What are the responsibilities and job description for the Children's Librarian - Andrew Heiskell Library position at The New York Public Library?
Department: Branch Libraries
Location: Andrew Heiskell Library
Compensation: $68,177 / year
Overview
The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for all New Yorkers for more than 100 years. NYPL’s neighborhood libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island—many of which date to Andrew Carnegie’s visionary philanthropy at the turn of the 20th century—are being transformed into true centers of educational innovation and service, and vital community hubs that provide far more than just free books and materials.
The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, part of The New York Public Library, serves patrons who are eligible to borrow materials from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) in the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island. We offer onsite service to NLS and NYPL users and an extensive mail service to NLS patrons. The Children’s librarian serves both the Chelsea/Flatiron neighborhood community of families as well as youth who are blind or print disabled all throughout the Andrew Heiskell service area.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Supervising Librarian this Librarian position focuses on Children and:
- Develops and delivers innovative services and programs for children (0-13) who have difficulty reading standard printed materials because of blindness, visual impairment, physical disability that limits the ability to hold a book or turn pages, or due to reading disability
- Travels to promote library services throughout New York City and Long Island as necessary, including leading outreach to and developing partnerships with youth-related organizations, agencies and schools that work with current and potential users of the National Library Service (NLS) to increase awareness of services, programs, and collections.
- Provides reader's advisory, general information desk help, and registration assistance to users of all ages in person at public service desks, over the telephone, and online via email and social media platforms including instructing patrons in the use of library and basic assistive technology.
- Participates in designing and implementing new services and/or process improvements to existing services and develops strategies to enhance the user experience.
- Collaborates with the Children’s Services Department to develop, promote and facilitate inclusive programs to build literacy and a love of reading to meet the expressed and anticipated needs of the community’s children, parents and childcare providers of those with visual, physical, and/or print disabilities, including storytimes and other early literacy programs, performing arts programming, STEM programs, summer reading events, and a variety of other programs both in the Library and throughout the community
- Partners with the collection development team to shape and maintain the Children's collection ensuring it is diverse, current, relevant and meets the needs of the community
- Produces and edits content for the Andrew Heiskell Library’s social media accounts, blog, and quarterly newsletter, NewsLion
- Assists with subject cataloging of NLS materials.
- Develops familiarity with NLS-specific resources, including BARD (the NLS digital book download site), BARD Mobile, Bookshare, and the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) to a problem solving level.
- Participates in spreading awareness and giving input within the NYPL system on serving children with disabilities
- Performs related duties as required
Required Education & Experience
- ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies
- Public Librarian’s Professional Certificate issued by the State of New York
- Demonstrated customer service skills, including the ability to work patiently, thoroughly, and accurately with patrons who may need extended assistance
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver effective presentations to the public
- Successful track record of demonstrating creativity, flexibility, and initiative in accommodating community and staff needs
- Demonstrated ability to plan and deliver a diverse program of activities and perform outreach
- Experience and interest in working with people with disabilities
- Strong commitment to public service and the ability to work well with a diverse patronage
- Experience creating and conducting a variety of innovative programs for children, including those with visual, physical, and/or print disabilities
- Knowledge of children literature and experience maintaining an children's collection
- Experience building partnerships with local organizations to better meet the needs of community users including those with visual, physical, and/or print disabilities
- Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentation skills
- Successfully demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
- Strong organization and planning skills, including the ability to perform multiple projects or tasks simultaneously
- Strong computer and other related technology skills, including MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Google applications, PCs, Macs and e-reader devices
- Demonstrated knowledge of computer services including online searching, social media, reference resources and databases
- May temporarily oversee the library in the absence of the Library Manager
- Knowledge of literature for children and teens
- Basic understanding of emerging library technologies, service and programming trends for children and teens, specifically those with visual, physical, and/or print disabilities
- Working knowledge of trends in children’s literature, educational and development needs, services, and the profession through webinars, internal training, meetings, conferences, professional literature, and organizational memberships
- Experience working with the visually impaired, physically disabled, or print disabled communities
- Experience utilizing Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS)
- Knowledge of Spanish is a plus
Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
- Public service library
- Light lifting/moving required
- Remain in stationary positions for periods of time
- Daily use of a computer
No
Union
Local 1930
FLSA Status
Non-Exempt
Schedule
35 hours per week to be scheduled during regular branch hours. Some Saturdays and evenings (Tuesdays / Thursdays) required.
This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.
The New York Public Library Salary Statement
At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.
Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).
Salary : $68,177
