Library Services Specialist II

Do you love empowering lives and building community by bringing people, information and ideas together? The Catawba County Library System is seeking a Youth and Teen Library Services Specialist II with excellent customer service, programming, collaboration, and technology skills, who passionately embraces public service and is enthusiastic about the value of lifelong learning. We invite you to join our efforts to empower lives and build our community by bringing people, information and ideas together.

The Library Services Specialist II works under the supervision of the Youth Services Manager to plan, promote, and implement children’s and teen programming at the Main Library in Newton and work as an active member of a system-wide team to ensure effective and engaged youth services for the community.  This includes planning, coordinating, and presenting story times, STEAM programs, summer reading events, and other children's programming and services under the direct supervision of the department manager. Regular duties will also include providing quality customer service and reader's advisory for all ages; assisting customers with use of computer software and the Internet; and creating marketing and promotional materials for programming. This position requires a rotating schedule which includes some nights and weekends.

• Provides excellent customer service through a full range of circulation desk services, including checking in and out materials, emptying book drop, setting up library card accounts and resolving account issues, locating reading materials, conducting sales of materials and supplies, accepting fees, placing holds, and transferring items. Helps to maintain a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive environment in the library.
• Plans, coordinates and/or facilitates a variety of inclusive children’s and teen programs, services, and outreach in collaboration with the supervisor, including Bookbagger materials for area daycares.
• Provides excellent customer service by assisting patrons in the use of computers, personal technology devices, copiers, scanners, faxes, and the library’s online resources.
• Serves as a backup or lead staff in the absence of the Youth Services Librarian or Branch Manager including regularly scheduled as the Supervisor on Duty for evening and weekend rotations to open/close the library; handles emergency situations, patron complaints, or facility issues.            
• Provides excellent customer service by providing intermediate level reference and reader's advisory assistance to library users.
• Trains new employees, volunteers and interns.
• Works with the Youth Services Summer Reading team to plan, implement and coordinate the Children's Summer Reading program.
• Engages in outreach and serves as a liaison to community agencies that serve children and their caregivers, including schools, daycares and preschools, and other community organizations.
• Designs and creates displays that highlight culturally diverse populations and/or promote new or interesting library resources. 
• Maintains all library resources including print, non-print and periodicals to facilitate user access. Shelves all materials and performs shelf maintenance.
• Ensures running of reports, administering surveys, ordering/maintaining supplies for branches or designated areas within the branch.
• Assists with staff scheduling or daily workflow of lower level library staff.
• Participates in professional development activities and contributes feedback for employee performance appraisals.
• Able to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Education, English, Communications, or Library Science; OR 
• Associate’s Degree in Business, Education, English, Communications, Library Science, or a related degree and one year of experience in a library or related public facing customer service or educational setting; OR
• High School diploma and three years of experience in a library or related public facing customer service or educational setting

Additional Requirements:

• Excellent internal and external customer service skills are essential to providing our community with the best library service.
• Leadership skills to manage and motivate staff, coupled with project management to act as a change agent, guiding and training staff through new processes, procedures, and equipment.
• Strong reader's advisory skills to suggest reading materials for all ages
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail are required to reconcile the register and coin-op copiers.
• Problem solving and conflict management skills are also important to maintaining a welcoming friendly environment in the library and in de-escalating difficult situations in house and online with tact and ensuring positive outcomes. 
• Strong knowledge of digital and online library resources as well as various technologies including computers and personal devices.
• Strong communication skills including presentation and public speaking as well as interpersonal relationship skills and cultural competence to work effectively with diverse populations.  
• Strong understanding of library policies and procedures are needed in daily operations and to accurately record statistics for outcome-based performance measurements
• Ability to collaborate with other library staff, community members, and partner organizations to provide responsive and inclusive library programs.
• This position requires the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds (books, boxes, supplies), push/pull up to 50 pounds (full library carts), stoop/kneel to shelve books, and stand for long periods of time in order to work the circulation desk, assist patrons, and other various duties.  
• Willing to obtain Notary Public upon employment.
• Ability to speak Spanish or Hmong a plus.

Salary : $41,820