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Adult Services Librarian - Business, Science and Technology and World Languages

City of Seattle
Full-time
On-site
Seattle Public Library - Central Library, Washington, United States
$41.69 - $50.55 USD hourly

Position Description

Invitation to Compete #44-24: Adult Services Librarian

Business, Science and Technology and World Languages 
Central Library, 1000 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
Regular, FLSA non-exempt, full-time (80 hours per two-week period)

$41.69 - $50.55 per hour

Hours will include weekdays, evenings and weekends. Anticipated regular schedule includes working every other weekend and two (2) to three (3) nights every two weeks. This is a fully in-person role. This classification is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME.

This position is open to the public and to The Seattle Public Library’s employees. Please read the How to Apply section of this bulletin for more information. This recruitment will be open until filled. Candidates are asked to submit their application materials in NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 7, 2025 for first consideration.

Overview

The Seattle Public Library is a dynamic urban library system that consists of the Central Library and 26 branch libraries and is Seattle's center of information and knowledge and one of the most popular and valued services in the city. Library staff members are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service, and caring. Staff members are committed to the Library's values of care, connection, and learning. They are equitable, demonstrate respect, engage in partnerships, and are transparent in their communications and intentions. The Library seeks to foster a culture of innovation which focuses on creativity, engagement, learning, and staff well-being and belonging. If you share these values and meet the qualifications, the Library invites you to apply for this Adult Services Librarian position.

 
The Central Library in downtown Seattle serves a diverse patron base including people experiencing homelessness, children and teens, immigrants, students, researchers, readers, and others seeking information resources, enrichment, and technology support.

We are seeking a dynamic, community-driven librarian to support the Business, Science, and Technology and World Languages collections and services at the Central Library. This librarian will also have responsibilities for offering nonfiction reference, a shared responsibility with other librarians for our world languages collections and engaging and supporting speakers of other languages.  The balance of work will typically be 60% with the Business, Science and Technology team, 25% with the World Languages work group, and 15% on committee work, special projects, and meetings.

This librarian will lead projects, develop community-focused programming, and provide basic to advanced reference help for library patrons. The ideal candidate will have interest in science and social sciences, and experience working with racially, culturally, economically diverse communities, and providing programs and services for people in non-native English speaking communities. The ability to provide reference services in other languages is an asset. 

This position requires a commitment to inclusionary and patron-centered practices as well as amplifying voices from historically marginalized communities. Writing, editing, and presentation skills are preferred. 


This librarian will be part of a team of librarians and will report to an Assistant Managing Librarian in the Reference and Reader Services department in the Downtown Region. As a member of the Downtown Region, an adult services librarian is responsible for maintaining a safe and welcoming public environment utilizing principles of de-escalation. Experience providing service for people who are insecurely housed or individuals living with addiction, or mental illness is preferred.

If you are a librarian who is both self-directed and collaborative, and you have a passion for providing superior customer service, we invite you to apply for this Adult Services Librarian position. Please be sure to tell us why this position is of interest to you.

Job Responsibilities

  • Cultural Competency: Recognition of the need to continually develop and practice cultural competence in customer service, reference services, readers’ advisory, program development, community engagement, teamwork, and leadership with communities and staff that a librarian does not identify with.
  • Community Engagement and Partnerships: Understand the role of community engagement in identifying community needs and goals, and develop relevant and responsive programs, services, and content that meet those needs. Engage with community members and organizations to develop and maintain both formal and informal relationships to realize outcomes that further community and Library goals. Understand the importance of bringing Library resources to where people are, both inside the library and spaces in the community.
  • Reference Services and Readers’ Advisory: Assist patrons of all ages and interests in finding information they need and materials that surprise and delight. Support system-wide service initiatives and strategic priorities. Develop and deliver local targeted programming for area-specific populations. Develop and maintain expertise in a wide range of information resources in order to deliver high quality reference and readers advisory service in a variety of modes (in person, phone, virtual). Ensure that information resources and the Library’s collection reflect the range of information needs in the community and effectively serve the city’s diverse and growing population.
  • Program and Service Design, Development, Delivery and Evaluation: Commitment to continually support community needs and interests. Use community information to create relevant programs, services, and content that responds to specific community interests and needs. Design and deliver relevant training and instruction for the public and library colleagues. Create and give presentations to colleagues and peers, stakeholders, and/or the Library’s administration to market programming or obtain funding for future programming. Use evidence-based practices, data-driven decision-making, and outcomes-based evaluation practices to review and ensure programming is meeting expectations. 
  • Programmatic Leadership: Understand how the role of the librarian functions within the context of the system-wide service initiatives and local service delivery. Initiate conversations with staff about service delivery and lead staff, volunteers, patrons, community partners, vendors, etc.
  • Operational Leadership: Knowledgeable in the effective use of Library facilities, equipment, services, and programming. Cultivate healthy working relationships with colleagues locally and regionally; engaging with them in support of Library program and services. 
  • Project Management: Initiate, develop, execute, and manage projects, which may include communication and coordination with administration, marketing, budget office, leadership, and project teams; may lead projects, committees and work groups with manager direction and support.  Develop and conduct outcomes-based evaluations.

Qualifications

  • Education: Must have a MLS or MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited library school and Washington State Librarian Certification. (Note: Washington state law prohibits an individual from being hired as a librarian unless they have obtained Washington State Librarian Certification.)
  • Information Services: At least one year of experience providing information services to the general public.
  • Programming: Minimum of one year experience providing programming to adults and families and demonstrates the ability to develop, plan, implement and evaluate a program using community voice.
  • Exemplary Customer Service: Minimum one year of experience providing customer service in person, via online chat, or over the phone; and/or instructional or outreach services to the general public. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven commitment to public service and providing exceptional customer service. Candidates must possess excellent interpersonal communication, problem solving, customer relations, and teamwork skills; a sense of humor; and the ability to demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic commitment to public service.
  • Intellectual Freedom: Applicants must have a strong commitment to intellectual freedom as defined by the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights.
     
  • Race and Social Justice Initiative: Applicants must support the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative and have a strong commitment to providing equitable services to marginalized or underserved populations throughout Seattle. 
  • Project Management and Team Work Skills: Experience planning programs and designing outreach, developing and implementing a project, and evaluation; preferably using outcome-based evaluation methods. Experience serving as a member on a working committee or project team in lieu of the above experience may be considered.
  • Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills:  Must be able to communicate clearly, diplomatically, and in a friendly and positive manner with staff and library users from diverse language, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as with neighborhood-based or special interest groups.
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning: Acquire and maintain the necessary skills to better serve our patrons and help our organization evolve.  A commitment to develop and grow a racial equity practice; this includes but is not limited to focusing on and addressing the emerging needs of specific age groups and understanding the impacts of race and intersectionality in our larger systems, library policy, programs and services  
  • Resiliency: Applicants must be resourceful and prepared to engage with evolving and emerging dynamics in the community as well as the workplace, manage an active dynamic public service environment, and through learning, overcome challenges in ways that respond to patron needs and help the organization move forward. Must have the ability to maintain a high level of professionalism and customer service while engaging patrons about the Library’s Rules of Conduct, working in public areas, and when confronted by aggressive or challenging patrons.

  • Leadership: Applicants must be able to utilize their knowledge, skills, and abilities to effect positive change. They must actively seek out information from the library industry and other industries; pursue opportunities to develop networks with the intent to learn about best practices from other organizations and share The Seattle Public Library’s best practice. They must take initiative in helping the organization to meet its goals and be able to communicate how the Library is fulfilling its mission.
  • Technology and Informational Resources: Must have current working knowledge of PCs in a Windows environment and library applications, and be able to use online Internet searching methods and information resources. Familiarity with social media platforms and blogging software is highly desirable. Experience with Horizon library automation or a similar system is preferred.
  • Other Required Skills and Abilities: Candidates must be flexible, able to handle multiple competing priorities and tasks, adaptable to change, and able to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. An ability to incorporate and apply newer/emerging technologies in support of creative, effective programming, and information services is desirable.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience in public speaking and formal writing skills.
  • Fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese, and/or Vietnamese. This position is eligible for Language Premium Pay. 
  • Lived experience with or deep experience developing and implementing engagement strategies to support knowledge, values, and interests of one or more non-native English speaking communities.

Additional Information

How to Apply

This recruitment will be open until filled. Please submit the following items by 5:00 p.m. on January 7, 2025 for first consideration. Your application will not be considered if these items are missing or incomplete.

  1. Online application with responses to the supplemental questions.
  2. A cover letter that describes how your experience and skills align with the job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you want to do this work.
  3. Current resume that summarizes relevant education, experience, knowledge and skills.

 

Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, and complete online application will not be considered.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is $41.69 - $50.55 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Information about retirement plans can be found at: https://www.seattle.gov/retirement


Additional Information

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to job.applications@spl.org. The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.

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