The Director of Children’s Services is responsible for leading the Children’s Department of The Farmington Libraries, serving children from birth through grade six, their families and caregivers, and educators in the Farmington region. Responsibilities include staff support and mentoring, program planning and implementation, collection development, as well as outreach and partnerships with schools and other community organizations. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will work with the Executive Director and other library leaders in crafting policies, working on projects and implementing the strategic priorities of the library.
Essential Functions:
- Responsible for the growth, support and development of team members, including answering questions and resolving conflicts; assisting with goal setting and professional growth; training; delegation of work; and maintaining a positive and supportive work environment.
- Administer departmental budgets.
- Lead all aspects of collection development, including evaluating materials for purchase and weeding, collection organization, and ensuring the integrity of the ILS by working in collaboration with technical services staff.
- Provide readers’ advisory materials and training to both staff and visitors; create engaging displays.
- Oversee the planning and execution of responsive programming that meets the varied needs and interests of children from birth through grade six and their caregivers.
- Collaborate with and provide outreach to local schools and daycares and other related community organizations.
Additional Functions:
- Create an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environment for all staff and library guests.
- Assist in policy and procedure development and evaluation.
- Attends conferences, workshops, and meetings to keep current on issues related to children’s library services and to develop relationships with other professionals in the field.
- Serves on professional and community committees to represent the library and advance its services.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrative of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar or a logical assignment to the position.
Required Experience and Education:
- MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution with coursework in children’s librarianship and/or children’s literature.
- Minimum of three years of experience providing children’s services in a public library.
- Minimum of one year of supervisory experience.
Core Competencies
- Strong people management skills including work delegation, scheduling, providing feedback and goal setting, and maintaining morale.
- Excellent communication skills in all formats.
- Ability to engage courteously and effectively with staff, library guests, and community organizations.
- Thorough knowledge of current trends in library services and collections for children.
- Deep understanding of child development and early literacy.
- Ability to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Solid working knowledge of MS Office suite software, as well as knowledge and comfort in using emerging technologies.
Mental and physical requirements:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Must be able to perform continuous bending, twisting, stooping, reaching and lifting of moderate to heavy weight material up to 25 lbs. and have the ability to push book trucks with up to 150 lbs. of materials.
- Must be able to walk, sit and stand for extended periods during the shift.
- Vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
- Ability to keep his/her composure with the public and co-workers in everyday, stressful situations.
This is a full-time, exempt, 35-hour/week position including one evening/week and one Saturday/month.
Salary: $70,000 - $80,0000, with a generous benefit package including health/dental insurance, paid vacation and holidays, accrued sick leave, 2 days of personal leave and enrollment in the Libraries’ pension plan.