Youth Services Librarian

Northbrook Public Library seeks a Youth Services Librarian  

Full-time: 35 hours/week

Schedule: One evening a week, one weekend a month

About the Position

We are seeking an enthusiastic and collaborative Youth Services Librarian to join our department. The Youth Services Department serves patrons from birth through age 18, their caregivers, and educators. This position will focus on library services to elementary aged patrons. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team environment, have excellent customer service skills, and a strong knowledge of youth and teen literature.

Responsibilities include:

•  Design and execute innovative and engaging programming for elementary aged patrons,
• Coordinate and conduct library visits and outreach with schools and local youth organizations,
• Collection Management, including promotion, selection, weeding, and maintenance of a section of the juvenile print, audio, and downloadable collections,
• Develop and implement creative storytime programs that promote literacy and childhood development.

As a member of the Youth Services Department, this position serves patrons of all ages at a busy service desk, answers reference and readers’ advisory questions, and participates on department and library wide events, such as the Teen Volunteer Program and the Reading Programs.

The  Youth Services Librarian will represent Youth Services on library committees and take part in youth interest groups, nationally and regionally. The Youth Services Librarian will also engage in continuing education opportunities to stay current on trends and advancements in library services to children.  

Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for candidates with a Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited program or equivalent experience working with children in a library or school setting. Experience working with children, birth through high school is required. Candidates should also have knowledge of children and teen literature, as well as online resources. Fluency using computers, technology, and a variety of library software programs is essential. Korean language skills are a plus. 

We want to hear from you if you:

•  Fully embrace our core values of innovation, inclusion, life-long learning, customer-focus, and collaboration,
• Are able to set priorities/goals and adjust as needed,
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
• Thrive in a collaborative environment across and within departments,
• Value EDI and are committed to providing representation of diverse identities in programming, resources, and materials for children and their caregivers,
• Follow trends in children’s literature, programming, and library services,
• Have a positive outlook and focus on learning from failure,
• Flexible with change.

We are seeking a wide array of candidates that encompass varied identities and abilities and encourage those who have gained skills outside of traditional education to apply. The Northbrook Public Library is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging - so if you’re excited about this position but not sure if you meet all the criteria, we encourage you to still consider applying. You may have other experiences or skills that would still make you a great candidate.

Click on links to read the job description, the library's Service Standards and learn more about our award-winning library.

About the Library and Community 

We seek candidates who share our passion for serving the people of Northbrook. The Northbrook Public Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer who values every community member and works to be welcoming and respectful of people's different identities including race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, ability, language, age, size, and more. 

The Village of Northbrook, IL has a resident population of 35,222. This highly regarded, civic-minded and well-resourced community is just 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. With excellent access to transportation, Northbrook has a vibrant business community and is headquarters to several Fortune 500 companies. Residents are attracted to the top-rated schools, access to many recreational opportunities, and its small-town charm.

This Library Journal Five Star library is a cornerstone of the community with strong public support and an operating budget of $8,600,000.  The collection includes over 250,000 physical items, with an annual circulation of over 900,000.  

Benefits

Quality benefits play a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of our staff and their families, and this is why we offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage to eligible employees. We also have generous paid time off and retirement plans for eligible employees.

Applying

Apply by clicking on the blue tab "Apply for This Job" located at the top right corner on the jobs page. When using a Mac to apply, use a browser other than Safari. Communication with applicants is made via email through BambooHR, our Applicant Tracking System. Please add BambooHR to your list of acceptable addresses in your email to ensure you receive emails during the application process.

Remember to attach a cover letter and resume. Both documents are required for candidate consideration. 

If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please let us know.

Open Until Filled