About Our Job
The Denver Public Library (DPL) isn't just a place to borrow books; it's a vibrant, essential hub for our diverse city. As a growing urban library system with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors, we're deeply woven into the fabric of Denver.
Join a team where your values align with your work. At the Denver Public Library, we're not just serving our community; we're building a culture guided by values that empower both our staff and the public.
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Welcoming: We make our resources, services, and expertise accessible for all, recognize the inherent dignity in each person, and provide safe places where everyone can be themselves.
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Curiosity: We foster a culture of exploration, innovation, and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.
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Connection: We are neighbors. We foster relationships, listen and act to build and strengthen our community. We bring people together to share information, ideas, and experiences.
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Equity: We work to change inequitable practices, structures and policies, and attitudes that drive them, to provide opportunities for every person in our community to thrive. As we do so, we actively examine our roles in perpetuating oppressive systems.
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Stewardship: We are accountable to our community, using our resources responsibly. We lead with honesty and integrity, protect privacy and preserve and share the full history of our Denver community.
If you're passionate about service, community engagement, and creating positive change, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come join a team that believes in the power of knowledge, connection, and equity.
Unrivaled Benefits
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The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:
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Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance
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Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer matches at 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan
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PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), 4 paid wellness days, and 12 paid holidays
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CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits
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Enhanced Work/Life Balance: Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program
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Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources
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EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)
For more information please visit our website.
About Our Branch
The Mobile Services and Outreach Department’s reach spans across the city of Denver, meeting community members where they are to provide library services and access. The Mobile Services and Outreach 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.
This recruitment will be used to fill multiple 2 year term positions
About Our Position
DPL is currently hiring four Library Program Associates for a term limit of 2-years .As a Library Program Associate your job will be to design dynamic outreach and programming opportunities, implement library services to a diverse customer base, strengthen community connections, and provide daily bookmobile service. Your primary location will operate out of the Central Library, however, DPL reserves the right to reassign locations based upon operational and/or staffing needs at any given time.
This role provides 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, help navigate technology, and perform clerking and shelving duties while providing bookmobile service and driving large vehicles daily. 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.
What You Would Bring
Our ideal candidate has:
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Excellent customer service skills.
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Knowledge and experience with community engagement practices.
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Ability to listen to and evaluate community needs and design services and programming to meet those needs including the ability to facilitate group conversations.
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Ability to work in a physically demanding environment with continuous lifting of objects weighing up to 50 lbs and moving heavy carts in tight spaces. Much of this work is done in an outdoor environment.
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Ability to provide equitable and empathetic customer service drawn from lived experiences and knowledge of EDI concepts and practices.
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Ability to create a welcoming environment for all ages.
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Knowledge of positive youth development practices or experience (personal or professional) working with youth.
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Skill in using and assisting customers with technology.
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Experience with program design and evaluation.
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Ability to work independently.
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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.
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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.
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Knowledge of presenting and providing library services to customers with varying levels of experience and knowledge.
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Skill in choosing appropriate materials for programming and outreach.
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Ability to safely operate large vehicles varying from around 20 to 35 feet in length. A Commercial Drivers License is not required.
Minimum Qualifications:
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Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET, or TASC Certificate.
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Three (3) years of technical or administrative experience performing standard research and evaluation, preparing and presenting course work or programs, or implementing work processes.
Work Environment & Location
The Denver Public Library's branches are the arms to the community—each a unique reflection of the dynamic, diverse communities we serve. At DPL, we pride ourselves on showing up and providing support whenever there is a need. While you may be hired for a specific location, please know that we are hiring with the expectation that at any time, you may be required to work at any one of our branches based on operational needs. This allows our staff to experience the full breadth of Denver's communities and ensures we consistently deliver the highest level of service across our branches.
DPL employees may be redeployed to work in other locations or capacities to support core functions of the library system during branch closures or other emergencies.
Application & Additional Info
Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Job postings will close at 12AM on the posted ending date. If interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible. Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history and employment verification. All Denver Public Library employees must apply through their internal profile.
Ready to learn more and see how you can contribute? Visit us at denverlibrary.org and connect with our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.