Library Program Assistant - Summer of Discovery

The 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.

The Summer of Discovery is a seasonal event that features activities and programs for all ages and prizes for achieving reading goals!

Job Summary:

The Library Program Assistant supports colleagues to provide a vibrant, engaging, and fun Summer of Discovery program. The primary responsibilities of the Assistant are to coordinate and manage Summer of Discovery volunteers, especially teen volunteers, and volunteer-run activities to ensure successful engagement of the public in the program. The Assistant will play an important role in coordinating, training, and motivating volunteers to inspire children, teens, and adults to read and be involved in summer programs.

Essential Functions:

• Oversee volunteer schedule and ensure that volunteer shifts are filled. Inform staff of the weekly volunteer schedule and any changes (40%).
• Serve as a resource and main point of contact for volunteers in the Summer of Discovery program through regular communication, answering questions, and following up with volunteers to clarify expectations and procedures (40%) .
• Coordinate and communicate regularly with volunteers about needs, shift openings, and training tips, and points of celebration via email, text, and video creation (20%)

Additional Responsibilities:

• Manage data and maintain information in the volunteer system including activating volunteers, monitoring hours, setting up shifts, and gathering risk and release forms from volunteers.
• Set up the shifts and slots in the volunteer management system online.
• Facilitate volunteer appreciation and community building opportunities for volunteers through activities, events, and creative incentives.
• Collaborate with staff to train volunteers prior to start of program. Provide kick-off onsite training for volunteers on their initial shifts.

This is a full-time and temporary position. The position will start mid-May and conclude in the first week of August.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Flexible with schedule available during evenings and weekends.
• Experience: Experience with data entry and searching database systems. Professional communications experience such as making short informative videos and writing short, informative emails, texts, and social media posts. Experience working both independently and collaboratively.
• Skills: Customer service skills, comfort with speaking in a friendly manner to a variety of people, including adults, teens, and children of all ages. Detail oriented and organized.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Volunteer management experience.
• Experience working with a diversity of persons.
• Experience coordinating people, ideally teens or teen volunteers, in a professional setting such as a club, a sorority/fraternity, summer camps, etc.
• Event planning and facilitation skills.
• Skilled at problem solving, taking initiative, and being resourceful.

Working Conditions:

Light work in an office environment. Exerting up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Performing repetitive motions. Grasping, lifting and/or raising objects from a lower to a higher position, or moving objects horizontally from position-to position. Seeing, hearing, and speaking required.

Please apply by March 17th, 2024 at 4pm. We anticipate holding interviews for this position beginning the week of March 24th, 2024.