Michigan’s New Economy is around the corner and we’re part of what is making it happen—a terrific training ground and a great place to be a proactive leader, not waiting for the next “axe to fall.” Are you ready to guide the journey of the mind for a three-year-old? Is it in your heart and soul to be the inspirer of a 12-year-old? Do you “get it” when a teen discovers a topic to be passionate about and needs more and more reading, web sites, and, well, just everything about “it”? Then we need you to be our next 20-hour Youth Librarian, specializing in preschool story and other experiences (we’re big on science and art!) and collection development for youth fiction in particular.

Cromaine District Library is located near the intersection of M-59 and US-23—easy to get to from Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Flint. Cromaine-Village (built in 1927 and expanded in 1980) is the main library with the largest collection and programming space, but we also offer a popular collection and events at the Crossroads Branch, established 2005.

Cromaine wins grants, including National Endowment for the Arts’ The Big Read-seven years now. Our 2015 read of “Old School" includes local schools, writing contests for teens and adults (which the past two years resulted in published anthologies of writing and illustration). In 2011 we received a $16,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to create an early literacy center made up of four AWE machines. Grant work is going out to bring 3D printing to our library plus two teen-centric facilities in the community. And we offer a tech sandbox at each of our adult, youth, and Crossroads service desks. We’ve hosted the Smithsonian’s “The Way We Worked” exhibit, the National Science Foundation’s Harry Potter and the History of Science exhibit, Prime Time Family Reading Time, a demonstration site for the new middle school book discussion group, Muslim Journeys, and a Dollar General grant that links end-of-school-year reading scores for boys with beginning-of-school year reading scores to demonstrate the value of interactive summer reading groups specifically for the 8- to 12-year-old.

Cromaine’s first shared value is “Investing in Future Generations.” Bring your commitment to innovative learning experiences for children, tweens, and teens to Cromaine where we create an “aha experience” every day. Read our online annual reports to see the positive patron experiences being created every day at Cromaine. Share your love of children with a community that loves Cromaine.

$17.20 per hour to start, 20 hours per week; includes some evenings and weekends. MLA membership and conference attendance paid. After successful completion of the 90-day introductory period, an increase to $17.95 is planned.

View the job description and obtain the application at www.cromaine.org--Cromaine News & Info--Forms, and send application, resume with MLS classes in youth services, and a cover letter to “Youth Librarian” at Cromaine or e-mail (preferred to be “green”) to brentola@cromaine.org by November 10, 2014.

JOB SUMMARY: Provides services to young people, including children, tweens, and teens, their caregivers, teachers, and adults who work with them, helps patrons to use the library effectively and assists with collection development and library programs for young people.

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the duties which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

Provide effective, positive, and personalized reference and reader’s advisory services in person, by telephone, and e-mail, using traditional resources and electronic databases.

Conduct efficient reference interviews to determine information need and best sources to use.

Move through the youth and teen areas regularly to check with patrons regarding their information needs.

Provide assistance and instruction to the public on the use of the library, its materials, electronic information sources, and the computer catalog.

Assist library users with electronic information sources and the computer catalog.

Select and order materials based on reviews, catalogs, recommendations and patron requests.

Preview new materials being added to the collection in order to know what is available and provide it quickly to the patron.

Compile bibliographies, path finders, files and reports in print or electronically, participating in social media expression.

Assist with arrangements and publicity for events, exhibits, displays, and other activities of community interest.

Prepare and conduct story time and other experiences on-site and in schools, homes, and other outreach settings.

Assist with seasonal newsletter and other forms of communication to the community. Promote the library through tours and outreach activities.

Perform basic hardware troubleshooting in order to resolve equipment problems as quickly as possible.

Act as back-up for the Adult Services Department and other departments, including Circulation, as needed.

Stay current with changes in reference services through continuing education, reading professional journals and networking through professional associations and colleagues.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

Masters degree in Library Science, or 30 credit hours toward the degree, from an ALA accredited library school.

Ability to achieve and maintain cooperative and effective relations with members of the general public and with other employees.

Solid knowledge of popular reading materials, reference tools, and electronic resources.

Ability to select appropriate reading materials for the children and teen collections.

Ability to present programs for young people and their families and prepare library exhibits.

Able to discern audible tones at both ends of spectrum; full near, distance, color, and peripheral vision, acceptable with correction.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skill and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as an expression of absolute employment or promotional standards but as general guidelines and should be considered along with other job related selection or promotional criteria.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and occasionally required to travel to other locations. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee regularly must lift and/or move moderately heavy objects. Specific vision requirement of the job include near vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential function of the job.