Programming & Outreach Librarian

Position Objectives

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: 

Under the direction of Library Director, the Programming & Outreach Librarian supports the McDowell County Public Library’s mission of ensuring the community's access to free ideas, information, and enrichment by coordinating the library’s programming and outreach services. The position requires considerable judgment and initiative in overseeing these services both within the library and the community.

 

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills needed to lead a team of creative and engaged staff members and successfully work together with other library departments.  They will also demonstrate the skills needed to manage the logistics of our Program and Outreach Department; including scheduling outreach and in-house programming, as well as coordinating marketing and publicity. Finally, they will have some familiarity with the process of conducting and managing a community needs-assessment and facilitating community conversations on a cyclical basis.

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Hours vary, some evenings and Saturdays may be required.

Duties & Responsibilities

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Illustrative Examples of Work

Programming and Outreach

• Serves as a liaison to community groups, organizations, and agencies, and acts as an ambassador for the McDowell County Public Library System.

• Initiates, plans, oversees, and at times conducts a variety of programs and activities to encourage the use of the library by all ages.

• Supervises bookmobile routes, services, and community partnerships related to these services.

• May work nights and weekends to support programming and outreach events.

• Measures outcomes using a variety of methods to make recommendations and/or implement solutions.

Marketing

• Develops marketing materials and strategies to promote the library’s services and programs through print and social media.

• Ensures all digital and print media related to programs and services are up to date and current.

Customer Service

• Provides and models excellent customer service to all library patrons.

• Responds to inquiries and provides customer service, assistance, and instruction to library patrons; interprets library rules, policies, and procedures to the public.

Collection Development

• Assists in selecting, ordering, and weeding materials for the print collection and downloadable materials within a prescribed budget.

Supervision

• Supervises library assistants that lead children, teen, and adult/senior services and programming.

• Distributes and assigns work to employees; monitors work for progress and quality; ensures work is completed in a timely and efficient manner; reviews work.

• Provides training and mentoring to staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Assists, guides, and instructs library staff and/or volunteers in the performance of their duties; provides technical direction and problem solving in response to staff work questions and problems.

• Provides input to supervisor on employee performance and informs supervisor of conduct problems.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED: 

• Increases skills and knowledge through professional reading, webinars, and workshops.

• Create and develop virtual programming for children, teens, and adults.

• Assist with grant writing and implementing library grant initiatives.

• Coordinate with our school systems to help expand and support learning opportunities.

• Keep all staff informed of current and ongoing program and outreach service initiatives.

• Other duties as assigned

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Minimum Requirements

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• Knowledge, skills and abilities: Ability to plan, coordinate and direct work.  Ability to relate tactfully and courteously with the public and to maintain effective working relationships with other employees.  Strong written, verbal, and technology skills.  Demonstrate emotional intelligence and ability to work through difficult situations. Experience using PLA’s Project Outcome to evaluate services.

• Qualifications: Master of Library Science from ALA accredited school, required.  At least three years of public library experience, experience leading and providing library programs, and some supervisory experience.  Demonstrated ability to provide virtual programming is preferred.

• Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee may frequently perform these actions:  Stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle books, paper, technology, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

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Benefits

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Benefited after 30 days

Medical, dental, and life insurance
Sick, vacation, and holiday pay
Membership in the Local Government Retirement System

Supplemental retirement 401k/457