Librarian - Specialized Services

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Maine State Library is hiring a professional librarian to provide statewide, regional, and individual reference and consulting services to Maine public library staff, trustees, and other library stakeholder groups. The position specializes in governance structures of nonprofit and municipal public libraries and public library management, including knowledge of federal, state, and municipal statutes affecting human resources policy, fiscal responsibility, facilities, and other areas necessary to operate an effective public library in Maine. The librarian will lead within their specialty area on the Library Development team and provide high-quality service to Maine’s public library community. Collaboration with the team is essential. Work is performed under limited supervision, and occasional regional and statewide travel is required. The position is based in Augusta and is remote with occasional in-office time. The role includes managing a specialty portfolio, developing informational and learning resources, facilitating professional development, providing reference services, and contributing to department projects and goals. The librarian will also assess library governance and management needs, research relevant laws and policies, and serve as a liaison for one or more regions in the Maine Regional Library System.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Library Science and two years of experience in professional library work, including experience in the field of specialization, or an acceptable equivalent combination of related experience and/or training in the required specialty.
Familiarity with library policy and the ethics of librarianship.
Familiarity with Maine statutes affecting library governance, management, and services.
Ability to research complex topics in response to reference requests from library stakeholder groups.
Ability to conduct complex reference interviews on library governance and management issues.
Experience conducting legal research and summarizing legal resources for a lay audience.
Ability to facilitate and/or provide training for Maine library community members on relevant federal, state, and municipal statutes, policies, and regulations related to library management and service delivery.
Demonstrated writing ability to develop resources for professional development opportunities for library staff.
Demonstrated presentation skills, including online and virtual webinars.
Ability to work collegially with library staff, trustees, and other library stakeholder groups.
Ability to work with a diverse and independent team.
Ability to analyze, plan, and implement projects to accomplish Maine State Library mission and goals.
Ability to meet required background checks; fingerprinting may be required.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of professional experience with municipal governments and/or nonprofit organizations.
At least one year of professional experience with project management, including program evaluation.

Responsibilities

Manage the assigned specialty portfolio.
Develop informational and learning resources in a variety of formats.
Facilitate and/or deliver professional development opportunities for library staff and trustees.
Provide timely and relevant reference services to library staff, trustees, and library stakeholders.
Collaborate in achieving annual department projects and goals.
Participate in departmental and other required meetings.
Assess library staff and trustee needs related to governance and management through annual outreach, including surveys and site visits.
Research and monitor local, state, and federal statutes, regulations, and policies affecting libraries in Maine.
Facilitate workshops, training, and other learning opportunities and create related materials using research findings.
Serve as a regional liaison for one or more regions in the Maine Regional Library System.
Collaborate with regional representatives to the Maine Library Advisory Council to provide learning and networking opportunities in the assigned region.
Provide direct consulting services to libraries in the assigned region, working collaboratively with other consultants.

Benefits

13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and three or more weeks of vacation leave annually; vacation accrual increases with years of service.
Personal leave for overtime-exempt employees.
State-paid employee-only health insurance premiums, with the state paying 85%–100% depending on salary; dependent coverage is also available.
A 5% employee-only health insurance premium credit for participation in the applicable program.
State-paid employee-only dental insurance premiums.
Maine Public Employees Retirement System contributions equal to 14.06% of pay.
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
Employee assistance through the Living Resources Program.
Forty-two consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.
Additional state employee wellness benefits.