Children's Librarian
City of WichitaThe City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer.
Distinguishing Features of Work
The Wichita Public Library has an opening for a Children’s Librarian specializing in services for youth ages 0 to 11. This position is part of the Youth Services team in the Advanced Learning Library. The preferred start date for this position is 8/4/2025.
Our successful candidate will be a person with a passion for working with children and their adult caregivers, as well as demonstrated skill and creativity in the planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate children’s learning opportunities. A strong commitment to customer service and excellent interpersonal skills are a must as this librarian will be expected to perform reference, reader’s advisory and customer account services to visitors in the library’s Children’s and Teen Pavilions. We are also looking for candidates with outstanding communication and public presentation skills, knowledge of children’s literature and principles of child development, competency with technologies including personal computer applications and integrated library systems, and experience with early literacy initiatives. Spanish language skills are preferred.
Work hours:
A typical work schedule for the position will include working one evening each week and one weekend each month. This schedule may change in order to fulfill programming and outreach assignments as well as for meeting the service needs of the Section, so demonstrating work schedule flexibility is essential.The starting salary range for the position is $49,061 - $68,148, commensurate with experience.
Examples of Work Performed
- planning and presenting programs for children of all ages, including Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR)-informed storytimes and school-age programming
- partnering and collaborating with peers throughout the Library system
- promoting Library materials and services through displays and outreach activities
- demonstrating library use and teaching information literacy skills to individuals and groups visiting the library on tours
- offering readers’ advisory to children, teachers, parents and caregivers
- maintaining the Family Place area in the Children’s Pavilion
- working collaboratively for resource sharing and materials distribution
- assisting customers with digital resources, public computing, self-check machines and customer account questions
- participating on Library teams and with system special projects
- actively participating in the work of the Library’s Youth Services Section, including service as the team member in charge on assigned weekday, evening and weekend shifts.
- These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive.
- Other job-related duties may be assigned as needed.
Requirements of Work
Our preferred candidate must also demonstrate a strong customer service commitment; knowledge of children's literature and principles of child development; and competency with technologies including personal computer applications and integrated library systems.
Additional requirements of the work include:- Thorough knowledge of library methods, principles, and practices.
- Thorough knowledge of reference materials and tools of research.
- Considerable knowledge of reader interest and of books and authors.
- Ability to: push a loaded book cart, weighing up to 250 pounds; reach, bend, stoop, or squat and arrange books on library shelves; use manually operated office tools and supplies; hold, inspect, turn single pages, and read books weighing up to fifteen pounds with pages made from papers of a wide range of quality and thickness.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally, in writing, and/or by whatever creative means are necessary to cross communication barriers.
- Residency within thirty minutes lawful driving time of the corporate limits of the City of Wichita will be required of the successful applicant
Required Experience and Training
Required Experience and Training:
- Master’s degree in library science from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited program.
Preferred Experience and Training
- One year of experience designing, planning, and conducting children’s programming for ages 0–12
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
Offers of employment will be made contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which will include drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a police records check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following links:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlaen.pdf
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf