Upper School - Librarian

The Nueva School seeks a full-time librarian to continue developing the collections, community culture, and educational offerings of our high-school library. We welcome our next librarian to join the team in our Writing & Research Center (WRC), a dynamic, multi-use space in a school that’s dedicated to serving gifted students. It’s a terrific chance to make your mark on our library experience, working with exceptionally curious students and teachers.

In our learning hub, we’re as keen on collaboration and community-building as on library expertise. This campus (grades 9–12) is a relatively young division in a long-established independent school, so our library collection is carefully curated and modestly sized. Nueva promises a fast-changing pace, and our staff shares a roll-up-our-sleeves approach to trying out new initiatives, systems, and projects. The librarian has a strong hand in deepening our connections with faculty, staff, affinity clubs, and students, developing new partnered offerings (including student library-volunteers) and supporting other groups in their efforts (such as hosting workshops, readings, or other special events).

This full-time librarian will join our current part-time librarian in maintaining our online and physical collections, as well as our WRC website. They’ll also shape the “third teacher” of the physical space, getting creative with book displays and curating other elements of the WRC. Each school year includes special events with library ties, too, where the librarian could get involved. For instance, the parents’ association organizes a biennial humanities fair, and last year Nueva launched a spring trip to visit legendary libraries in Boston and NYC. The librarian reports to the Director of Writing & Research Center; compensation will be commensurate with experience.

We are seeking applicants who represent the full diversity of our community in the Bay Area. Our ideal candidate will possess a deep appreciation for the diverse socioeconomic, racial, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, academic, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. In joining our team at Nueva, you will become a part of an inclusive, iterative and equity-minded community that recognizes that equity and social justice is a lens with which we examine all aspects of our school community in order to ensure an educational experience where all students and colleagues can thrive. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Nueva, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with Nueva’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

In this role, our librarian will:

• Actively cultivate our Center as an inclusive, inspiring, easy-to-use, and comfortable space for all community members, including support for special meetings and events in the WRC
• Develop the library’s collections and resources, both physical and online; discuss curriculum needs and title recommendations with our current librarian, faculty, and other community members 
• Guide students and colleagues in their research questions; offer research coaching, with a friendly “deskside manner” 
• Coordinate a group of student library-volunteers, who can help with several of the library’s regular tasks and will contribute to some social media (weekly check-ins)
• Review our library and information-literacy practices, analyze needs, and refine our best processes, meshing in tech developments including AI and research curricular ties
• Refresh the library’s website (such as research guides or highlighting new books), at least once a month
• Monitor an annual budget, invoices etc.
• Host workshops or other events on relevant research- or library-related topics
• Carry out day-to-day library operations, such as cataloging, checking books out, and enthusiastically recommending new reads and other resources, especially in conversation with teen students
• Collaborate on community-building displays and events within the Writing & Research Center, to highlight elements of the collection, cultural events, and more; displays change at least once a month 
• Fulfill a handful of annual staff duties (some on a volunteer basis), such as chaperoning school events or trips, and/or supporting the Advisory program
• Introduce our library’s resources and programming at certain school events, such as parent coffees or admissions tours, a few times per school year
• Support faculty in coursebook acquisition 
• Some data-tracking and end-of-year report-running, such as usage reports
• Support ethical use of copyrighted materials and acquiring appropriate permissions

The experience we seek includes:

• Strong collaboration, communication, and administrative skills, with a knack for efficient
• organization and care for detail
• Thorough knowledge of standard library practices and procedures
• Strong abilities to research and to teach research skills, in a wide variety of disciplines and interests; a thorough familiarity with online databases, ebook options, and other library resources
• Understanding of current developments in research instruction, the use of artificial intelligence , information resource administration, and related technologies
• Moderate or higher skills with tech such as Google Workspace, LibGuides, Canva, etc. (if you’re on very friendly terms with spreadsheets, even better)

This role requires a BA in Library, Information Sciences and/or Education from an accredited college or university, and an MA is strongly preferred. Candidates should also have at least three years of relevant professional experience in library, information sciences and/or education. The librarian reports to the Director of Writing & Research Center. Compensation commensurate with experience.

Other things to know about our library space:

• This versatile two-story space has a couple of mezzanine areas for quieter study and book storage, a fireplace reading area, and a main room with bookshelves, comfortable seating, and moveable desks and chairs. The librarian usually spends much of a day at the front welcome desk or other open study area, and there is also a private librarian’s office.
• Students and faculty alike come here to study and socialize, to see friends and to find a quiet corner, occasionally to bring in a group for a project or presentation. It’s not a silent space, but a considerate one.
• We have air filtration, a ventilated atrium and several windows that open for better circulation.

Compensation

The full-time equivalent salary range for this position is $79,200 - $145,900. The starting salary is based upon, but not limited to, several factors that include type and years of experience, education level, and expertise.

We offer a full benefits package that includes fully paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance for employees, employer contribution toward dependent insurance premium, a generous match on our 403(b) retirement plan, long-term and short-term disability insurance, flexible spending account, and free lunch.  Eligibility rules must be met.

Please send your application information (cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references) to the Nueva Employment Website.  To address specific questions, please email Jen Paull, at jpaull@nuevaschool.org or Liza Raynal, at lraynal@nuevaschool.org

The Nueva School is an Equal Opportunity Employer – we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability or sex. We welcome applications from people of color and those with experience outside the education field. 

About The Nueva School

The Nueva School, an internationally-recognized, nonprofit, independent day school, has served gifted and talented students since 1967. Today, Nueva serves nearly 1000 students PK-12. Nueva is located in the neighboring towns of Hillsborough and San Mateo, equidistant between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, serving six different counties throughout the Bay Area of Northern California.

A constructivist school, Nueva is known for its distinctive inquiry-based interdisciplinary studies, project-based learning, and pioneering work in social-emotional learning and design thinking. The Nueva community instills a passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the imaginative mind. Our school has received the US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award, the US Department of Education National Green Ribbon Award, and the American Institute of Architects Award for School Design and Sustainability; has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program and appointed an Ashoka Changemaker School; co-founded the Common Ground Speaker Series; hosts the biennial Innovative Learning Conference, and was highlighted by the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times best-selling author Thomas Friedman in his book That Used to Be Us in the chapter “Average Is Over.”

For more information about The Nueva School, visit our website: www.nuevaschool.org