Youth Services Specialist

Part-time, Non-exempt
Schedule: Part-time - 17 hours

• Tuesdays 2pm-7pm
• Fridays 3pm-9pm
• Every other Saturday 9am-6pm
• One Sunday/month 12pm-6pm

Under the supervision of the Youth Services Manager, assists library patrons by providing information and readers advisory services and helping to provide learning experiences. The primary audience served is children ages birth through fifth grade and their caregivers.

Minimum Qualifications (education, experience, and certifications):

• Some college coursework, an associate degree, or equivalent experience
• Experience providing customer service to youth and families

Minimum Competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities):

• Excellent communication and social skills
• Broad cultural competency knowledge and skills, and ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse workforce and community
• Commitment to and demonstrated success discussing, integrating, and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and community members
  • anticipate and creatively solve problems with a flexible mindset
  • work independently and handle multiple initiatives requiring organization and attention to detail while meeting deadlines
  • positively adjust to change
• Dedication to public service and strong customer service skills
• Knowledge of children’s literature and information resources
• Knowledge of child development 
• Strong computer skills and familiarity with technology

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in education, early literacy, or library science

Preferred Competencies:

• Multilingual skills in English plus another language relevant to the Skokie community
• Knowledge of early literacy concepts and classroom management principles

Essential Functions:

• Proactively assists patrons in use of the library and its resources and provides advisory and basic information services in the Kids room
• Engages and interacts with patrons in the Kids room
• Contributes to advisory aids and tools such as booklists and Bookmatch for Kids
• Contributes to merchandising efforts by helping to maintain displays
• Continues to develop a broad knowledge of children’s literature by reading widely
• Provide learning experiences and programs in collaboration with Youth Services librarians and other library staff, which may include storytimes, outreach events, passive programming efforts, and other events and programs
• Maintains knowledge about library programs and services
• Maintains current knowledge of library and other relevant industries (e.g., education and publishing)
• Demonstrates ease and comfort with emerging technologies and participates in training as needed
• Assists Youth Services staff with special projects
• Participates in ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• Regular, predictable, and punctual attendance

Other Functions:

• May serve on library committees
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Working Conditions:

The physical demands and environmental characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to perform office-related functions including extended concentration on a computer and typing capability
• Work may include prolonged sitting, standing, stooping, bending, lifting/moving materials, getting down on the floor, as well as continuous computer use.
• Ability to navigate throughout the building
• Noise level is generally moderate
• Scheduling may require availability during any library operating hours, including days, evenings, weekends, and occasionally when the library is closed. Although a weekly schedule is established, the needs of the library may require scheduling changes and flexibility.
• Employee required to park in designated area

Skokie Public Library offers:

• An opportunity to work in a collaborative and compassionate environment alongside talented colleagues in service to a diverse, vibrant community
• A pay range for new hires in this position is $21.02 to $26.27 per hour. Offers are made within this range based on competencies, experience, and internal equity.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status

Visit https://skokielibrary.info/about/jobs/ and click on the link to access that application. Position open until filled. In order to be considered, you must include a cover letter and resume along with your application.