Librarian - Children's Services

Mecklenburg County Government; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Children’s Librarian at Mountain Island Library in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library provides welcoming programming for children ages 0-11, supports caregivers and families, and assists customers with library resources. Responsibilities include collection management, outreach, and coordinating lifelong learning opportunities.

This full-time exempt role serves as Manager on Duty, collaborates with staff and schools, and participates in system-wide teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of public library experience.
• Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution.
• NC Public Library certification required or must be obtained within 12 months of hire.
• Preferred: experience working with children; bilingual.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement programming for children 0–11 and caregivers.
• Manage and promote library materials and displays.
• Assist with reference questions and readers' advisory.
• Serve as Manager on Duty and coordinate with staff.
• Collaborate with schools and community organizations.

Skills

Public library experience

Customer service

Team collaboration

Literature knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in Library science (ALA-accredited)

Job description

Children's Librarian– Mountain Island Library CharlotteMecklenburg Library

“Follow yourcalling, 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.

CharlotteMecklenburg 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 ofreading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and theworld, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve. Through our 20 locations, online, and through targeted outreach, we deliver exceptionallibrary 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 instruct 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, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of:
  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.