Manager- Children/Youth Services

City of Detroit•Michigan, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under administrative direction, this role plans, coordinates, and manages the children/youth operations, programs, services, and personnel in an assigned Library Branch within the Detroit Public Library (DPL) system. The position involves planning and developing cooperative projects in the community, maintaining relevant collections, providing quality customer service, and supporting organizational goals. The Manager works under the administrative direction of the Library – Assistant Director – Branch Services and exercises supervisory responsibility.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution
Three years of public library management or supervisory librarian experience in children/youth services
Experience that includes staff supervision and budgetary responsibility
Must possess a valid State of Michigan Driver’s License
Knowledge of managerial, organizational, and leadership principles and practices.
Knowledge of principles and practices of library science.
Knowledge of community requirements and issues impacting library services.
Knowledge of collection management principles and practices.
Knowledge of reference and circulation processes and procedures.
Knowledge of books and electronic information technologies, including current and future trends in computing technologies.
Knowledge of significant authors, associations and publishers of books and reference sources in the assigned field.
Knowledge of project/program planning and management principles and practices.
Knowledge of public and community relations principles and practices.
Knowledge of other pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Knowledge of modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
Knowledge of public library operations, services, and policies.
Knowledge of budget monitoring and management methods and techniques.
Knowledge of supervisory principles, practices, and methods.
Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures.
Skill in interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
Skill in managing and coordinating library operations within a large public library system, including special projects.
Skill in ensuring the delivery of high-quality library programs and services to the community.
Skill in supervising and coordinating the development and maintenance of library collections.
Skill in selecting materials and collections of contemporary significance and of permanent value.
Skill in library research techniques, including the use of technology.
Skill in problem solving and decision-making.
Skill in program design and development.
Skill in presenting ideas and concepts orally (including public speaking) and in writing.
Skill in working cooperatively with internal and external customers in a professional, friendly and cooperative manner.
Skill in responding to inquiries in effective oral and written communications.
Skill in utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Library and department staff, board members, outside agencies, and the general public.
Skill in budget preparation, management and administration.
Skill in supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.

Nice To Haves

Preferably in a multi-sited non-profit or public sector environment

Responsibilities

Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
Coaches, trains and motivates staff; coordinates and/or provides staff training; and assists with managing employee relations; assists with managing the workflow and prioritization of projects and measures the performance of the department and all related staff and recommends or suggests appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff; develops developmental work plans for staff; recommends corrective actions, discipline and termination procedures as appropriate/necessary.
Performs a variety of administration responsibilities for assigned DPL branch location; assesses the position of the branch in the community to determine the direction for programs and materials acquisition; sets overall goals for the branch; evaluates locations of and makes necessary location changes of branch materials; collects and maintains branch data on circulation and service statistics for various reports and for community profile updates; prepares and submits branch data reports as requested/scheduled; coordinates and conducts annual inventory of branch equipment and furniture; and represents the branch at informational and planning meetings and relays pertinent information and direction received back to branch staff.
Provides a variety of customer service functions for assigned branch location; provides reference desk duties including locating or helping patrons locate requested materials and information; provides information and referral service for patrons in need of various services; places holds/requests into library operating system for materials not available at the local branch; phones customer to inform them when requested books/materials have arrived; maintains preference profiles of regular customers to set new books aside as they arrive; resolves customer disputes regarding fines, unreturned library materials, staff or customer conduct, and other various complaints; uses library computerized operating systems to check the status of patron records, place hold requests, and to update patron records.
Substitutes for other librarians, and for managers at other branch locations; solves patron computer and peripheral equipment problems; monitors branch programs and adjusts services and programs as needed; types and submits Track-It work orders for problems with telephones, computers, and printers; responds to inquiries and follows up with patrons on unresolved problems.
Manages and administers a relevant collection for assigned branch location; purchases books and materials, continuations, and subscriptions to periodicals; acquires information from government sources and arranges in logical and useful way; directs the elimination and weeding of items not useful to the branch and Library’s mission; tracks request from patrons for materials not available at the branch and orders said materials when appropriate; prepares ongoing order lists in relevant ordering databases of materials to be ordered; revises database item records for new books and tracks item records in system database; identifies items to be sent to the bindery and edits item records accordingly; identifies donates withdrawn books to schools; procures donations of new books; and administers assigned budgets in order to maintain a relevant collection.
Plans, develops and conducts children/youth programs appropriate for the assigned branch community; designs, prepares, and distributes flyers and other media materials announcing branch programs; maintains meeting and conference room calendars and schedules; obtains and submits contracts and other associated forms for all program presenters; provides material support for branch book clubs; promotes and supports the library’s marketing strategies and activities by volunteering for programs, serving on committees, working with the Marketing and Communications department on developing programs and helping with the creation and dissemination of publicity; visits schools, community events, and other institutions to promote and represent the library and it’s programs.
Works closely with the branch custodial staff to ensure that the building is clean and in good repair inside and out; ensures grounds are neatly maintained with grass mowed, shrubs trimmed, and debris and litter removed; prepares and submits Track-It work orders online for all needed building or grounds repairs and maintenance; follows up with phone calls and/or e-mails for any work orders not completed in a timely manner; completes requisitions for furniture, equipment, supplies needed for optimum operation of the branch; arranges for substitute custodial staff as needed; responds to complaints from community members about the building such as fumes, sewer backups, and graffiti.
Provides direction and support to contracted guards; ensures the building is properly locked and security alarm system is set a close of each business day; completes Serious Incident Reports for problems in the branch; confers regularly with contract guard’s Field Supervisor, as well as DPL Security Manager to discuss branch security concerns; counsels child and young adult patrons regarding negative behavior in the library; meets with parents or guardians of problem youth in the cases of repeated behavior problems; maintains file of problem patrons, including recording behavior documentation and when appropriate, submits a written request to administration for the barring of a problem patron; stays at the branch past closing when underage children are not picked up prior to closing; and contacts police if children are not picked up within 30 minutes of closing.
Maintains an awareness of and fosters relationship with individuals, groups, and organizations in the community as they relate to the assigned branch and the library as a whole; shares program information with neighborhood newsletters and area businesses.
Provides support to the Library – Assistant Director – Branch Services on matters as directed; participates on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Library policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
Ensures an environment of customer-responsive services, providing customer-responsive service and handling customer service issues.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.