What are the responsibilities and job description for the Librarian - Children's Services position at Mecklenburg County?
Children's Librarian – Mountain Island Library
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
“Follow your calling, Find your career”
Please apply by 9/8/26
Salary Range $54,361.60 - $67,952.00
This is an exempt (salaried) position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving one of the country’s great emerging metropolitan areas in North Carolina. Our library system serves a community of approximately one million citizens in the city of Charlotte and the towns of Matthews, Pineville, Mint Hill, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville – all located in Mecklenburg County. Accessible and welcoming to all, our library celebrates the joy of reading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and the world, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve. Through our 20 locations, online, and through targeted outreach, we deliver exceptional library services and programs with a mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.
Location:
Mountain Island Library: 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way Charlotte, NC 28214
The Mountain Island Library is located in Northwest Charlotte among the rapidly growing Mountain Island Lake region close to the Catawba River and the Gaston County border. This 16,000 square foot facility reflects the community’s ties to nature and serves as a warm and welcoming hub of learning and connection for all ages.
Position Summary
This position works with a team to create a welcoming and engaging environment for children ages 0-11, their caregivers, families, and all individuals using the library. This position is full-time and requires flexibility to work one evening per week. The Children’s Librarian is responsible for planning and implementing programming for diverse audiences, as well as collection management, outreach, and assisting actively connecting customers with the full spectrum of library resources. This position serves as a Manager on Duty and supports the location manager in overseeing daily activities of this beloved community branch. The children’s librarian will work collaboratively with library staff, school personnel, and community organizations to support the library’s mission to improve lives and build a stronger community. This position can lead within the organization through participation or leadership in system-wide teams and work groups. Other responsibilities include responding to reference questions, research/homework and readers' advisory requests; explaining and interpreting the library's services, policies and procedures; developing, managing and promoting the library's collection of materials; and assists in the planning and implementation of programs and classes that provide opportunities for lifelong learning, early literacy, and educational support.
Essential Functions
Meet customers' informational, research and pleasure reading needs by matching requests to appropriate resources.
Provide quality programming for children, pre-teens, and their caregivers; creates promotional materials and merchandises collection with displays.
Determine the timeliest, authoritative and appropriate information source for each customer, based on questions asked, the information required, and the format (print, non-print) that provides the most effective delivery.
Train customers in the use of electronic reference resources, internet searches, e-books and digital downloads; provide guidance and instruction for both general and specific requests. Enables customers to operate PCs, tablets, mobile devices to access digital materials.
Troubleshoot problems or instructs customers in the use of software and hardware. Assesses the level of instruction needed to use technology.
Manage and maintain library materials in specific, assigned areas of the collection by noting community needs and customer requests, consulting reviews and bibliographies, checking lost and missing reports and recommending purchases.
Perform relevant collection management tasks to ensure that resources are available to meet the informational and recreational needs of the community.
Develop diverse and innovative programs, publications and displays to enhance library services.
Continue professional development through workshops, classes, webinars, conferences, retreats, etc. request marketing assistance.
Choose activities to enhance or develop skills needed to meet professional or learning goals.
Perform administrative duties that may include serving as manager on duty, scheduling employees, submitting maintenance and IT tickets, dealing with customer concerns, reserving meeting rooms, interpreting and enforcing library policy.
Exercise sound judgment and uses available resources to determine the action needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum of two years of public library experience
Education
Master’s degree in Library science from an ALA-accredited institution
Licenses And Certifications
NC Public Library certification required or must be obtained within 12 months of hires
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with children
Bilingual
Knowledge Of
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Library science
Child development
Reference interview process
Familiarity with the library's classification system, cataloging interface of the Online Public Access Catalog and OCLC/MARC records
Skills
Familiarity with readers' advisory and reference resources
Excellent customer service, including strong verbal and written skills
Working with a diverse population
Assessing a customer's needs and abilities to match them with the appropriate information or materials
Excellent time-management skills with attention to detail
Abilities
Decision- Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probably consequences
Collaboration: Working effectively and cooperatively with others; establishing and maintain good working relationships
Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills: Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise
Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Managing Work: Effectively managing one’s time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Customer Focus: Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs
Continuous Leaning: Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application
Computer Skills
Advanced proficiency in various computer applications
Technological adeptness with PCs, tablets and mobile devices, internet and database searching, and email
Work Environment
Works in an office setting with moderate noise and busy public library spaces
Selection
This classification has been identified as having a role in the development of ADA compliant technologies and for which the incumbent agrees to follow County policies to the best of their abilities to meet these obligations.
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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 need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
“Follow your calling, Find your career”
Please apply by 9/8/26
Salary Range $54,361.60 - $67,952.00
This is an exempt (salaried) position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving one of the country’s great emerging metropolitan areas in North Carolina. Our library system serves a community of approximately one million citizens in the city of Charlotte and the towns of Matthews, Pineville, Mint Hill, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville – all located in Mecklenburg County. Accessible and welcoming to all, our library celebrates the joy of reading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and the world, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve. Through our 20 locations, online, and through targeted outreach, we deliver exceptional library services and programs with a mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.
Location:
Mountain Island Library: 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way Charlotte, NC 28214
The Mountain Island Library is located in Northwest Charlotte among the rapidly growing Mountain Island Lake region close to the Catawba River and the Gaston County border. This 16,000 square foot facility reflects the community’s ties to nature and serves as a warm and welcoming hub of learning and connection for all ages.
Position Summary
This position works with a team to create a welcoming and engaging environment for children ages 0-11, their caregivers, families, and all individuals using the library. This position is full-time and requires flexibility to work one evening per week. The Children’s Librarian is responsible for planning and implementing programming for diverse audiences, as well as collection management, outreach, and assisting actively connecting customers with the full spectrum of library resources. This position serves as a Manager on Duty and supports the location manager in overseeing daily activities of this beloved community branch. The children’s librarian will work collaboratively with library staff, school personnel, and community organizations to support the library’s mission to improve lives and build a stronger community. This position can lead within the organization through participation or leadership in system-wide teams and work groups. Other responsibilities include responding to reference questions, research/homework and readers' advisory requests; explaining and interpreting the library's services, policies and procedures; developing, managing and promoting the library's collection of materials; and assists in the planning and implementation of programs and classes that provide opportunities for lifelong learning, early literacy, and educational support.
Essential Functions
Meet customers' informational, research and pleasure reading needs by matching requests to appropriate resources.
Provide quality programming for children, pre-teens, and their caregivers; creates promotional materials and merchandises collection with displays.
Determine the timeliest, authoritative and appropriate information source for each customer, based on questions asked, the information required, and the format (print, non-print) that provides the most effective delivery.
Train customers in the use of electronic reference resources, internet searches, e-books and digital downloads; provide guidance and instruction for both general and specific requests. Enables customers to operate PCs, tablets, mobile devices to access digital materials.
Troubleshoot problems or instructs customers in the use of software and hardware. Assesses the level of instruction needed to use technology.
Manage and maintain library materials in specific, assigned areas of the collection by noting community needs and customer requests, consulting reviews and bibliographies, checking lost and missing reports and recommending purchases.
Perform relevant collection management tasks to ensure that resources are available to meet the informational and recreational needs of the community.
Develop diverse and innovative programs, publications and displays to enhance library services.
Continue professional development through workshops, classes, webinars, conferences, retreats, etc. request marketing assistance.
Choose activities to enhance or develop skills needed to meet professional or learning goals.
Perform administrative duties that may include serving as manager on duty, scheduling employees, submitting maintenance and IT tickets, dealing with customer concerns, reserving meeting rooms, interpreting and enforcing library policy.
Exercise sound judgment and uses available resources to determine the action needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum of two years of public library experience
Education
Master’s degree in Library science from an ALA-accredited institution
Licenses And Certifications
NC Public Library certification required or must be obtained within 12 months of hires
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with children
Bilingual
Knowledge Of
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Library science
Child development
Reference interview process
Familiarity with the library's classification system, cataloging interface of the Online Public Access Catalog and OCLC/MARC records
Skills
Familiarity with readers' advisory and reference resources
Excellent customer service, including strong verbal and written skills
Working with a diverse population
Assessing a customer's needs and abilities to match them with the appropriate information or materials
Excellent time-management skills with attention to detail
Abilities
Decision- Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probably consequences
Collaboration: Working effectively and cooperatively with others; establishing and maintain good working relationships
Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills: Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise
Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Managing Work: Effectively managing one’s time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Customer Focus: Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs
Continuous Leaning: Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application
Computer Skills
Advanced proficiency in various computer applications
Technological adeptness with PCs, tablets and mobile devices, internet and database searching, and email
Work Environment
Works in an office setting with moderate noise and busy public library spaces
Selection
This classification has been identified as having a role in the development of ADA compliant technologies and for which the incumbent agrees to follow County policies to the best of their abilities to meet these obligations.
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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 need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.
Salary : $54,362 - $67,952