Monroe County Public Library

VITAL Associate 

This position joins the team at VITAL, an Outreach service at Monroe County Public Library dedicated to increasing access to education for adults who have barriers to learning. The VITAL Associate in this role will conduct basic intakes and educational assessments for native and non-native English speakers, assist with tutor training and mentoring, and take a lead role in the collection development for VITAL print and eLearning resources.

Expertise

I am the public face of the Library’s Volunteers In Tutoring Adult Learners program and am responsible for ensuring that patrons receive exceptional service as I help them navigate and utilize VITAL’s physical and digital content, tutoring and self-help services, and spaces. I apply theoretical and practical knowledge of adult teaching and learning best practices to support adult literacy and language acquisition.

I maintain positive relationships with Library professionals who direct and guide my daily work and with customers and the community. I serve as a mentor for VITAL volunteer tutors and provide guidance, set appropriate boundaries, and contribute to a positive learning environment for all.

I thrive in building my skills and abilities related to adult literacy and English language instruction, and I engage with colleagues to develop strategies to support adult learning and Library services.

Essential Functions, Responsibilities, Knowledge and Skills

• I provide assistance for volunteers, assisting with training, developing and promoting teaching resources, and providing ongoing mentoring.
• I conduct basic learner assessment and intake data for individual tutoring, and recommend resources to support learning goals 
• I provide instructional assistance with learning resources and equipment
• I facilitate effective communication and promote VITAL services through direct contact, phone, email, social media, and newsletters.
• I provide excellent face-to-face patron service at VITAL service points; I am a concierge who greets and assists VITAL visitors; I help tutors and learners locate, check out, and place holds on materials; I register patrons for programs and other services to meet their needs.
• I build and manage internal databases related to VITAL volunteers, learners, community contacts, and tracking learner outcomes. I collect and manage data for both internal and external reports including tutor and learner demographics, educational hours, volunteer hours, program attendance and evaluation, learner waiting list, volunteer recruitment and retention, and program evaluation.
• I organize schedules and related volunteer needs for English as a New Language Conversation Practice Groups.
• I assist in collection development for the VITAL resources collection including selection, deselection, and evaluation of all VITAL materials and formats.
• I create booklists, tutorials, lesson plans, and other similar content promoting VITAL resources in an effort to help grow and develop the VITAL program.
• I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with customers, employees and outside contacts; ability to be consistently pleasant, positive, and responsive to a diverse public and staff.
• I possess good organizational and time management skills, ability to assist in planning, coordinating, and implementing projects and services while meeting deadlines. I assist the VITAL Coordinator with programming and training for the public and employees.
• I create and maintain displays and publicity materials.
• I have good writing skills. I create content for social media posts, photos, reading lists, webpages, etc.
• I participate in team and group work developing new services, policies or processes, or other special projects.
• In fulfilling my daily responsibilities, I strive to embody the Library's values of inclusiveness, accessibility, respect, lifelong learning, integrity, service, and freedom of expression.
• I have the ability to learn, adapt, and promote new software and equipment technologies.
• I work individually and as part of a team.
• I demonstrate good critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• I assist and sometimes lead in the mentoring and training of co-workers under the guidance of my manager, resulting in increased employee skills and empowerment.
• I assist in the implementation of process improvement and evaluation initiatives supporting the enhancement of the employee and patron experience.
• I have working knowledge of all library policies and public service procedures, and public library and business computer applications.
• Fluency in a second language is considered helpful.

Required Education/Experience and License/Certifications

•  Bachelor's degree or a combination of equivalent education and experience required.
•  Demonstrated strong communication skills and customer service commitment required.
• One year of library or related experience working with customer service in a fast-paced library or similar environment required.
• Teaching experience is strongly preferred.
•  Demonstrated interest, advanced skills, and experience in working with adult audiences.
•  Data collection, tracking, and reporting experience is preferred.
•  Demonstrated ability to support users with various digital devices, software, and content strongly preferred.
•  May require a valid driver's license and proof of insurability.

Supervision Received

Receives general direction. Follows standard procedures and operates with infrequent functional guidance. Works independently and normally sets work flow and performance routines. Unusual questions and situations are referred to the manager, frequently accompanied with additional information and suggestions for correction.

Supervision or Leadership Exercised

Ongoing mentorship for VITAL volunteer tutors.

Working Conditions

• Frequently standing, walking, moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, and moving from one work site to another.
• Regularly sitting and performing various repetitive actions and extensive use of keyboards, mice, monitors, and varied digital devices, requires using hands to finger, handling or feeling and repetitive motions.
• Work has standard vision requirements; frequent speaking, vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Occasional to frequent travel, entering and exiting vehicles, driving, moving, and carrying materials to and from various locations.
• Occasional moderate lifting (25 lbs.) and infrequent heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs.). Assistance with excessive loads is required.
• Normal library working conditions; moderate exposure to office/maintenance chemicals (cleaning solutions, glue, paint, etc.).
• Occasional exposure to fluctuations in interior conditions such as noise and temperatures.
• May encounter exposure to outside elements, heat, cold, rain, snow, ice, etc. when traveling on library business.
• Infrequent climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

An individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodations, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Department: Outreach Services

Reports To: VITAL Assistant Manager 

Benefit/FLSA Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Classification: Pay Grade 114

Hours/Week: 25

Compensation: See Wage & Salary Schedule

Certification(s): None

MCPL employees may be assigned to work on weekdays, evenings or weekends. MCPL remains open during local academic breaks and we are unable to accommodate extended absences, including those associated with semester breaks. MCPL work schedules adjust in response to changing operational needs.

This job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, assignments, or working conditions associated with this job.

MCPL is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its employees, patrons and community. We encourage applications from members of underrepresented minority groups.