Full-Time Suzanne McGraw Children's Librarian

Full-Time Suzanne McGraw Children’s Librarian 

Darien Library (CT) seeks an experienced, skilled, and enthusiastic candidate to join a dedicated Children’s Services Department as a full-time Children’s Librarian. This librarian will serve as the Suzanne McGraw Children’s Librarian, specializing in early literacy and engagement. This is an endowed position named for library and early childhood philanthropist Suzanne McGraw. The Sue McGraw Children’s Librarian will plan and manage programs for patrons ages birth to five, coordinate outreach visits to local preschools and early literacy organizations, manage the Children’s Library’s engagement activities, including marketing, social media, and support collection development for the “First Five Years” collection.

The highly-driven candidate will have a passion for public service, knowledge of children’s literature, experience working with ages birth through five, and a desire to thrive in a fast-paced environment. This individual will join a tight-knit, creative, and collaborative team dedicated to providing extraordinary learning experiences for children.

Qualifications & Skills

• MLIS degree, or degree in progress, from an ALA-accredited library and information sciences graduate program required.
• 2-5 years’ experience in a children’s library, or equivalent experience, preferred.
• Storytime or equivalent early literacy programming experience required.
• Experience and background in early literacy, including knowledge of the developmental needs of children and related library services and materials.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and commitment to hospitality in public service.
• Experience with creating promotional material, including social posts, press releases, and documents for the public.
• Experience planning, managing, and executing large programs and initiatives.
• Highly collaborative.
• Attention to detail and strong aptitude in written and oral communication.
• Knowledge of current library trends, specifically within children’s services.
• Proficiency with new and emerging technologies, as well as Microsoft Office Applications.
• Knowledge of design software highly desirable.
• Bilingual candidates, or those with functional knowledge of another language, are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provides exemplary customer service to patrons on public desks in the Library.
• A public and visible face of the Children’s Library, both inside and outside the organization.
• Maintains strong relationships with various local organizations and individuals to provide outstanding early literacy outreach to the community.
• Coordinates programming for birth to five years with colleagues and outside performers and organizations.
• Creates and manages the yearly storytime calendar, including hiring outside storytime performers and scheduling staff-led storytimes.
• Manages the Storytime budget, portions of the First Five Years collection budget, and co-manages the outreach budget.
• Conducts outreach visits to preschools, community organizations, and other early education groups.
• Manages all Public Relations for the Children’s Library.
• Coordinates birth-to-five summer reading with the Children’s Programming Coordinator.
• Assists in maintaining public calendars and other promotional material for Children’s Services.
• Conducts programming for children of all ages and their caregivers.
• Provides exemplary reference and readers’ advisory services to children, caregivers, and educators.
• Maintains strong connections to relevant professional organizations.
• Available to work at least one evening per week, and at least one weekend a month, in addition to special events scheduled outside of usual business hours.

Physical Requirements

The essential job duties and responsibilities include the ability to perform tasks that may require maintaining a stationary position for extended periods; moving, lifting, and transporting materials such as books weighing up to 50 lbs.; and positioning items through bending, stooping, reaching, or similar movements. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential duties.

Salary

$80,000 annually for a 37.5 hour, five-day week. Hours include at least one evening per week and one weekend per month. Compensation includes generous vacation, sick, and personal leave. Significant opportunities for professional development available. Health insurance and participation in the defined benefit Town pension are included with this position.

To Apply

For consideration, please send a cover letter and resume to Bree Marsden, HR Manager, at [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Darien Library observes and promotes a policy of equal employment opportunity for all. This means that the Darien Library recruits, hires, trains, and promotes all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, physical disability, or any other improper or illegal criteria. All employment decisions are based on legitimate employment-related criteria such as skills, abilities, attitude, and contribution to the Darien Library, in order to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.