MFPL Youth Services Programming Specialist (Programming, Cataloging + Teens)

Job Summary

As part of the Youth Services Programming Team, this position reports to the Youth Services Librarian and Library Director. The specialist provides library services to children and young adults, including, but not limited to: reference and reader’s advisory (10%), planning and executing programs for children and teens, including the Teen Volunteer Program (65%), cataloging youth materials (20%) and other duties as assigned to support the Programming Department and Library operations (5%).

Education and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Experience working with children and/or teens

Preferred:

• Experience working in a public library

• Experience in program delivery

• Familiar with G-Suite products for professional communication

Schedule: 38-40 hours a week (Full-Time), with alternating weekend hours. This position requires working Thursdays 12pm - 8pm and Fridays 10am - 6pm.

Benefits: This position pays $21 - $24.50 hourly. Employees are eligible for immediate PTO accrual based on their hours worked, and matching 6% retirement savings. Insurance premiums for Full-Time employees are covered 100% by the Library District after 90 days’ employment.

Skills and Abilities

People-Oriented: the ideal candidate has excellent customer service skills, enjoys working with others and serving the public

Team Player: the ideal candidate is flexible, creative, and collaborative – willing to offer and receive help in response to change

Lifelong Learner: the ideal candidate has a broad scope of knowledge and remains curious about new ideas, initiatives and information

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assist patrons and families 

   1. Provide Reference and Reader’s Advisory assistance to library users

   2. Recommend materials and resources for research and homeschooling

2. Manage some youth programming -- either by planning and conducting programs themselves, or by contracting program/workshop leaders -- including but not limited to:

   1. Weekly “Teen Thursday” program (rotating activities to include cooking, games, arts/crafts, anime/movie nights, adulting classes, STEM/Makerspace projects)

   2. Weekly “Tween Club” program (rotating activities to include cooking, games, arts/crafts, movie nights, karaoke, STEM/Makerspace projects, etc.)

   3. Weekly “Crafty Tuesday” program (simple drop-in craft for PreK and School-Age children)

   4. Weekly or bi-weekly Storytime offerings

   5. Passive programming (genre bookmarks, recommended reads, displays, and take-home activities)

3. Coordinates with Youth Services Department staff regarding scheduling and program development

4. Manages the Teen Volunteer Program

   1. Creates the seasonal Teen Volunteer Application and monitors responses 

   2. Communicates responsibilities and expectations to accepted volunteers, including training and orientation, and monitors their work

   3. Schedules volunteers for program and library help

   4. Tracks attendance and volunteer hours (orders awards as necessary)

   5. Plans and organizes annual Volunteer Appreciation Party

5. Collaborate with Youth Services Team to plan and execute seasonal library programming

   1. Library Trick or Treat

   2. Polar Express Festival

   3. Literary Festival

   4. Summer Library Program

6. Catalog library resources 

   1. YA and Juvenile materials (other library collections as needed)

   2. Processes and relabels library materials as needed

7. Provide assistance at the Information Desk with the following:

   1. Assist patrons in registering for a library card

   2. Check in and check out library materials to patrons

   3. Collect fines for library materials

   4. Answer patron questions at the front desk

   5. Provide assistance to patrons with technology questions

   6. Shelve library materials when needed

8. Staff the Youth Services Information Desk on a regular schedule

9. Maintain tidiness and organization of teen collections/shelving and areas, including displays, signage, seating areas, etc. as well as in youth services storage, office, filing and working areas

10. Attend conferences and workshops and keeps abreast of current trends and emerging technologies, issues and research in librarianship; participates in professional organizations and meets with other local library program coordinators to share ideas and strengthen skills

11. Contribute to the Youth Services Team’s monthly report for the Library Director and Board of Trustees

12. Fill in for other members of the Youth Services Team and Programming Team as needed