Children's Programming Library Assistant Job at Charlottecountyva in Virginia

Children's Programming Library Assistant

CHARLOTTE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Children’s Programming Library Assistant

Summary:

Charlotte County Public Library is the public library system for Charlotte County, VA. The Main Library is in Charlotte Court House, and there are branches in Keysville, Phenix, and Wylliesburg. The library has been serving members of the community since 1937. A rural county in south central Virginia, Charlotte is known for its rich history, beautiful countryside, good schools, and affordable living. Only thirty minutes southwest of Farmville, and just over an hour from both Lynchburg and Richmond, Charlotte County is close to everything one would need, while still providing the peace and quiet of the countryside. Currently under the leadership of its new director, this is an exciting time to join our staff. The person in this position will fill a key role in the organization.

This position reports to the Library Director and is a full-time, 40 hours/week, salaried position, with benefits commensurate with other salaried county employees. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required.

The Children’s Programming Library Assistant is a position with two responsibilities: planning and overseeing all children’s programming for Charlotte County Public Library (CCPL) and staffing CCPL branches to provide circulation and reference services to library patrons. This position performs all the activities necessary for successful children’s programming and events, as well as operating a library branch on a daily basis.

This position reports to the Library Director and is a full-time, 40 hours/week, salaried position, with benefits commensurate with other salaried county employees. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required. Special events may occasionally require working outside of normal business hours. Work locations may vary, depending on the needs of the library.

Essential Functions, Children’s Programming:

• Plan and organize relevant and age-appropriate events for children ages birth to 13, including regular storytimes and overseeing all Summer Reading programs for that age group. Summer Reading includes storytimes, crafts, special events, and prizes.
• Schedule children’s events at all library locations and work with the Library Director to make any necessary scheduling changes for library staff.
• This person will occasionally conduct children’s programs directly to children but will also be responsible for recruiting volunteers and library staff to assist in children’s program execution.
• Determine supplies and other resources needed for children’s events and work with Library Director to obtain those supplies and resources
• Communicate detailed plans for children’s programming with library staff
• Market children’s programming to the public both in print and online

Essential Functions, Branch Services:

• Open and prepare assigned building for service, and close buildings securely-- according to service hours
• Provide service desk coverage at assigned branch, including occasional hours on Saturdays, weekday evenings, and special events. May be required to staff service desks at any library location to provide adequate desk coverage.
• Service desk coverage includes general library work, such as: checking books in and out, renewing books, helping patrons find books, submitting patron collection requests, recommending books to patrons, collecting fees, placing holds, and registering new patrons. Sometimes there will also be special projects required to keep the library collection organized and well-functioning.
• Service desk coverage also includes general customer service duties, such as: greeting patrons, helping patrons find what they need, explaining services to patrons, answering the phone, making photocopies, recording statistics, and keeping the desk tidy and organized.
• Report concerns about the building, equipment, collection, patrons, or services to Library Director promptly.
• Promote all the library’s collections and services to all library patrons.
• Assist patrons on computers: logging in, printing, troubleshooting, basic instruction on using computer software or websites
• Assist in fulfilling requested items for other branches and monthly collection rotations
• Provide information research assistance to patrons, both in person and on the phone
• Inform customers of various library policies as needed; assist them in certain procedures and processes as needed
• Shelve and keep books in order, remove unwanted books, and recommend items for purchase
• Compile library statistics accurately and in a timely fashion
• Collaborate with other library employees to deliver collections, programming, and services
• May participate in library outreach activities in the community, especially those related to children. These activities would happen in places other than a library building.
• May assist in creating, scheduling, promoting, and executing library programs for other age groups
• Perform other library-related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least one year of customer service experience, interacting with customers both face-to-face and over the telephone
• Experience in an office environment and knowledge of office equipment such as photocopiers, printers, computers, and multi-line telephones
• Familiarity with modern technology, such as computers, Windows operating system, Microsoft Office Suite, email, working with email attachments, internet searching, minor computer troubleshooting, and Office 365
• Experience using social media
• Enjoys working with children
• Does not smoke or vape

Preferred Qualifications:

• College degree strongly preferred, especially coursework in education, library science, literature, early childhood education, or other highly relevant subject
• Experience working in a library or bookstore
• Experience with updating websites or using Canva
• Professional experience with young children, teens, or in event planning
• A love of reading a wide variety of books, and a familiarity with children’s books
• Experience using ebooks and audiobooks, especially on devices such as kindles
• Artistic ability is desirable
• Experience doing genealogical research is desirable
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Office 365, especially Word and Excel

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Outstanding customer service skills: helpful, friendly, polite, thorough, and tactful
• Ability to make change from cash transactions
• Ability to understand and maintain proper patron and staff confidentiality in all transactions and communications
• Ability to follow established procedures and policies with minimal supervision
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time appropriately
• Ability to complete assignments on time
• Ability to work alone and with minimal supervision
• Ability to work independently and exercise initiative
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, to individuals or groups
• Understand when to ask for help
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with others, will be a contributing member of the library staff team
• Punctual and reliable
• Ability to keep library and the service desk tidy, organized, and professional-looking
• Maintains a professional appearance and demeanor
• Ability to provide attention to details and is thorough in all work
• Has high standards for their own work and looks for ways to improve the library, takes ownership in their work
• Able to work in a rapidly changing environment which may require changing of priorities, additional responsibilities, or learning new procedures on short notice
• Physical abilities include: seeing and reading clearly, ability to read up close and at a distance, ability to hear clearly when others are using normal tones, ability to continuously handle and move books and other library materials, ability to lift up to 30 pounds, ability to push wheeled library carts up to 100 pounds, ability to reach for materials that are on the top or bottom shelves, ability to sit at a desk or stand on foot for extended periods of time, ability to use a computer

Disclaimer Statement:
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business needs and the supervisor’s request.

• A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and why you feel you are qualified
• Your resume
• Three professional references

Cover letters and resumes completed with AI technology will be automatically disqualified.