SALARY: $27.49 Hourly
COMP. GROUP/RANGE: 33/01
JOB TYPE: LIMITED TERM FULL TIME
DEPARTMENT: Madison Public Library
OPENING DATE: 01/22/19
CLOSING DATE: 02/13/19 11:59 PM
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Serving Teens at Madison Public Library
Madison Public Library offers resources, experiences, and spaces for teens with the goal of developing lifelong learners, self-advocates and engaged community members. The library provides free and equitable access to cultural and educational content that celebrate ideas, promote creativity, connect people, and enrich lives.
Why We Serve Teens
Resources and programs for adolescents are a fundamental, integral part of library services. Teens need skills, tools, and resources, which the library can provide, in order to be fully-participating members of society. Library staff strives to work with teens and teen-serving professionals to advocate for the needs of teens in the community. (YALSA’s Future of Library Services for Teens)
How We Serve Teens
Madison Public Library is dedicated to serving all teens in Madison with access to diverse collections, safe community spaces, and technology. All library staff play a role in providing superior service and access to resources for the adolescent population in Madison. Teen Services Librarians strive to offer extended access to targeted underserved and underrepresented populations and groups. Programmatic efforts for teenagers are focused on building relationships that work toward bridging the opportunity gap in Dane County through targeted, skill-based programs designed for library patrons and traditionally underserved teenagers.
About This Position
This Teen Librarian position is a three (3) year limited-term position based out of the Lakeview Library and will serve youth on the Northside of Madison. This position will focus on collaborations with many key community partners as well as working with neighborhood residents and the Neighborhood Resource Team (NRT) to identify community needs and develop engaging learning opportunities for youth in this neighborhood.
The Lakeview Teen Services Librarian will coordinate, collaborate and work closely with the Lakeview Youth Services Librarian to provide assistance and programming for youth both inside and outside of the library building. This position is also part of an exceptional citywide Youth Services team who strategically coordinate services throughout all nine Madison neighborhood libraries and in outreach locations across the City of Madison.
About You
You have a passion for working with middle school and high school youth in creative and engaging ways that promote literacy and learning. Equally, you have a passion for working with the community and developing relationships with people and organizations. You are flexible, and can plan and carry out programs and services. You have a deep commitment to principles of racial equity, inclusion, and social justice. You have a good understanding of library practices and principles. You are a good communicator, both in writing and in speech.
About The Madison Public Library
The Madison Public Library is an award-winning library system, dedicated to celebrating ideas, promoting creativity, connecting people, and enriching lives. Working for Madison Public Library means working alongside a highly talented and truly outstanding group of people. And, we don’t just excel in traditional library services: The Bubbler has received national attention for taking the makerspace concept into new and exciting directions; our Youth Services Librarians are teaching educators, home-visiting nurses and neighborhood center staff about literacy best-practices for youth; and Community Engagement Librarians are collaborating with local experts to offer classes for businesses, job skills, and technology classes for adults. Our spaces also shine, with a new community kitchen supporting youth nutrition and community meals at our Meadowridge Library, while the fully equipped Media Lab in our Central Library uses experts in the field to teach everything from audio engineering to video game design to Photoshop. Madison Public Library is bigger than our buildings, though – our focus is community engagement and empowerment – both within and outside the library walls. We are in the business of changing lives.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
PROGRAMMING:
Programmatic efforts for teenagers are focused on building relationships that work toward bridging the opportunity gap in Dane County through targeted, skill-based programs designed for library patrons and traditionally underserved teenagers.
In the Library –
Plan, implement and evaluate programming in the library to meet the diverse needs of youth in Madison, including children ages 8 to 18.
In the Community –
Collaborate with teen-serving professionals, especially those who serve teenage residents who may otherwise lack access or opportunity, to develop meaningful programs for youth.
PARTNERSHIPS:
In the Library –
Programming and services to teens will be done in collaboration with the MPL Teen Librarian Team, as well as the Lakeview Youth Service Librarian, the Lakeview Library staff and the system-wide Youth Services Team. Help build and support an environment in the library wherein all staff are engaged with and supporting services to teens.
In the Community –
Develop & maintain relationships with teen-serving professionals, and those with resources of interest to the teenage population
BE A RESOURCE:
Advocate for the diverse needs of teens.
• For library staff – be present out in the library during high-traffic times of days.
• For parents/caregivers – connect with caregivers around needs and issues of youth.
• For community partners – link community partners to resources.
PROVIDE REFERENCE DESK COVERAGE:
Provide reference desk assistance to help cover lunches, breaks, and weekends, as needed.
Perform other related work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an ALA accredited library school with a master’s degree in library and/or information science/studies.
If an applicant does not possess the specific requirements outlined above, Human Resources will review the application materials to determine if the applicant possesses the following equivalent experience:
Four years experience in applying the following:
• Library science theories, principles, practices, and terminology applicable to a public library and community engagement.
Two years experience in applying the following:
• Automated and manual library systems.
• Library reference and/or collection development strategies and resources.
• Computer software applicable to the duties of the position.
Familiarity with the following:
• Principles and practices of library services for children and teens.
• Teen growth and development.
• Relevant technology and disparate electronic resources, including social media, online databases and office productivity tools.
• Literature and curriculum relevant to teens and constantly evolving trends and pop culture interests of teens.
Ability to:
• Design, implement and evaluate marketing for the teen audience.
• Prepare young people to remain lifelong learners.
• Constructively engage teens to enable them to participate effectively and to develop their own skills and assets.
• Creatively plan, promote, carry out and evaluate programs.
• Participate in the promotion, development and organization of teen collections in relevant formats.
• Be an advocate for teens.
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.
For a complete list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, please reference the Librarian 1 classification specification.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
– Possession of a valid driver’s license.
– Ability to attend scheduled events outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Physical Requirements:
Employees in this position must be able to lift/carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds (equivalent to a bucket of books) and must be capable of pushing wheeled carts of books and other materials weighing up to 200 pounds onto and off elevators and across carpeted areas. In addition, they must be able to frequently stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, reach overhead, and repeatedly lift books weighing as much as three pounds.
Original posting / application information