Public Services Adult Librarian

Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District; Broadview (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Broadview Public Library District in Cook County seeks a Librarian to support reference services, manage public programs, and supervise help desk activities. The role emphasizes professional judgment, policy understanding, and community engagement.

Responsibilities include coordinating outreach, assisting with marketing, planning events, and maintaining the library’s digital resources. Requires MLIS or near completion, notary training, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering reference assistance to students and adults using library databases.
• Ability to interpret library policy and communicate it to patrons.
• Strong communication and professional judgement in a government library setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide reference support to students and adults using academic and business databases.
• Explain library policy in a professional manner to patrons and the community.
• Act as the Help Desk point-person when managers are not on site.
• Assist patrons with printing, copying, faxing, and scanning; support remote printing.
• Perform notary duties as needed.
• Coordinate outreach and marketing for Public Services staff.
• Plan events and create promotional materials for library programs.

Skills

Reference services

Notary knowledge

Communication skills

Time management

Organization

Education

MLIS or equivalent Master’s degree

Job description

Essential Functions

Professionalism

• Use sound professional judgement in all situations.
• Demonstrate professional communication, with an understanding of Library policy as well as the library’s status as a governmental agency.
• Maintain professional relationships with staff and the community.

Help Desk – Report to LS Manager

• As an expert at in-depth research, provide reference support to students and adults utilizing our academic and business databases.
• Execute library policy to align with our Public Service Standards. Explain library policy in a professional manner to patrons and our community.
• Evaluate, create, and update help desk procedures, in coordination with the Public Services and Library Services Managers, and other staff.
• Use professional judgement to make decisions in real time for patron, service, and material issues.
• Act as the point-person for decisions at the Help Desk when managers are not on site.
• Handle all regular Help Desk interactions: reader’s advisory, catalog look-up and holds, resource information, patron accounts, phone call questions and inquiries, event and service information, and technology support.
• Assist patrons in using the printer and/or the copy machine for printing, copies, faxing, and scanning; assist patrons in using our remote printing system.

Perform notary duties if needed.

• Act on behalf of the Library Services Manager for complex patron issues in their absence.
• Support the public floors to maintain a calm, positive environment for all patrons in accordance with our Public Service Standards.
• Intervene in a professional and respectful manner to de-escalate situations where appropriate.

Respond to patron complaints in a positive and effective manner.

Person-In-Charge Duties

• Know how to find policies and procedures to refer to when making decisions in the absence of a manager or administrator.
• Understand our Code of Conduct and Public Service Standards. Know where to find both documents, if needed.
• Be ready to de-escalate situations that may arise on the floor; or know when it is time to call the police or other assistance.
• Take action to protect the safety of the staff and patrons following the procedures in our BPLD Emergency Action Plan.
• Use your professional judgement to determine when you need to contact a manager or the Director for any situations that may arise.
• Understand that only the Director can make decisions about closing the library in emergencies.
• Ensure that the library is opened and closed as outlined in library procedures.

Outreach and Marketing

• Coordinate the outreach and marketing efforts of other Public Services staff.
• Plan and create the library’s newsletters and monthly promotional signage in coordination with the PS Youth Librarian, under the Public Services Manager and in cooperation with the library’s management team.
• Plan events to coincide with holidays, and other recognized cultural and literacy-related celebrations.
• Create promotional material on the library’s social media accounts as it relates to adult activities within the library in cooperation with the library’s management team.
• Maintain data spreadsheets to keep up-to-date information for Manager, Director, and Board review as it relates to outreach and marketing.
• Evaluate program, usage, and interaction data to determine best practices for current and new marketing initiatives.
• Establish and/or maintain good working relationships with local community businesses, and educational and civic institutions, working on collaborative activities to meet the needs of our community.
• Act as a liaison between community organizations and the library.
• Design displays of public information, books, and other library materials.
• May attend higher education board meetings and other school-sponsored events to promote library programs.
• Perform special projects involving library promotion and outreach activities.

Events and Classes

• Coordinate and supervise the program schedule and the library event calendar for other Public Services staff.
• Maintain data spreadsheets to keep up-to-date information for Manager, Director, and Board review as it relates to teen, young adult, and adult programming.
• Assess community trends to design, budget, and execute engaging teen, young adult, and adult programming under the Public Services Manager and in cooperation with the library’s management team.
• Using Census and other demographic data, design, budget, and execute long-term educational initiatives.
• Plan and execute events to coincide with holidays, and other recognized cultural and literacy-related celebrations.
• Design inclusive, developmentally appropriate experiences for diverse audiences.
• Adapt national reading programs, such as one-book, one-community events, on a local level.

Secondary Functions

Collection Development - Report to LS Manager

• Evaluate usage data and community needs to make decisions about the adult collections in cooperation with the Library Services Manager.
• Evaluate and recommend new databases for our online Digital Resources, as needed.
• Review, vet, and select material within the assigned collection(s).
• Utilize Swan Consortium systems and internal reports to aid in the selection of quality materials.
• Create order carts in a timely manner and finalize order carts based on the training material available.
• Periodically weed out-of-date or worn material from the assigned collection(s).
• Maintain the assigned collection(s) to ensure quality material on the shelves.
• Maintain current knowledge of new materials and services.

Technology

• Keep the library’s website current and in compliance with accessibility standards in cooperation with the library’s management team.
• Evaluate the Library’s current technology devices for teens, young adults, and adults; recommend new technology based on new developments and community assessment.
• Provide one-on-one technology support for patrons and our community as appropriate.
• Troubleshoot minor personal computer problems for patrons and staff.
• Incorporate technology into events and classes, as appropriate.

Professional Development

• Proactively seek opportunities for learning and skill-building to increase competencies for the position.
• Attendance at meetings and trainings, and conferences required.
• Attend necessary professional development activities to remain current on all procedures.

Other Responsibilities and Duties:

• Prepare the library for opening or closing.
• Perform library services duties in remote locations outside of the library.
• Prepare statistics and reports for management review.
• Provide direction/training for other library employees.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of Microsoft Office

Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the library’s discretion.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

Education

MLIS or equivalent Master’s level degree required, or within one semester of obtaining MLIS or equivalent Master’s level degree

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

• Notary
• Knowledgeable about the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights, and their advocacy for Intellectual Freedom, including The Freedom to Read, and Freedom of Access.

Other duties as needed

Knowledge Requirements

• Successful positive interaction with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities
• Intermediate computer skills across platforms and software
• Arrange materials in call number (alphabetical and numerical) order
• Effectively use a variety of tablets and similar devices
• Manage and prioritize multiple tasks
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Verbal and written communication skills

Must remain current on all applicable functionalities of current ILS system

Experience

• Able to read, write and speak English
• Experience reviewing, vetting, and selecting adult collection materials
• Experience in teen, young adult, and adult programming
• Experience with business social media accounts
• Successfully employ tension-diffusing tactics
• Exercise reasonable and independent judgment and discretion
• Flexibility to adapt to and effectively implement change
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the public
• Compassionately relates to the needs of the public

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

• Requires evening and weekend hours
• Requires flexibility in scheduling
• Sitting for long stretches of the workday
• Bend, squat, step up and down stools, push fully loaded book carts
• Ability to reach overhead
• Lifting office supplies, weighing 30 lbs. or more
• Manual dexterity for preparing materials of different shapes and sizes for shelf-ready status
• Driver’s License with access to an automobile

Other Information

Some travel required, including outreach to community events, and to attend meetings and trainings, and occasionally conferences.

Broadview Public Library District, Cook County