Library Assistant - Children's

The Appleton Public Library, the Wisconsin Library of the Year for 2025, is seeking a Library Assistant - Children's to join our dynamic team. This is a benefited non-exempt paraprofessional position in the Children's Services Section of the Appleton Public Library. Work involves providing reference and reader's advisory service to patrons in a high energy Children’s Department, instructing the public in the use of electronic and print sources; planning, preparing, and actively carrying out age-appropriate programming for children, their families and community groups including outreaches, fieldtrips, STEAM programming and other events to support the library's mission, and working as a member of the Children's Services team. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Children's Services supervisor. Some evenings and weekends are required 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Plans, prepares, and implements age-appropriate programming and outreaches for children, their families, and groups.
• Promotes programs and services.
• Conducts reference interviews.
• Monitors the Children’s Area, regularly straightening and maintaining on-floor activities and play areas.
• Provides reference and reader's advisory services to patrons in a high energy Children’s Area as well as over the phone or through e-mail.
• Instructs patrons in the use of electronic and print resources.
• Assists patrons with all equipment in the library, including simple troubleshooting.
• Issues new and replacement library cards.
• Assists patrons in paying fines using the Jamex or Infosoup.
• Assists patrons with checking out material at the self-check machines or at the service desk.
• Assists and instructs patrons in downloading ebooks and/or audio books.
• Prepares booklists.
• Creates displays.
• Provides library tours.
• Collects items for book packs.
• Assists in the collection of section data and statistics.
• Assists with ordering replacements for lost or damaged material.
• Assists with purchasing and maintaining program craft supplies.
• Assists with business/donor contacts for Summer Reading Program.
• Coordinates volunteers for Children's Section - Summer Reading Program.
• Maintains regular punctual and predictable attendance, schedule flexibility to accommodate evening and weekend programs and outreaches.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of the public library services and practices.
• Knowledge of library services for children in public libraries.
• Ability to learn library policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate policies and procedures to the public.
• Knowledge of programming techniques for families and children in public libraries.
• Ability to provide reference and reader's advisory services to children and their families in person, via phone , e-mail or written correspondence.
• Ability to instruct varied age groups in using electronic and print resources for information gathering.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365.
• Basic knowledge of children's literature.
• Genuine respect for children and their families.
• Knowledge of children's needs, concerns, trends and interests.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to communicate with others in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with other employees and the public and deal with public relations problems courteously and tactfully.
• Ability to work independently and creatively.
• Ability to complete work in a timely and accurate manner.
• Schedule flexibility to accommodate outreaches and occasional evening and weekend programs.
• Ability to maintain regular punctual and predictable attendance.
• Fluency in Spanish or Hmong languages is not required, but is preferred.

COMPETENCIES

Communication
Customer Focus
Handling Difficult People
Problem Solving
Adaptability/Flexibility