Part-Time Readers’ Advisor

Darien Library Inc; Darien (CT); On-site; USD 27,552 - 30,307; Part time

Job summary

Darien Library is seeking a friendly, curious, and enthusiastic individual to join our Readers’ Services team as a Part-Time Readers’ Advisor.

In this public-facing role, you will provide exceptional customer service at the Welcome Desk, assisting patrons with routine circulation transactions while offering personalized readers' advisory services including making book recommendations, writing book reviews, and supporting adult reader initiatives.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service orientation with ability to provide prompt, accurate, and friendly service.
• Retail or public service experience; bookstore or library experience preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn, take initiative, and follow through on tasks.

Responsibilities

• Staff an active Welcome Desk/Circulation Desk.
• Provide hospitality and perform public-facing circulation duties such as checkouts and library card registration.
• Assist with patron emails and phone communications; merchandize/replenish displays.
• Write book reviews for the monthly newsletter and recommend titles for Book Matchmaker program.
• Maintain knowledge of newly published books and share passion with patrons and staff.
• Assist with digital technology.

Skills

Customer service

Public service

Communication skills

Bilingual desirable

Job description

Darien Library is seeking a friendly, curious, and enthusiastic individual to join our Readers’ Services team as a Part-Time Readers’ Advisor.

In this public-facing role, you will provide exceptional customer service at the Welcome Desk, assisting patrons with routine circulation transactions while offering personalized readers' advisory services including making book recommendations, writing book reviews, and supporting adult reader initiatives.

The ideal candidate enjoys connecting with people, has a genuine passion for books and reading, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. We are looking for a voracious reader with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and who is committed to providing welcoming, compassionate service to every library patron.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Staff an active Welcome Desk/Circulation Desk.
• Provide exemplary hospitality to our library patrons and perform a variety of public-facing circulation duties such as checkouts and registering patrons for library cards.
• Participate in departmental tasks related to the Welcome Desk including shelving books, answering patron emails and phone calls, and merchandizing/replenishing book displays.
• Participate in departmental tasks related to Readers’ Services including writing book reviews for our Note-to-Shelf monthly newsletter and recommending books for the Book Matchmaker patrons.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of newly published books and confidently share a passion for books with patrons and fellow staff members.
• Assist with digital technology.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service orientation with ability to provide prompt, accurate, and friendly service.
• Retail or public service experience; bookstore or library experience preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn, take initiative, and follow through on tasks.
• A love of books, reading, and the ability to recommend books to library patrons.
• Works well, both independently and collaboratively, as part of the Readers’ Services team.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Suite, Google Applications, and emerging digital technology. Experience using and navigating an online library catalog/ILS a plus.
• Bilingual candidates, or those with a functional knowledge of another language, are desirable.

Physical Requirements

The essential job duties and responsibilities include the ability to perform tasks that may require maintaining a standing position for extended periods up to six hours long; moving, lifting, and transporting materials weighing up to 50 lbs.; and positioning items through bending, stooping, reaching, or similar movements. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential duties.

Schedule

The candidate will work an average of 4 to 8 hours per week, including two weekends per month, evenings, plus additional shifts as needed, not to exceed 29 hours per week.

This schedule is for planning purposes only. Actual hours may vary and are subject to modification due to staffing needs, programming, or other operational demands of the Library.

$20-$22 per hour, commensurate with experience. This is a part-time position with no benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Darien Library observes and promotes a policy of equal employment opportunity for all. This means that the Darien Library recruits, hires, trains, and promotes all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, physical disability or any other improper or illegal criteria. All employment decisions are based on legitimate employment-related criteria such as, skills, abilities, attitude and contribution to the Darien Library so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.