Children's Literacy Assistant (Temporary)

The Boulder Public Library District (BPLD) is committed to advancing equity in our diverse community by providing accessible programs, print and digital materials, tools and technology, and educational opportunities. Across our five current locations, we are proud to offer resources such as a makerspace, art galleries, outdoor learning areas, a multimedia local history archive, community literacy programs, and a theater. Boulder Public Library strives to be a safe and welcoming place to all staff and patrons, alike. Through outreach, community partnerships, and volunteer-driven programs, we seek to adapt our services to those who may experience barriers to visiting our physical locations.

We circulate more than 1.5 million items annually, but we believe that a library is more than a place to borrow free materials. As a vital civic space, we provide opportunities for our more than 500,000 yearly visitors to study, host meetings, be introduced to new people or experiences, and connect to essential local services.

Our employees are part of a vibrant, uplifting workplace culture that honors the joy and commitment of meaningful public service, while still caring for the needs of the individual. Our work is highly collaborative, adaptive, inquisitive, and is always on-going. We are passionate individuals with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences and we are dedicated to our mission of connecting people, ideas and information to transform lives and strengthen our community.

Job Summary: The Children’s Literacy Specialist works 20-hours per week supporting and leading children’s programming for the Reading Buddies program at the library and in the community through children’s drop-in programming; distributing books and information about the library using the library electric pedal-assist book bike; and helping manage the books to be distributed.

During the fall, the Children's Literacy Specialist leads a Reading Buddies group of 15 children and 15 adult volunteers meeting weekly at a library location or at a community location. The work involves setting up and take down of the room, holding a short briefing and debriefing with the volunteers, supporting the children with their volunteer buddy, providing literacy tips, and overall management of each session.

Children’s Literacy Specialist may also support the library and its outreach efforts by attending fairs, programs, and events in the community, and at times in the library. This staff member may develop and organize materials and activities for community engagement with children. Most of this work will take place in the community and Boulder Housing Partner sites and in manufactured home communities.

This is a 20-hour-per-week, non-exempt, temporary, at-will role starting in June and ending in November or December.

Essential Functions:

• Lead and facilitate children’s story times, activities and engagement primarily with grade school children in the community using versions of the Reading Buddies program. Engage the children in activities and programs to build and practice literacy skills and build understanding of library offerings. (50% in summer)
• Help with logistical preparations for drop-in children’s programs and Readings Buddies. Coordinates and guides volunteers who work with children through the Reading Buddies program. (50% in fall)
• Operate the pedal-assisted book bike within the Boulder Library District to promote the library by sharing information and books, and at times doing a small activity; ideally, 10 hours per week. (50% in summer and fall)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience leading educational activities with children, preferably around literacy and learning.
• Experience working with children and community members from different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Experience engaging with the public to understand their interests and challenges and sharing information and resources that align with their needs and interests.
• Advanced oral and written English and Spanish language skills or preferably bilingual.
• Ability to operate an electric bicycle in Boulder to share books and information about the library.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience providing customer service and working in the community as a representative of a library or organization sharing information about an organization’s programs and services.
• Designed and/or utilized creative community education and engagement techniques and activities.
• Intermediate skills with using personal computers, performing data entry, and using information databases.

Working Conditions:

Work based in the library, the community and/or at a community organization’s offices or community space. Travel via bike paths and the roads driving and operate a pedal-assisted, electric book bike. Staff may also spend time indoors organizing materials and books as well as coordinating with staff members. Tasks may involve performing repetitive motions, grasping, lifting, and/or raising objects up to 30 lbs., from a lower to a higher position, or moving objects. Seeing, hearing, and speaking in English and Spanish are required. Ability to talk for extended periods of time at community events, move boxes and supplies, as well as guide learning with community members. Able to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities and conditions. Ability to get to community events and transport materials.

Please apply by April 30th, 2025, at 4 pm.

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Application Accommodations

BPLD is committed to advancing equity in our diverse community, and jobs are one great way for us to do this. Please tell us if you need accommodation for a disability to apply for this position.

Examples of this could include: A paper copy of the application or emailing the interview questions to you in advance via email or reading the application to an applicant with visual impairment. This is not an exhaustive list.

Please note a few things:

• If you need more time to fill out anything on the application, we recommend that you fill out the answers on a word processing document or a text file. The system times out after 30 minutes and does not retain your information. Having it on a word processing document will help in case you need to copy and paste the information back into the application.
• Uploading documents qualifications can impact the formatting of your resume. We will not discount your application if Paylocity transcription alters the formatting.

Reach us at: hr@boulderlibrary.org, and we will work with you to see if we can accommodate.