Children’s Librarian - Sedgwick Library

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 Sedgwick Library is seeking a Children’s Librarian to empower children from infant through pre-teen to become creative thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and resourceful users of information.  Successful candidates will embody each of these four characteristics themselves.  

 Under the supervision of the Library Manager, the Children’s Librarian:

• Provides reference services and resource recommendations using print, media and digital resources

• Collaborates with the Youth Educational Services Department to develop, promote and facilitate innovative 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, including storytimes and other early literacy programs, visual and 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

• Works to engage children with the collection in ways that allow them to follow their interests and discover new ones

• Conducts outreach to and develops partnerships with community-based organizations, schools, daycare centers, and community groups that target children to promote the library’s services (e.g., MyLibraryNYC, the Library’s partnership with NYC schools), collections, specialized programs and resources to enhance the reading skills of children

• Encourages digital literacy and provides age-appropriate technology instruction to children

• Develops and maintains content for social media platforms such as Library blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest

• Develops and maintains the layout and appearance of the children’s space ensuring a safe and inviting area filled with relevant resources

• Mentors library staff in preparing and presenting children’s programs

• Assists with circulation, fines & fees management, reserves and opening/closing procedures

• May take responsibility for the facility, staff and operations in the absence of the Library Manager

• Maintains a working knowledge of trends in children's literature, youth services and the profession through webinars, meetings, internal training, conferences, professional literature and organizational memberships

• Performs related duties as required

• May take responsibility for the facility, staff and operations in the absence of the Library Manager
• Collaborates with the Youth Educational Services Department to develop, promote and facilitate innovative 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, including storytimes and other early literacy programs, visual and performing arts programming, STEM programs, summer reading events, and a variety of other programs both in the Library and throughout the community

• Helpful
• Resourceful
• Curious

• ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies and Public Librarian’s Professional Certificate issued by the State of New York
• 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 and their parents/caregivers
• Knowledge and appreciation of children’s literature, audiovisual materials, computer resources, and other materials that constitute a balanced, relevant youth collection
• Experience developing, maintaining and marketing Children’s collections
• Experience building partnerships with local organizations and schools to better meet the needs of community users
• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication 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 and reference resources and databases
• Spanish language preferred

Musical and/or artistic skills preferred  

Public Library

• Lifting up to 15 lbs.
• Sitting and standing for periods of time
• Daily use of a computer