Librarian II - Youth Services

Position Title: Librarian II – Youth Services
Posted On: May 27, 2025
Department: Seekonk Public Library, Town of Seekonk

Are you a creative, visionary librarian who thrives on connecting with young people and their families? Seekonk Public Library is seeking a Librarian II to lead our Youth Services Department with innovation and a deep commitment to exceptional customer service. This is a leadership role focused on developing programs, services, and collections that respond directly to the needs and interests of our community. If you’re passionate about building meaningful relationships and delivering impactful library experiences for children and families, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do:

As the Youth Services ‘team lead’, you will play a key role in leading the department to new heights through innovative programming, collection development, and team coordination. Responsibilities include:

• Providing outstanding reference and reader’s advisory services in the Children’s Room
• Managing collection development for youth materials with an eye toward community needs and trends
• Planning and implementing engaging and impactful programs and services for children and families
• Creating marketing and promotional materials for youth-focused services
• Actively collaborating with schools, community partners, and other stakeholders to achieve meaningful outcomes
• Participating in broader library initiatives and long-term planning

Who You Are:

We’re looking for an experienced Youth Services professional who can lead by example and support the growth and success of our Youth Services department. Candidates should have:

• A Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited program
• At least five years of experience in youth services or public library settings; supervisory experience preferred
• A passion for customer service, community engagement and innovation in public libraries
• A deep understanding of youth literature, programming, and developmental needs
• A commitment to equity, inclusion, and access in library services
• Excellent communication, planning, and organizational skills

Schedule & Salary:

This is a full-time, 35-hour/week, non-exempt position and requires working two evening shifts and alternating Fridays and Saturdays (9:00 AM-5:00 PM):

Monday & Tuesday                            1:00 PM- 8:00PM

Wednesday                                         9:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Thursday                                             9:00 AM- 4:30 PM

Alternating Fridays and Saturdays     9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Starting pay:  $37.19 per hour, with scheduled increases.
The full job description can be found below.
This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the Seekonk Public Library Employees Association, MLSA, AFT Massachusetts.

How to Apply:

Open until filled. Preference given to applications received by 12:00 PM on Friday, June 13, 2025. 

Join the Seekonk Public Library Team and help lead the Youth Services Department into an exciting future!

Job Description

Status: Full-time, hourly (35 Hours per week)

Summary of Duties:

The Librarian II provides professional services in areas of reference, book selection, programming, bibliographic instruction, computer training, and staff and volunteer supervision related to continuance of core library services for adults, young adults, children and their families.  Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.  Instructs patrons on new products and services. 

Supervision Required:

Employee works under the general direction of the Associate Library Director or Senior Librarian.   Employee plans and prioritizes the majority of work independently, in accordance with standard practices and previous training.   Employee is expected to solve most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions accordingly.  Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities.  Complex
technical issues, policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor.  Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the results are not usually reviewed in detail. 

Supervisory Responsibility:

Employee serves as a work leader to library employees performing similar duties.  Employee assists with orientating and training new employees, including other librarians. Employee opens and closes the library building in accordance with establish procedures.  Employee is responsible· for managing a portion of the library budget for materials and programming as assigned by the library administration.  Employees may work on different
shifts than the supervisor.

Confidentiality:

 Employee has access to confidential department as well as customer records.   

Accountability:

Consequences of errors or poor judgment may include missed deadlines, adverse public relations, monetary loss, legal repercussions, and jeopardize programs.

Judgment:

The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices and precedents, which at times may be complex or conflicting.  Judgment is used in analyzing specific situations to determine appropriate actions. The employee is expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision-making. 

Complexity:

The work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices and specialized.  Techniques relating to a professional or technical field.  Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work. 

Work Environment:

Employee performs work in a typical library setting with little or no physical demands or occupational risks. 

Nature and Purpose of Relationships:

Relationships are constantly with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from other organizations, and representatives of professional organizations.   The employee serves as a spokesperson or recognized authority of the organization in matters of substance or considerable importance, including departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines.   May be required to discuss controversial matters where tact is required to avoid friction and obtain cooperation. 

Occupational Risk:

Duties of the job present little potential for injury.  Risk exposure is similar to that found in typical library settings.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations' of the various type of work that may be performed.   The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

1. Provides support and assistance to library staff and patrons in library services and systems and information technology.
2. Assists in the selection of reference materials, book selection, programming, bibliographic instruction of print and non-print information, computer training, and other library services.
3. Assumes broad responsibilities for specific areas of library services including adults, young adults, children, and families.
4. Supervises support staff and volunteers, provides information on library policies, activities, and special services.
5. Promotes, creates and maintains themed displays of library materials and special collections.
6. Establishes short-range plans and objectives for services and events within the scope of the library's strategic plan and municipal policies. Monitors and reports on progress in the implementation of the library plans. 
7. Prepares information for the public to promote library activities, updates website information and provides content for the library’s social media sites.
8. Participates in the preparation of grant applications for special library programs.
9. Provides outreach services to public schools, preschools, daycares, and organizations.
10. Instructs others in the use of library equipment including copy machine, LAN, WIFI, LCD projectors, printers, computers, scanners, and video equipment. Troubleshoots and resolves problems with equipment as needed. 
11. Locates and requests materials via regional Interlibrary Loan service.
12. Assists in the maintenance, security and repair of library building and equipment.
13. Attends and participates in library meetings and associations. Represents the library at SAILS Network circulation meetings.
14. Perform some supervisory duties in the absence of his or her supervisor.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Must have a Master's Degree and one to three (1-3) years of public library experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Special Requirement: Notary Public preferred

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

Knowledge: Knowledge of library services and systems, information technology, reference materials selection and inventory, use of office equipment and computer programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and the internet. 

Abilities: Instruct patrons and staff in the use of library systems, resources, and equipment.  Evaluate and use a wide variety of reference materials and information technologies.  Assess the needs of patrons and develop suitable library services and collection of books and materials.  Plan and prioritize work, and establish effective working relationships with patrons and professionals. 

Skills: Courteous and diplomatic customer service and communication skills, needs assessment skills, analytical skills. 

Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions. 

Physical Skills: Duties require standing and walking more than 50% of the time, sit, bend, hear, reach, pull, and push in generally pleasant working conditions, but with numerous distractions and interruptions.  Duties may involve intermittent exertion of moderate physical effort in position, lifting, or moving bulky equipment or materials weighing 30 to 60 pounds.  Positions require good hand and eye coordination and finger dexterity. 

Motor Skills: Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a personal computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, sorting of papers. 

Visual Skills: Position requires routine reading of documents and reports for understanding.