Youth Services Associate

Christian County Library•Nixa, MO

9d•$16 - $17

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 and welcoming branch environment. The role plans and presents youth programs and storytimes, supports reading challenges and passive activities, maintains youth collections, and assists patrons with reference questions, readers’ advisory, library technology, and circulation services. The position also provides outreach to schools and community organizations and supports service-desk operations as needed. This is a part-time position of approximately 20–24 hours per week, scheduled Monday through Saturday and including some evenings. The beginning salary is $16–$17. The position requires 1–2 years of library experience or 30 college credit hours. Experience working with children and teens and college credits emphasizing education are preferred.

Requirements

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 products, 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 maintain assigned duties and responsibilities to achieve desired outcomes.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, and through 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.
Ability to perform tasks on a ladder for decoration and display purposes.
Frequently move about or position oneself to access materials and equipment on the floor, in bins, and on shelves up to 6 feet high; frequently move up to 50 pounds and rolling carts and bins weighing up to 300 pounds.
Frequently move about or position oneself to maintain cleanliness of children’s and teen areas.
Regularly operate a computer, printer, barcode scanner, and other office equipment.
Occasionally work outdoors in 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 youth programs for ages 0–18, including regular storytimes for ages 0–18 months or up to age 6.
Assist with planning and implementing annual library reading challenges, including the Summer Reading Challenge.
Record program statistics and evaluate program effectiveness.
Maintain knowledge of trends in youth programming and literature.
Prepare book lists and promotional literature as assigned.
Pursue regular professional development opportunities.
Make programming purchases within the approved budget.
Prepare passive activities for the children’s and teen areas.
Conduct youth library tours as requested.
Assist the branch manager and administration with special projects and tasks.
Travel to other branches as needed to assist with programs.
Help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment in youth areas; monitor those areas and enforce policy as needed.
Promote programs and assist patrons with 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, the internet, and library databases.
Guide patrons in locating materials, help place holds including through MOBIUS or interlibrary loan, and teach patrons to use digital collection resources.
Respond to varied patron inquiries using reference interview techniques and recommend materials using readers’ advisory tools and methods.
Plan, promote, travel to, and provide outreach services for schools, preschools, daycares, and community organizations.
Represent the library at occasional community outreach events, promote the library, and work with the Outreach Department as needed.
Staff the service desk as needed, including checking in and processing returned materials, assessing item condition, shelving materials, and maintaining patron and materials records.
Register patrons for library cards, add charges for lost or damaged materials, process incoming and outgoing holds, and contact patrons about holds.
Accept cash, check, and credit card payments for overdue, damaged, or lost items; issue receipts as needed; and collect payments for printing, photocopies, and faxes.
Communicate effectively, promptly, thoroughly, and respectfully with coworkers, administration, and IT regarding work matters, scheduling, procedures, policies, technology issues, and related needs; use the IT ticketing system.