New Americans Navigator

Overview

Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. We offer thousands of free programs every day for people from all walks of life—immigrants learning a new language, aspiring entrepreneurs launching their dreams, children discovering the world, people of all ages exploring arts and culture. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the discovery of a good book. Now’s your chance to join the best team in Brooklyn!

The New Americans Navigator will be responsible for providing immigrant library patrons navigation assistance and up-to-date resources, coordinating and facilitating public programs that are responsive to current needs, and building the capacity of library staff to better serve immigrants.  

The New Americans Navigator will work with BPL staff and community partners, including city agencies and community-based organizations, to support immigrants visiting Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library and 59 branches. The Navigator will collaborate with public service staff to respond to emerging needs and provide staff training. They will maintain up-to-date reference materials and build partnerships with community organizations to build capacity of the Library to serve diverse immigrant communities in neighborhoods throughout the borough.  

The Navigator will conduct outreach and facilitate community information sessions about library services and provide support through phone and email. The New American Navigator is the point of contact within Outreach and the BPL system for staff to provide vetted recommendations and referrals to citizenship and supports critical to adjustment to life in NYC such as legal providers, ESOL classes, job help that match the language capacity and needs of a diverse immigrant patrons.  

This is a grant funded position, exempt position, until 9/30/26.  The salary range for this position is $50,000-55,000. This position reports to the Immigrant Services Coordinator in the Outreach Department. 

Responsibilities

• Provide broad range of immigration assistance  

• Provide concrete referral to internal BPL services and resources, and external supports such as Medicaid and IDNYC. 

• Participate in Language Access Team and support language access projects as needed. 

• Coordinate information sessions, Know Your Rights workshops, and legal clinics. 

• Support immigration events hosted with other organizations.  

• Participate in all relevant trainings and meetings.  

• Conduct outreach to community organizations to connect immigrant patrons and new users with library services and promote immigration services at BPL. 

• Provide guidance, information, and assistance to BPL staff in assigned branches regarding legal services referrals.  

• Assist with collections ordering, distribution, maintaining and updating materials and resources in the New Americans Corners. 

• Represents BPL to community partners. 

• Other duties as assigned 

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree required in education, human services or other relevant field 

• MLIS student a plus 
• Successfully demonstrated commitment to providing consistent, high-quality public services 
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills in English and another language.  

• Bi-lingual in English and Spanish, Russian, Chinese Mandarin, French, Kreyol, Bengali, or Arabic preferred  

• The ability to serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for the Library 

• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, identify and assess problems.  Ability to recommend and implement appropriate solutions  

• Ability to work well independently and collaborate with library staff to implement programming 

• Creativity, flexibility, and initiative in accommodating community and staff needs 

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion 

• Strong technology skills and knowledge of productivity software 

• Knowledge of library immigrant services and multilingual programming; and understanding of library policies and procedures a plus  

Salary : $50,000 - $55,000