Youth Services Associate

Christian County Library•Nixa, MO

About The Position

The Youth Services Associate implements library programming and outreach for children and teens from birth through age 18 and their families, provides library services to patrons, and helps maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming branch environment. This part-time role works approximately 20–24 hours per week, Monday through Saturday, including some evenings. The beginning salary is $16–$17 per hour. The associate plans and presents youth programs, supports storytimes and reading challenges, prepares activities and promotional materials, and maintains familiarity with youth literature and programming trends. The role also staffs youth areas, assists patrons with reference and readers’ advisory services, supports outreach to schools and community organizations, and performs service desk duties as needed. Responsibilities include communicating respectfully and promptly with coworkers, administration, and IT. The position involves frequent movement around the library, handling materials and equipment, lifting and moving items and carts, and occasional outdoor work for programs or events. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Minimum of 1–2 years of library experience or 30 college credit hours.
Excellent customer service skills.
Proficient computer skills, including familiarity with the internet, office productivity software such as Google Workspace or Microsoft, and email.
Ability to work with scanners, printers, and photocopiers.
Working knowledge of reader interest levels, books, authors, and reference sources.
Working knowledge of early literacy initiatives, child development, and current education standards.
Working knowledge of automated library circulation systems and online databases.
Working knowledge of print, non-print, digital, and online information sources from publishers, the internet, libraries, and vendor-based systems.
Ability to present ideas and provide instruction, and comfort teaching and using various forms of technology with ages 0–18 in small and large groups.
Ability to adapt to multiple demands and changing priorities, learn, and embrace change.
Ability to develop or demonstrate decision-making, leadership, team-building, strategic, and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to set priorities, organize, and coordinate multiple projects.
Ability to perform assigned duties and responsibilities successfully to achieve desired outcomes.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, and by listening.
Ability to interact positively and effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and the general public.
Ability to work with minimum supervision and collaboratively in a team environment, demonstrating professional standards, good judgment, dependability, and timeliness.
Must be able to perform tasks on a ladder for decoration and display purposes.
Frequently move about or position oneself to access library materials and office equipment on the floor, in bins, and on shelves up to six feet high.
Frequently move items weighing up to 50 pounds and rolling carts and bins weighing up to 300 pounds.
Frequently move about or position oneself to maintain cleanliness in the children’s and teen areas.
Regularly operate a computer, printer, barcode scanner, and other office equipment.
Occasionally work outdoors in varying weather conditions for programs or events.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with children and teens.
College credits with an education emphasis.

Responsibilities

Plan and present programs for ages zero to eighteen, including regular storytimes for children from birth through age six.
Assist with planning and implementing annual library reading challenges, including the Summer Reading Challenge.
Record program statistics and evaluate program effectiveness.
Maintain knowledge of youth programming and literature trends; prepare book lists and promotional literature as assigned.
Pursue professional development and make programming purchases within the approved budget.
Prepare passive activities for the children’s and teen areas and conduct youth library tours as requested.
Assist the branch manager and administration with special projects and tasks, and travel to other branches as needed to assist with programs.
Help maintain clean, safe, and welcoming youth areas; monitor those areas and enforce policy as needed.
Promote programs and assist patrons with program registration.
Maintain children’s and teen collections, including shelving, straightening, shifting, and weeding.
Help ensure patrons have access to library facilities and services.
Assist patrons with the online catalog, reference materials, internet, library databases, and locating materials in the shelving arrangement.
Help patrons place holds, including through MOBIUS or interlibrary loan, and teach patrons to use the library’s digital collection.
Respond to a wide variety of patron inquiries using reference interview techniques and readers’ advisory tools.
Plan, promote, travel to, and provide outreach services for schools, preschools, daycares, community organizations, and community events; promote the library to the community.
Work with the Outreach Department as needed.
Staff the service desk as needed, including checking in and shelving returned materials, assessing item condition, and maintaining patron and materials records.
Register patrons for library cards, add charges for lost or damaged materials, and process incoming and outgoing holds.
Accept payments for overdue, damaged, and lost items and for printing, photocopies, and faxes; issue receipts as needed.
Communicate effectively, promptly, thoroughly, and respectfully with coworkers, administration, and IT, including use of the IT ticketing system.