PT Library Associate

Job Title:                       Library Associate

Department:                  Youth Services

Reports to:                    Department Head

Job Type:                       Part Time; Non-Exempt

Organizational Role

Serves as a member of the Youth Services Department, helping to create the next generation of lifelong library users by providing reader advisory, programming, and resources of interest to Princeton’s children, teens, and families. Knowledgeable about all aspects of the library, creative, approachable, adept at communicating effectively, and committed to providing an excellent customer service experience. 

 Responsibilities 

• Create a friendly, warm, and welcoming environment for all library visitors;
• Contribute to fostering an environment where every child and young person feels known, respected, and heard;
• Answer questions and provide information assistance via the public service desk, phone, chat, and email; 
• Research and recommend the latest books, movies, and music for children and teens;
• Assist in the library’s reading program, early literacy initiatives, digital literacy initiatives, youth outreach programs, and opportunities for teen leadership and volunteerism;
• Offer technology instruction for accessing the library’s digital collections and other digital content;
• Assist visitors with the use of computers and software;
• Contribute content to the library’s catalog, book lists, blog, social media, website and other online tools;
• Create topical, engaging, and continually refreshed displays;
• Maintain constant awareness of the safety and security of staff and members of the public, taking steps to correct potential problems;
• Take pride in the library, ensuring it is clean, inviting, and in good repair;
• Promote library services via outreach events, as needed;
• Participate in professional training and continuing education opportunities in order to stay informed about library, information, and technology trends;
• Contribute to monthly, annual, and other reports, as needed; and
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications 

• Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree with customer service or direct library experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience; 
• Passion for public libraries and for sharing knowledge and appreciation of literature, technology, and other library resources;
• Enjoys working with children, teens, parents, and caregivers, consistently engaging with them in a positive and friendly manner;
• Demonstrated knowledge of youth literature;
• Demonstrated technology literacy;
• Commitment to effective and creative collaboration;
• Adept at making quick, sound decisions, and at demonstrating ingenuity and exercising independent judgment;
• Adept at project and time management, and at thinking methodically and paying attention to detail;
• Excellent customer service skills and commitment to always providing an exemplary user experience;
• Active, patient listener who quickly and accurately understands people’s needs.

 Position Requirements 

• New Jersey residency required by the “New Jersey First Act”, N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70).   If you do not reside in New Jersey, you have one year after the date you take your employment to relocate your residence to New Jersey.  If you do not do so, you are subject to removal from your position. 
• Must be able to work two evenings per week and four weekend days per month;
• Able to work with or without reasonable accommodation in a shared work area, to stand and move around for three or more hours at a time. This position will keep you ‘on the move’ every day:  You need to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, kneel, twist, climb and push/pull.  You will need the ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
• Bilingual Spanish language skills desired. 

Library Values 

• Learning and teaching
• Clarity and transparency
• Kindness and an assumption of good faith
• Humility and teamwork
• Creativity and collaboration
• Optimism and accountability

 Library Culture  

• We exceed our community members’ expectations. The exemplary customer service that we provide for our members and guests is what sets us apart from other libraries.
• We value diversity, equity and inclusion. The library is stronger when we bring varied perspectives to the work of serving a growing and increasingly diverse community.
• We innovate. The library’s staff, boards and stakeholders are bold and creative. We think about new ways to improve our community every day.
• We educate and enrich. We curate extraordinary collections and research tools, constantly develop our level of expertise and offer classes, lectures and events that complement these resources and services.
• We listen. We want to hear from everyone about how well we are doing in meeting their needs and how we can do better; we analyze evidence and question our assumptions and we commit ourselves fully to making thoughtful changes.
• We collaborate. We are eager to learn and love to lead. We consult with and support colleagues at other libraries and community partners in order to ensure our ability to implement the ideas that best meet our community members’ needs.
• We steward. The library is a beautiful, welcoming, versatile building and collection, a world class resource that is owned by our community, funded through public-private partnership and entrusted to the management of a dedicated and talented library staff.

Please include a Cover Letter.