Available Position: Children’s Librarian
Reports to: Library Director
Hours: This is a salaried, full-time position (40 hours a week); some weekend and evening hours will be required.
Salary: $39,000 to $48,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Benefits: The Norwin Public Library offers a competitive benefit package.
The Norwin Public Library, a suburban library approximately 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, serves a population of 36,000 in Irwin, North Irwin, and North Huntingdon Twp. It is a member of the Westmoreland County Federated Library System, an alliance of 23 member libraries serving the residents of Westmoreland County. Our library supports a very active programming schedule: a robust Summer Reading Program, year round storytimes and children’s programs.
Job Summary: The Norwin Public Library is seeking a creative and innovative individual who is committed to services for children and their caregivers and assisting patrons of all ages. This individual will provide library services to the community’s children, including reference, reader’s advisory, programming, outreach, and collection development; will monitor and evaluate services to children; and will promote and publicize youth service programs in the schools and around the community.
The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking, compassionate and engaging individual who enjoys working with children and excels at building a rapport with parents, teachers and caregivers. S/he should have a strong interest in continuing to expand services. S/he should have an ability to adapt to changes and a willingness to explore new concepts and initiatives.
The candidate should possess the following attributes:
- Knowledge of: developmental, recreational and educational needs of children, current trends in children’s library services, standard library procedures, current information technology, best practices in children’s services, including guidelines and standards published by ALA, ALSC, and other recognized organizations, best practices in community assessment and engagement, and effective practices in evaluation and outcome measurement.
- Skill in: program development and evaluation, budget management, developing and maintaining local partnerships, and public speaking.
- Ability to: be courteous and tactful with the general public; communicate effectively verbally and in writing, establish and maintain working relationships with patrons, library staff, key community leaders and organizations, and the general public; and speak distinctly to larger groups.
- Ability to: work a flexible schedule that includes Saturdays and evenings as needed, travel to children’s services meetings and library outreach events, recognize and set priorities, and use initiative and independent judgment in a variety of situations.
Children’s Services Responsibilities:
- Develops, presents and/or directs, and evaluates programs for children, including pre-school story hours and summer reading programs
- Oversees the evaluation and selection of juvenile library materials
- Follows and maintains the children’s collection development and programming budget
- Maintains a cooperative relationship with local public and private schools, working with administrators, librarians, teachers, and students to ensure quality library service
- Establish and maintain a working relationship with local service organizations and businesses to help promote and support quality library service for children
- Develops library activities and programs
- Engages in outreach to schools, daycares, preschools, and other community organizations
Administrative Duties:
- Supervises and manages all routine activities in the daily operation of the Children’s Department
- Prepares monthly and annual statistic reports as required
- Keeps Library Director accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new services
- Attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain professional growth and development
Qualifications:
- Master of Library Science from an accredited American Library Association (ALA) Institution or equivalent degree preferred
- Minimum of five years’ experience working in libraries with demonstrated experience with children ages 0-12 years.
- Experience with marketing library materials and programs
- Experience with grant writing preferred but not required.
All Library positions require:
- A PA State Criminal Background check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, and a FBI fingerprint-based criminal history background check.
- Physical aspects of this job may include the ability to climb stairs to get to basement and to occasionally lift, push/pull, hold/carry of items weighing up to thirty-five (35) pounds such as files, books, stacks of paper, and other materials
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
- Compliance with state standards of professional continuing education
To Apply: Candidates should submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Library Director, Diana Falk, at dfalk@norwinpubliclibrary.org. In addition, candidates should provide separate program proposals (max 200 words) for each of the following age groups: Pre-K, Grades K-3, and Grades 3-6. Applications will be accepted until December 3, 2025.
This job description is not, nor is it intended to be, a complete statement of all duties, functions and responsibilities that comprise this position and may include other duties as assigned by the Library Director