Job Description and Assessment

Professional Toolkit Assignment

Job Description and Assessment

Children's Librarian - College Hill Branch

Tracking Code

699-133

Job Description

- Plans and conducts programs for children to encourage reading, viewing, and listening of library materials in an effort to create lifelong readers.
- As second in command, assists with supervision and training of staff and assumes responsibility in absence of Branch Manager.
- Performs reference and reader's advisory services in person, by telephone and by e-mail, using materials in a variety of formats.
- Provides service to the community and schools through programming, teacher collection services, and other Library services.
- Maintains knowledge of circulation system in order to assist at circulation desk.
- Uses computers and the Internet effectively for providing Library service.
- Identifies reading trends among juvenile patrons.
- Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

- Strong Customer service skills.
- Experience working with children and children's programming preferred.
- Knowledge of children's literature preferred.
- Must be able to work evenings and weekends.
- Knowledge of the Library's policies and procedures.
- Analytical abilities sufficient to perform reference searches quickly and accurately with material at the appropriate age level.
- Is self-motivated.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including building and enhancing diverse relationships.

Job Location

Cincinnati, , United States

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

Salary

39,894.40 - 59,800.00 USD

Education

Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited school.

Hours

40 hours per week

Salary

Grade M: $39,894.40 - $59,800.00

Deadline

February 12, 2013

Children's librarian - college hill branch. (2013). Retrieved from https://cincinnatilibrary.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=699&company_id=16133&version=1&jobBoardId=1112

I have strengths and weaknesses in the required skills list and job description for a Children’s Services Librarian.  I have no experience planning children’s programs, but can learn how to do so by attending professional development classes, graduate classes, and by observing at other libraries.  I have not supervised staff members before, though I often supervise volunteers in my current position.  I have taken a class in management and can use the information and skills learned to manage staff members.  With time, I can easily learn the circulation system in place since I have had experience in a circulation department of a library in the past.

I have great customer service skills because I like to help and work with patrons.  I will do whatever is necessary, within reason, to find the patron what he or she is looking for.  I am cheerful, friendly, and patient with patrons and coworkers.  I enjoy interacting with patrons and think that I have great interpersonal skills. 

I have experience working with children and children’s programming.  I have worked in a public library for four years and often work with children, occasionally performing reader’s advisory services.  While I have performed in children’s programs before, usually story time, I have not created a program from scratch before.  The story time programs and crafts are usually thought out ahead of time at the library that I have experience at.  I host story time when the director, who usually does story time, is sick or unavailable.  During story time, I animatedly read three or four books to the children and then we have a craft to make.  This requires positive interaction with the children, patience, and understanding of what motivates the child to do what he or she does.  I have some problems with reading aloud, but I am overcoming those difficulties with practice.  The issue that I have when reading aloud is that I will sometimes become so focused on reading the words that my voice becomes flat and monotone and I enunciate each word individually, which can make the sentence sound disjointed and odd.  As I mentioned, I am practicing reading aloud and am overcoming this difficulty.

I have a growing knowledge of children’s literature.  In my undergraduate schooling, I took a class on children’s literature, in which we read books for different age groups.  I tend to like the simplicity and adventure in children’s books and will often read them in my spare time.  I find that this helps with reader’s advisory services because I can tell a child, from experience, how good this particular book is.  To prepare for work in this area of service, I will continue to read an array of children’s books in order to extend my knowledge of them. 

I am available at any time, so I can work evenings and weekends.  Actually, for the job that I currently have, I mostly work evenings and every other weekend, so I could easily continue to do so.  I have a general knowledge of library policies and procedures, though I suspect that the location specific ones will be quickly learned once I am on the job.

Having worked in a public library before and with the fact that I am currently working on obtaining my degree in library services, I have an understanding of how to conduct a reference search.  The two experiences combined have gifted me with an apt knowledge of how to find the information that I am searching for.  I believe that I am self-motivated, which is a trait that is necessary when taking classes online like I am currently doing.  Another necessary trait in taking classes online that can be used in this position is the knowledge of internet and computer services. 

In order to better prepare myself for working as a Children’s Services Librarian, I will volunteer at other libraries so I can gain a broader knowledge of how programs are conducted in different locations.   I will take graduate classes and professional development opportunities when available.