Public Services Librarian I – Part-time
https://careers-cityofevanston.icims.com/jobs/1258/public-services-librarian-i-part-time/job
To apply for this position, please apply online at www.cityofevanston.org on or before the closing date.
18.75 per week, permanent part-time
Schedule (subject to change): three 6.25 hour shifts per week Monday-Friday with one being an evening shift (3:15pm - 9:30pm) per week plus a weekend rotation every 3-4 weeks
NATURE OF WORK:
The Library envisions itself as the “third place” after home and work or school. Evanston Public Library aims to be the heart of our diverse community by promoting the development of independent, self-confident and literate citizens, and providing equitable access to cultural, intellectual, technological, and information resources.
As a member of the Adult Services team, and in partnership with colleagues in other library departments, this position is responsible for providing library reference and reader’s advisory services to current and potential users of the Evanston Public Library throughout the community.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):
- Carefully interviews customers to determine what information is desired and provide clear, accurate and timely answers to all customer inquiries.
- Conducts informational searches using all available resources, including subscription online resources, the Internet, books, and periodicals.
- Guides customers to library resources in order to locate specific materials. Assists and instructs customers in the use of library resources.
- Maintains broad general knowledge of Evanston Public Library resources and programs with special concentration in adult services resources, of modern library practices, and of literature, technology and popular culture.
- Assists in the planning, promotion, and presentation of effective programming, both within the Library and out in the community, such as, but not limited to, book discussions, author events, art exhibits and artist talks, film programs, musical or theatre events, genre-based programming, panel discussions or expert speaker presentations.
- Assists in selection of materials to be added to assigned areas of the collection.
- Assists in the development of partnerships with local organizations and constituencies to improve and promote library services throughout the community.
- Assists with promotion of the collections and services by developing displays, book lists, writing reviews and articles for social media and blogs.
- May help design and teach classes for the public on computer use, Internet use, or the use of digital resources.
- May develop and maintain in-house databases for local history, local organizations and services, local newspaper indexes, and/or frequently asked questions.
- May train and supervise paraprofessional, professional or volunteer staff; and/or lead projects.
- May serve as senior staff member in charge of the building (Librarian-in-charge).
- Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
- Must possess a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an accredited college or university and must possess three (3) or more years of work experience as a public services librarian or similar position.
- Literacy and fluency in Spanish preferred.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:
- Fluency in using social media and online library resources.
- Considerable knowledge of online searching, Microsoft Office, online computer catalogs, the Windows operating system, and Google Drive, Calendar, and Sheets.
- Considerable experience in library instruction and library program presentation.
- Considerable knowledge of a wide range of literary genres and authors.
- Ability to communicate effectively, comfortably and intelligibly in public.
- Experience in marketing, especially related to libraries or publishing, highly desirable.
- Experience in teaching, tutoring, tech assistance, and/or instructional design is highly desirable.
- Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form, while dealing with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide all units of measure to perform the four operations with like or common decimal fractions; to compute ratio rate, and percent and measures; to perform arithmetic operations involving all American monetary units.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of customers and staff throughout the Library, as well as outside the organization.
- Ability to multi-task many variable duties, requests and responsibilities.
- Ability to read, understand and interpret manuals, policies and procedures, rules, regulations, journals, newspapers, memos, letters, reports and legal documents.
- Ability to prepare business letters, expositions, summaries, and reports, using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
The ability to work in a primarily sedentary position, with the ability to occasionally use force to exert up to 20 pounds. The ability to lift, carry or otherwise move objects, books, materials, etc. using up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
The employee is subject to inside environmental conditions: protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from indoor temperature changes.
There are no environmental hazards associated with this classification.
SUPERVISION:
Under the supervision of the Head of Adult Services, work is performed with the guidance of managerial staff. The individual has contact with other Library institutions and staff at all levels, and uses the necessary resources to meet and achieve goals and/or objectives. Work is assigned through specific projects and customer/clientele request. The employee is responsible for prioritizing work tasks, and for identifying and utilizing the appropriate resources to resolve a problem or situation and/or research and analyze specific requests. Work performance is reviewed through observation, completion of projects, status reports, conferences and meetings. Guidance is provided through the City Code, departmental policies, City operating practices and procedures, and other resources as applicable to specific projects assigned. Work is evaluated at least annually, with respect to customer service, problem-solving ability and performance in accordance with this classification standard.
PUBLIC CONTACT:
The employee has regular and frequent contact with the general public.
Chosen candidates will be required to provide proof of licenses, certifications, and education required for this position. Candidates will also be subject to qualifying pre-employment processes, including medical examination, drug/alcohol screen, employment verification, and criminal background check.
The City of Evanston is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person’s race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. The City of Evanston is also committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Any person needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact Human Resources at 847-448-8204 (voice) or 847-448-8052 (TTY).