Upper School Librarian

Fessenden School•West Newton, MA

5d•$64,250 - $98,650

About The Position

The Upper School Librarian at The Fessenden School is an energetic educator, collaborator, and connector who works closely with faculty and students in Grades 7-9 to cultivate a love of reading, strengthen information literacy, and design meaningful learning experiences that integrate research, technology, creativity, and critical thinking. Candidates must be able to design, implement, and adjust curriculum to integrate into Upper School classes based on student needs and departmental and library goals. Grounded in the developmental needs of early adolescents, the Librarian communicates with young people in a way that respects their humanity while exciting their curiosity about the world. The Librarian also acts as a faculty advisor and performs other duties to contribute to the Upper School community. Attention to detail, commitment to professional development, the ability to maintain a vibrant, welcoming space, and willingness to assist and support all Fessenden students, colleagues, and other librarians are also key. The Upper School Librarian brings joy, humor, and strong relationships to their work and plays a vital role in advancing the school’s mission to develop each boy’s character, mind, and body in a joyful and inclusive community. The Wheeler Library team of Upper, Middle, and Lower School librarians works together to provide a vibrant, forward-thinking, and coherent program for boys in Pre-K through Grade 9.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Have a passion for and current knowledge of children’s, middle grade, and young adult literature, and be able to inspire that in others
Experience or background in teaching or education
Experience in a library setting
Commitment to professional development
Strong communication skills and enthusiasm for working with middle school boys
Ability to build relationships, manage groups of students, and foster an engaging learning environment
Ability to perform critical thinking, organization, prioritization, and problem-solving with minimal supervision
Ability to collaborate with a diverse community of colleagues, students, and families
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice
Passion for boys’ education and adolescent development
Successful background check

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science (MLS/MLIS) from an ALA-accredited institution (or equivalent)
Experience working with young adolescent students
Knowledge of Information Literacy skills and AASL standards, and willingness to remain current in these topics
Interest and/or familiarity with makerspaces and project-based learning
Working understanding of the uses/misuses of Artificial Intelligence in a school setting and willingness to learn more
Familiarity with one or more of the following tools and platforms: Alexandria or similar library management systems SORA/OverDrive Google Workspace WordPress or similar website platforms Mac and Chromebook environments

Responsibilities

Serves as a teacher and collaborator, partnering with faculty to design learning experiences aligned with curriculum goals and AASL standards
Curates and promotes a diverse, inclusive, and engaging collection that reflects our community and provides windows into a wide array of experiences that help to expand our students’ world views. We aim for our collection to support boys’ identities, interests, and academic growth
Uses a current understanding of children’s and Young Adult literature to inspire a culture of reading by connecting boys with books, authors, genres, and ideas both in and beyond the library
Helps students develop strong research, information literacy (including AI literacy), and digital citizenship skills, empowering them to navigate information thoughtfully and ethically
Closely collaborates with the Wheeler Library and Ciongoli Center for Innovation teams to support students in their journey through design thinking, research, and creative problem solving
Embraces growth, experimentation, and collaboration in a school culture that values professional learning and innovation
Build meaningful relationships with boys in Grades 7–9 in general, and directly support the academic and personal growth of a smaller group as a faculty advisor
Supervise and support students in the library space and during assigned faculty duties
Attend daily Upper School morning meetings and weekly X-Block assemblies or clubs
Collaborate with faculty to design and support inquiry-based, project-based, and interdisciplinary learning experiences
Teach and support information literacy, innovation, and research skills
Promote reading and literature appreciation through creative programming, book talks, displays, and curated reading lists, including a Summer Reading List
Incorporate executive function support, educational technology, differentiated instruction, and culturally responsive practices into lessons
Participate in professional development opportunities
Support and manage library and school technology systems, including Google Workspace, SORA/OverDrive, and Alexandria
Maintain curriculum documentation and student learning materials
Maintain current knowledge of circulation records and overdue notices for Grades 7-9 and Upper School faculty
Assist with book fairs, library teas, and other events
Evaluate and help select print and electronic resources to support Upper School curricular needs, in collaboration with Upper School faculty and Library Team
Support makerspace tools, emerging technologies, and website design (with training and support provided as needed)
Participate in Library Department, Upper School, grade-level, divisional, and full-faculty meetings
Uphold and model the school’s core values of honesty, compassion, and respect.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance
Complete required certifications and trainings, including CPR/AED, First Aid, and child abuse prevention