Under the direction of the Manager of Communications & Engagement, the Community Engagement Librarian seeks, creates, and develops opportunities for engaging with children, youth, and families to expand the Library’s reach in the community. The goal is to understand and respond to the specific needs and interests of children, youth and families of all backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, as well as immigrants and those facing accessibility barriers. Community engagement includes the development and delivery of in-person and virtual programs, events, and initiatives designed to educate, entertain, and enrich patrons’ lives. It may also include the use of surveys, focus groups, research, and special committee work that increase staff awareness of the changing demands and expectations of different patron groups. The Community Engagement Librarian – Youth Services nurtures on-going relationships with anchor institutions, including schools, civic agencies, non-profit and other organizations that play a vital role in supporting well-being and in advancing the socio-economic development of the community. The incumbent may also participate in the hiring, supervising, and training of support staff whose primary tasks include assisting with the activities described above.
This individual is also expected to regularly provide reference, readers’ advisory, referral, and basic customer account and circulation services to patrons, in person at public-facing service points and by telephone or virtually; and adhere to established quality standards.
The Library is a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. This position includes both evening and weekend shifts.
The incumbent participates in the creation and maintenance of a respectful and inclusionary workplace, meeting expectations that adhere to the Library’s policies and procedures.
• A Masters degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited program or equivalent.
• 2 years pertinent library experience or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training sufficient to indicate a substantive knowledge about practical and philosophical approaches to building community networks and establishing relationships with outside organizations and historically marginalized populations (particularly BIPOC, immigrant audiences, and people facing accessibility barriers), and the development, delivery, and evaluation of library programs, events, and initiatives.
• 2-3 years experience in a supervisory position including hiring, scheduling, developing training plans, coaching and support, and performance management.
• Knowledge of computer software and hardware as it applies to library and information services, and proven keyboarding skills.
• Familiarity with gaming systems is an asset.
• Knowledge of tools and standards of website maintenance and development is preferred.
• Knowledge of any language in addition to English is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting.
• Valid Class 5 Drivers License.
QUALITIES:
• Strong team player.
• Empathy.
• Ability and comfort with working outside of traditional library activities.
• Ability to learn and adopt new technologies, particularly as they relate to the production and distribution of digital multimedia content.
• High level of self-motivation, creativity, and resourcefulness.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with library staff.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing objectives and priorities. Comfort with uncertainty.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with a wide variety of individuals in diverse social and community settings.
• Ability to appreciate and understand the perspectives and needs of BIPOC and immigrant audiences and those of other marginalized populations.
• Supervises any direct reports.
• Under the direction of the Manager of Communications & Engagement
Plans, develops, executes, evaluates and promotes multiple programs every programming season. Such programming will take place in-person and/or virtually, through pre-recorded or livestreaming media using a variety of multimedia production tools available to Library staff.
• Participates in organizing, creating, and implementing opportunities for gathering feedback from children, youth and families, particularly those from historically marginalized populations (e.g. BIPOC and immigrant audiences and patrons facing accessibility barriers) to increase staff awareness about the ever-changing demands and expectations of different patron groups. This work can take place through surveys, focus groups, research, and special committee work.
• Builds and nurtures relationships with diverse sectors of the community, including schools, anchor institutions and non-profit organizations that play a vital role in supporting the well-being and advancing the socio-economic development of the local community.
• Acts as a liaison with the community and coordinates the development of outreach opportunities and programs that respond to the needs of children, youth and families.
• May provide training to community partners on how to use a variety of library technology such as laptops, tablets and gaming systems.
• Undertakes targeted outreach efforts towards under-served and historically marginalized populations, particularly BIPOC, persons with disabilities and immigrant populations as well as patron facing accessibility barriers, with services, collections and programs designed to meet their needs.
• Liaises and partners with external organizations and groups to raise awareness of library services and programs and to increase use of library resources and services.
• Keeps informed of trends, techniques and standards in the delivery of programs, special services, and the promotion and marketing of the library’s services, and programs to assist in short-term and long-term planning in the corresponding areas of responsibility.
• Explores new avenues of service delivery in a collaborative manner with cross-functional teams both in and beyond the library facilities.
• Performs a variety of other support duties such as preparation of statistical reports and evaluation of library programs, completing grant applications as related to library programs, general research and special projects.
• May be required to conduct programs for patrons of all ages and backgrounds in the absence of other staff who typically handle programs to reach specific audiences.
• Regularly works at public service points to deliver information and basic customer account and circulation services. This includes:
• Providing assistance to the public by dealing with all information inquiries promptly, efficiently, and courteously.
• Directing library patrons to informational and recreational resources, and providing referrals to appropriate community agencies or libraries.
• Responding to extended reference questions by phone, online and in-person.
• Assisting patrons with technology-related issues, especially printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. Troubleshooting problems and notifying appropriate staff of complex issues.
• Working collaboratively with other Library staff to prepare bibliographies, guides, booklists, online information, and displays.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to information services, customer accounts, and circulation services.
• Assisting patrons with basic customer account and circulation matters including but not limited to charging and discharging books, collecting fines and fees, registering and renewing patron memberships, and explaining library rules and procedures to patrons.
• Adhering to quality standards established by the Manager of Customer Experience & Service Delivery.
• Providing bibliographic instruction in both formal and informal settings.
• Working shifts at public service points. This will include weekend and evening work.
• Mentoring or assisting support staff in the delivery of information services to the public.
• Communicating and coordinating with other library staff to respond to and manage incidents that may negatively affect the health and safety of others.
• Maintains familiarity with physical and digital collections and works collaboratively to provide input to the Collections and Technology team.
• In response to community needs, may assume responsibility for internal and external library projects. This could involve:
• Writing and submitting proposals for funding or assistance.
• Attending organizational meetings or participating in special committees.
• Communicates ideas to streamline workflow, recognize individual skills, and encourage innovation. This includes:
• Attending departmental meetings and other meetings as required.
• Participating in special committees.
• Suggesting and implementing improvements in consultation with the Manager of Communications & Engagement.
• Regularly checks in with supervisor to report on the state of work and to request guidance on any matters or challenges relating to the performance of job duties.
• Keeps informed of trends in public libraries by reading professional journals and participates in staff development activities.
• May be asked to provide input and feedback regarding the library’s website.
• May be asked to deliver oral presentations to internal and external audiences and written reports on behalf of the Community Engagement department.
• May be designated as in-charge person responsible for the library as a whole in the absence of the Library Director and other members of the management team. Responds to customer requests, complaints and emergencies, and works in concert with other staff according to library policy.
• Performs other miscellaneous duties as may be required.
This is a 2-year contract position.
• Physical effort: Much time spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about; occasionally need to move or lift light articles, walk around the floor as well as up and down stairs; frequent standing and moving about when working at public service points; frequent standing or walking about when in the field engaging with patrons and other organizations. Occasionally lifting items up to 50lb; setting up equipment for programs and at community events.
• Physical environment: Often located in a comfortable indoor area, but frequent potential for operating in outdoor settings or in the field in a variety of weather conditions. Regular travel by car between library branches and community centres.
• Sensory attention: Regular need to give attention, reading, studying, learning, listening to what is happening. Ability to multi-task in an interruptive environment. There is a frequent need to give very close attention.
• Mental stress: The work is varied and ongoing. There is ongoing pressure for performance, dealing with frustrations of staff and the public. There is an intermittent demand for decisions/actions based on limited information. Need to deal with a variety of people internally and externally to coordinate different projects. Working with vulnerable populations including those with mental health disorders and substance use disorders; working with patrons experiencing trauma.
Please send your detailed resume and cover letter that describes how you meet the qualifications, marked “Private and Confidential”, by 4pm on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Human Resources
Prince George Public Library
888 Canada Games Way
Prince George BC, V2L 5T6
E-mail: hr@pgpl.ca
Applications are to be marked “Private and Confidential.” The Management Team thanks all applicants
for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Your application must be true and correct. Disqualification or termination of employment will result if
there are any misstatements or omissions of material facts in the application or hiring process
