Children's Librarian - Bronx Library Center

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 Bronx Library Center 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 Unit Head for Children’s Services, the Children’s Librarian engages children through collections, services, and programs in ways that allow them to follow their interests and discover new ones.

The Librarian:

• 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, collections, specialized programs, and resources
• Facilitates group and family visits to the Library to enhance the reading skills of children
• Actively and continuously promotes our collections and reading through readers advisory, staff picks, recommendation lists, blog entries, author talks, book discussions, and other innovative ways, both on site and online
• 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 within 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
• Fosters 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 to ensure a safe and inviting area filled with relevant resources
• Mentors Library staff in preparing and presenting children’s programs
• Assists with branch operations, including circulation, fines & fees management, reserves, and opening/closing procedures
• In the absence of the Unit Head for Children’s Services, may take responsibility for the facility, staff, and operations
• Performs related duties as required

• Accountability and Professionalism
• Customer Service
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Job-Specific Knowledge and Skills

Qualifications:

• ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies and Public Librarian’s Professional Certificate issued by the State of New York
• Enthusiasm for public service and the ability to work well with a diverse patronage, including children and their parents/caregivers
• 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, as well as a love of reading
• Experience developing, maintaining, and promoting children’s collections
• Experience building partnerships with local organizations and schools to meet the needs of community users
• Demonstrated successful 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

• Bi-lingual- English/Spanish
• Basic understanding of emerging library technologies, service and programming trends for children, and urban public library issues preferred
• Working knowledge of trends in children's literature, youth services, and the profession through webinars, meetings, internal training, conferences, professional literature, and organizational memberships

Branch environment

Physical Requirements:

Lifting up to 15 lbs.

Sitting and standing for periods of time

Daily use of a computer