Community Engagement Librarian, BiblioTemps (Olin College of Engineering) (Needham)

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; Needham (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Olin College Library is seeking a Community Engagement Librarian to foster student success and community engagement through creative programming and events. This temporary position offers flexible hours and provides an opportunity to work directly with students in an innovative environment, enhancing library services and resources while partnering with student organizations.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of library experience or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility required.
• Lift up to 30 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and implement library programming activities.
• Manage the Library of Things and makerspace equipment.
• Collaborate with student organizations and library colleagues.

Skills

Organizational Skills

Community Engagement

Collaboration

Flexibility

Service Orientation

Education

MLS/MLIS or coursework towards the degree

Job description

Community Engagement Librarian, BiblioTemps (Olin College of Engineering) (Needham)

BiblioTemps is an employment service of the Massachusetts Library System that provides experienced library workers for temporary placements in public, academic, and special libraries throughout Massachusetts.

Title: Community Engagement Librarian

Location: Olin College of Engineering (Needham, MA)

Position Type: Temporary

Start date: August 4, 2025

End date: December 19, 2025

Schedule: 30 hours per week; Flexible within 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday

Pay Rate: $20.75-$24.00 per hour

CORI: Required

Description:

The Olin College Library seeks an energetic, service-oriented, creative colleague to join us in supporting student success and community engagement.

Under direction of the Library Director, and with the Community Services Librarian, the Community Engagement Librarian (CEL) takes an active role in creatively supporting students and joins in exploring the literacies of making, participatory design, and community building. This position is responsible for co-managing the Library of Things/makerspace equipment and organizing programming, both for the library and in partnership with the Student Affairs and Resources (STAR) team and student clubs and organizations. Additionally, this position will help maintain the physical environment of the library and continue to foster a culture of community stewardship for special equipment and resources. The Olin College Library is eager for the CEL to bring their own interests and passion for creative learning and for thinking “out of the box” when it comes to library services.

This is an in-person/on-campus position based in Needham, MA.

Responsibilities:

• Plans, schedules, and implements library programming activities including creating and coordinating programs and events, designing marketing materials, and collaborating with Olin student groups and colleagues
• Works with library colleagues and the Student Affairs and Resources (StAR) team to engage with and empower student organizations; assists with first-year experience programming including orientation and the Olin First Year Introduction (OFYI) course
• Co-manages the Library of Things (cameras, A/V gear, board games, etc.) and makerspace equipment (sewing machines, screen printer, vinyl cutters, etc.), including maintaining and ordering supplies and reinforcing a culture of community stewardship
• Helps support and co-supervise a peer-training group of students with expert knowledge of specialized library equipment
• Represents the library at events and committee meetings as needed
• Handles common paging tasks, including shelving books, check-in, and interlibrary loan delivery
• As needed, provides research assistance and help with using library resources; fulfills interlibrary loan requests

Qualifications

Experience and Qualifications:

• MLS/MLIS or coursework towards the degree is preferred, though not required
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• 1 to 3 years of library experience or equivalent work experience
• Lift up to 30 lbs.

Desired Qualifications

• Extremely organized and experienced with implementing organizational processes
• Experience with A/V production and/or fabrication (screen printing, sewing, fiber arts, etc.)
• Familiarity with and enthusiasm for participatory design
• Willingness to build meaningful relationships with a very engaged undergraduate population
• Experience managing websites, social media channels, and/or newsletters for other organizations
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to values of equity, access, and belonging

Company Description:

Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, we are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do our students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society.

As Olin evolves under the leadership of our president, Dr. Gilda Barabino, we seek to become a more diverse and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation—including making and learning from mistakes—will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture, and we will work intentionally to reinforce the values and culture to which we aspire. We are a community that thrives on being together; we value trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. We are approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station for the MBTA Green Line. We have plenty of free parking on campus. You can find more details on our Visiting Campus page.

Take a Virtual Campus Tour : From the moment you step on campus at Olin, you feel a buzz of energy and activity—and once you experience it, you want to be a part of it.

Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is an equal opportunity employer.

MLS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, age, marital status, sex, physical or mental challenge, creed, religion, political affiliation, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. Members of underrepresented groups, and those committed to working in a diverse cultural environment are encouraged to apply.

Contact with questions – [e-mail]