Are you are passionate about library services for youth, and love to engage with and excite children and families about all the library has to offer? The Twin Rivers branch of the Mercer County Library System is looking for you! We are seeking to fill a full-time, 35 hour per week position in the Youth Services Department of our small community branch.
This is an excellent opportunity for a librarian with a strong vision and interest in building relationships to provide an exciting home for youth services and programming within this small, friendly community that has lots of families with young children! Are you looking for a challenge? Looking to hone your existing YS skills and experience, or maybe make your mark on your first professional position after obtaining your MLS?
We are seeking an energetic librarian who has a track record of working with children, a passion for youth and teen services, plus a strong commitment to providing excellent public service.
Our community is growing and changing, with many recent arrivals to our area. The youth services librarian will be responsible for finding innovative ways to engage with these new community members. The librarian will provide core programming and readers’ advisory to children and parents in this diverse community; do outreach to schools, Head Start, and more; publicize programs and library initiatives; develop and weed the YS and YA collections; and run the youth Summer and Winter Reading programs.
Additional responsibilities may include preparing statistical reports on monthly departmental activities and use, creating bulletin boards and displays, maintaining the collection budget for YS/YA materials, writing occasional library blog articles, staying current on new developments in the library field, providing reference assistance to patrons of all ages, and contributing to the annual branch report and library social media opportunities. The position includes one evening per week and Saturdays in rotation.
The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and forward thinking. The librarian should be comfortable planning a consistent slate of programs that encourage children to read and have fun. Strong organizational skills, program management skills, and a sense of humor are essential. Demonstrated experience using technology (including library automated systems, online reference resources, and Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel) is necessary.
The candidate should have flexibility for scheduling programming at days and times that children and young adults will find convenient, and expect to participate in outreach in the schools and community. Strong oral and written communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines are needed. As a member of a small branch, willingness to be part of a team environment and collaborate with coworkers is a must.
This position requires a master’s degree in library/information sciences from an ALA-accredited institution, but applications from graduate students already enrolled in such a program will be considered in the library associate title. A New Jersey Professional Librarian’s Certification is required for those who have attained the required master’s degree.
This title is affiliated with AFSCME 3566. The current salary range for Librarian 1 is $42,465 – $68,586 in 10 steps.
The County of Mercer adheres to a strict residency requirement. Residents of Mercer County will be given first priority of consideration. For all others, Mercer County residency is required within one year of appointment. All applicants are subject to pre-employment tests: drug, physical and criminal background check.
Full job descriptions can be found on the State of NJ Civil Service Commission website. There is a 90-day probationary period before permanency.
Please send all inquiries to Ellen Brown, director [at] mcl.org, or Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications will be accepted until a qualified candidate is found. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.