Youth Services Manager

Description:

Handley Regional Library is seeking a dynamic and imaginative Youth Services Manager who believes in the power of stories to shape young minds and strengthen communities. In this role, you will inspire curiosity from the very first picture book to the threshold of young adulthood – designing engaging programs, building meaningful relationships, and creating welcoming spaces where every child feels seen and valued. If you are passionate about literacy, energized by collaborations, and ready to make a lasting impact on your community, we invite you to bring your ideas and enthusiasm to our team

Position Title: Youth Services Manager

Level: Professional II

Reports to: Branch Manager

Hours: FT - 40 hours/wk

Compensation: $50,000/yr

Benefits: Health Insurance, Retirement, paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave

Fair Labor Standards Act: Exempt

Position opened until filled

Position Summary

Under the general direction of the Branch Manager, performs professional, administrative, and supervisory work in planning, implementing, and managing a comprehensive program of services to children and teens and to their adult care givers, parents, and teachers. Develops and maintains several collections for which the Youth Services Division is responsible. Works with the Branch Manager to develop long and short-term goals for the department. Actively participates in Youth Services Division planning in coordination with library administration. Keeps current with new trends in library planning, services, and collection development. Examines operations on a daily basis to ensure that all resources are managed as effectively as possible.

Major Duties

• Oversees the operation of Youth Services within assigned branch. Trains, supervises and evaluates staff and volunteers. Ensures the highest quality service to patrons as established by library policies. Interprets library policies and procedures for staff and patrons and ensures staff understanding and adherence.
• Collaborates with Branch Manager to develop and maintain the layout and appearance of the youth services areas, ensuring a safe and inviting environment filled with relevant resources.
• Monitors the security of the youth services area, including behavior and conduct of library patrons. Resolves problems related to the day-to-day delivery of services, such as reviewing and resolving patron complaints and questions. May assume responsibility for all staff, public, and library building in the absence of the Branch Manager.
• Provides direct service to library patrons by answering reference questions and providing reader’s advisory services by telephone and in person. Assists and instructs patrons in the use of print and online materials and technology.
• Troubleshoots library computers and other technology and reports unresolved problems through the proper channels.
• Proactively develops, organizes, and conducts engaging programs for youth and caregivers which encourage reading, viewing, and listening skills and the use of library facilities and materials to help create lifelong library users. Supervises program presentations by subordinates or outside presenters. Conducts library tours for interested groups including schools, classes, groups, and organizations.
• Promotes the library’s collections, resources and services by planning, coordinating, and participating in liaison activities; by overseeing the preparation of displays and other tools to increase access to materials; and by effectively using the media to motivate families to use the library.
• Implements outreach efforts to local schools, businesses, day care centers, preschools, parent groups, and community organizations. Represents the library to the community.
• Partners with the Collections Team to develop and maintain the children’s collections of the Handley Regional Library through the selection, weeding, marketing, and merchandising of books and other library materials as spelled out in the library’s collections development policy. Ensures the collections are diverse, current, relevant and meet the needs of the community.
• Develops and submits programming and collection budget proposals. Administers and expends assigned budgets to stay within appropriate levels.
• Prepares statistics, reports, and periodic presentations related to Youth Services programs, and activities.
• Keeps informed of current trends, technology, and developments affecting librarians through professional reading, continuing education opportunities, and participation in professional organizations. Attends workshops, conferences, and training as needed.
• Advises Library administration about the needs of residents for library collections, services and programs. Assists in developing policies and procedures and the five-year plan of services, as assigned. Interprets library policies to staff and patrons.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Controls

Works independently but under the general supervision of the Branch Manager. The Branch Manager indicates general responsibilities, gives special assignments, establishes priorities, and monitors progress in meeting overall goals and objectives. Work is reviewed by observation and through regular conferences for the degree of success achieved in attaining goals and objectives. Formal performance evaluations are conducted annually. The Youth Services Manager exercises direct supervision over paraprofessional and volunteer assistants.

Guidelines

Policies and procedures of the Handley Regional Library and the Library’s Five-Year Plan. The Library of Virginia and American Library Association guidelines.

Complexity

Work is routine to complex in nature requiring a high level of professional and technical skills and abilities as well as use of judgment, accuracy, discretion and tact. Work requires a broad, well-read and inquisitive mind. The development of services and programs require imagination, organizational ability, evaluation and analysis.

Scope And Effect

Patrons receive courteous and informative service and are assisted to locate specific titles or subjects about which they desire information. Patrons, especially children, are stimulated to read, look, listen, question, and learn. Materials developed for story time programs are used smoothly in outreach and library programming. Child care personnel see the library as an essential resource in the effective completion of their own tasks. Adults and children will use the library in ways that result in enhancing their knowledge of what is available and broadening their appreciation for the use of those resources and services that are an extension and reinforcement of their educational, recreational and cultural needs. Patrons have free and convenient access to ideas and information from superior children’s literature at the Handley Regional Library.

Personal Contacts

Contacts are with patrons, including adults and children, volunteers, child care workers, school personnel and local agencies to provide direct assistance and information about the Library’s collections, services and programs; with coworkers to coordinate activities and library services and communicate information; with other professionals, vendors, program presenters and publishers’ representatives to learn about child advocacy, new publications, services, programs and technologies; and with subordinates; to train, motivate and supervise.

Physical Demands

The Library building requires the ability to climb steps several times a day, lift 25 pounds of books or other library materials; the ability to move furniture, book trucks and tables; the ability to read and project one’s voice for children’s programming; the ability to traverse the Library several times a day and to frequently stop, reach and bend.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a public library setting during regular business hours, including evening and weekends.

Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of the professional practices, procedures and techniques of library science desired; considerable knowledge of children’s books and materials preferred; broad knowledge of reader interests, reading levels and books and authors required; ability to design promote, execute and evaluate programs for children of all ages based on their developmental needs and interest required; comprehensive knowledge of and ability to use reference works preferred; knowledge of techniques of staff development and personnel management required; general knowledge of volunteer program development and management desired; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and library patrons necessary; ability to maintain an orderly atmosphere and deal with difficult patrons desired; demonstrated ability to manage a variety of projects required; ability to plan and conduct meetings required; ability to conduct statistical research on library operations and write clear and concise reports desired; ability to promote the library’s resources and services in the media desired; considerable facility in using the English language demonstrated through written and speaking skills required; considerable ability to interpret library resources and services to the public and to the larger community required.

Education, Training And Experience

Master’s degree in library science from an American Library Association accredited institution and previous professional library experience required. Eligibility for Virginia State Library certification required. Experience in working with children of various ages required. Administrative experience preferred. Experience in developing and presenting library programs required.