Job Description
POSITION TITLE: Librarian EXTERNAL TITLE: Youth Collections Librarian
DEPARTMENT: Collection Management GRADE: 27 FTE: 1.0
POSITION DESCRIPTION: Performs all duties related to library collection development
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the supervision of the Head of Collection Management
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None
FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: Librarians and other staff members who assist with the function of materials selection and collection maintenance and Youth Services staff.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Materials Selection: Coordinate the selection of all youth materials for the Library District, including print, media, and periodicals. Select materials that meet the diverse needs of youth from birth through 18. Ensure that collections are up to date, comprehensive in scope, and responsive to the needs of patrons. Develop and follow procedures for selecting items using staff expertise, patron requests, donations and vendor plans that are efficient and make the best use of staff resources. Maintain a general knowledge of a broad range of genres, formats, publishers, school curriculum, reading levels and review sources. Keep up to date on the reading and subject interests of children and teens and select materials to best meet their needs. Seek out reviews of items by local and state authors for materials of local interest. Assist in updating the Library’s Collection Development Policy and ensure that staff understand and follow the policy.
2. Youth Services: Actively contribute public service hours to the Youth Services department, including staffing of Information desk or other outreach/programming opportunities. Provide expert reference service to children and parents; remain knowledgeable of Library’s resources, including physical and electronic collections, as well as available programs. Assure that youth collections and their organization best suit users and staff. Act as liaison between Youth Services and Collection Management to meet the needs of both departments.
3. Collection Maintenance: Work with Librarians and Branch Managers to assess collections. Ensure that collections at all Library locations are evaluated on an annual basis and that out of date, worn, and low circulating items are weeded from the collection. Direct the work of material selectors working with the collection. Use gathered information to best direct collection development and meet patron needs. Assist with the inventory of the collection.
4. Acquisitions and Cataloging: Work with vendors and Collection Management staff to develop and implement efficient procedures to ensure that the public has the materials they want in a timely manner. Manage the youth materials budget by tracking and planning expenditures. Update bibliographic records and create item records in the library database for print, audio-visual and digital library materials, following national and local (MARMOT) professional cataloging guidelines. Assign or update subject headings, Dewey Decimal Classification numbers, and other local call numbers to database records. Perform original cataloging of library materials to national standards as needed.
5. Other Duties: Attends monthly staff meetings and training; attends external trainings as requested, stays aware of changes via staff wiki. Performs additional duties as opportunities arise that assist the department and the Library in achieving specified goals and objectives.
LIBRARIAN COMPETENCIES
CREATIVITY/INNOVATION
Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, takes risks, supports change, encourages innovation, solves problems creatively
INTEGRITY/ETHICS
Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, and conveys good news and bad.
SELF DEVELOPMENT
Seeks out and accepts feedback, is a proactive learner, takes on tough assignments to improve skills, keeps knowledge and skills up to date, turns mistakes into learning opportunities.
LIBRARY CORE COMPETENCIES
CUSTOMER FOCUS
Builds customer confidence, is committed to increasing customer satisfaction, sets achievable customer expectations, assumes responsibility for solving customer problems, ensures commitments to customers are met, solicits opinions and ideas from customers, responds to internal customers.
ADAPTABILITY/ FLEXIBILITY
Adapts to change, is open to new ideas, takes on new responsibilities, handles pressure, and adjusts plans to meet changing needs
INITIATIVE
Tackles problems and takes independent action, seeks out new responsibilities, acts on opportunities, generates new ideas, practices self-development.
ORGANIZATIONAL SAVVY
Operates within the organization's formal and informal structures, builds allies and relationships across departments, uses allies to build consensus and create results, is appropriately diplomatic, understands others' roles and perspectives, can sell projects and ideas across the organization.
TEAMWORK
Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge of library collections and collection development practices and the role of collections in meeting the needs of people of different age groups and cultural backgrounds
Knowledge and current awareness of library principles, practices, procedures, methods, materials, and philosophy
Knowledge of standard safety practices
Ability to navigate OPAC and Internet proficiently
Ability to effectively use all office technology available
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate verbally
Ability to maneuver about the library in a timely fashion
Ability to read a minimum print size equal to 10 point
Ability to tolerate dust, mold, etc. that may have accumulated on books.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
MLS or MLIS from an ALA accredited graduate program
2 – 3 years’ experience working in a public library setting
SCHEDULE:
Unpaid meal break of at least ½ hour per shift to be taken for each 5 hours scheduled.
Must be able to work a flexible schedule and to be available to work flexible hours to cover public service needs.