Youth Services Associate

KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY • Kansas City, MO

2h • Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Central Youth Services Manager, the Youth Services Associate promotes youth services and programs and provides readers advisory and reference services to customers in person and by telephone. The role also participates in maintaining children’s and young adult collections.

The position is based at the Central Library, where the primary workspace is shared with co-workers and patrons from a diverse socioeconomic community. It is scheduled for 20 hours per week: Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Compensation is $20.28 per hour.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to interact successfully with the public and staff, particularly children and teens.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work effectively and plan programs.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of professional and paraprofessional library work, including the information interview.
• Demonstrated knowledge of children’s and young adult literature and youth services.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Skill in operating electronic equipment or demonstrated ability to learn.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Demonstrated ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to effectively communicate in and understand English.
• Bachelor's degree and/or applicable work experience.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working in libraries.
• Previous experience working with youth.
• Proficiency in non-English languages used in the Kansas City area, including American Sign Language, Vietnamese, French, Arabic, and Swahili.

Responsibilities

• Provide information, readers advisory, community referrals, and reference services to youth services patrons to support effective use of library resources.
• Guide patrons in using library resources, recommend and retrieve materials, promote and accept requests for materials in circulation or elsewhere in the system, and provide reference support.
• Maintain courteous and effective working relationships with library patrons.
• Assist with maintaining the youth services collection, contribute to assessing community needs, and create displays, teacher collections, and Bibliocommons lists.
• Maintain effective and courteous working relationships with library staff at the location and across Central departments through in-person, telephone, and email contact.
• Perform related work and undertake special projects as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time