
- PERA 401(k) Plan
- Tuition reimbursement program and student debt repayment assistance
- Paid training and professional development
Library Perks
Easy access to unlimited resources—including books, movies, programs, digital technology and more
BPLD is committed to advancing equity in our diverse community, and jobs are one great way for us to do this. Please tell us if you need accommodation for a disability to apply for this position.
Examples of this could include but are not limited to: A paper copy of the application or emailing the interview questions to you in advance via email or reading the application to an applicant with visual impairment. This is not an exhaustive list.
Please note a few things:
- If you need more time to fill out anything on the application, we recommend that you fill out the answers on a word processing document or a text file. The system times out after 30 minutes and does not retain your information. Having it on a word processing document will help in case you need to copy and paste the information back into the application.
- Uploading documents qualifications can impact the formatting of your resume. We will not discount your application if Paylocity transcription alters the formatting.
Reach us at: hr@boulderlibrary.org, and we will work with you to see if we can accommodate. Please expect that we may need 24-48 hours to review and implement any accommodation.
The BPLD is committed to advancing equity in our diverse community by providing accessible programs, print and digital materials, tools and technology, and educational opportunities. Across our five current locations, we are proud to offer resources such as a makerspace, art galleries, outdoor learning areas, a multimedia local history archive, community literacy programs, and a theater. Boulder Public Library strives to be a safe and welcoming place to all staff and patrons, alike. Through outreach, community partnerships, and volunteer-driven programs, we seek to adapt our services to those who may experience barriers to visiting our physical locations.
We circulate more than 1.5 million items annually, but we believe that a library is more than a place to borrow free materials. As a vital civic space, we provide opportunities for our more than 500,000 yearly visitors to study, host meetings, be introduced to new people or experiences, and connect to essential local services.
Our employees are part of a vibrant, uplifting workplace culture that honors the joy and commitment of meaningful public service, while still caring for the needs of the individual. Our work is highly collaborative, adaptive, inquisitive, and is always on-going. We are passionate individuals with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences and we are dedicated to our mission of connecting people, ideas and information to transform lives and strengthen our community.
External Job Ad
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/2794538