Full-Time Readers’ Advisor
Darien Library seeks an enthusiastic, creative, collegial, and motivated candidate to join our dynamic Reader Services department full-time. The successful candidate will have a strong focus on customer service, a passion for reading and discussing books, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, friendly environment. This position reports to the Head of Reader Services.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
- Staffing the Welcome Desk for three-to-four hours per day to provide extreme customer service to our library patrons and perform a variety of public-facing circulation duties.
- Reading avidly and sharing your passion for reading with patrons and fellow staff members in person, via video, or through written communications.
- Offering confident readers advisory in person and online.
- Participating in departmental tasks related to the Welcome Desk and fiction collections including creating book displays, responding to patron emails and phone calls, and developing readers’ advisory tools.
- Writing and editing content for the Reader Services monthly newsletter and other communications.
- Management of museum passes and budget.
- Facilitation and management of discussion programs targeting adult patrons and readers.
- Participating in collections and acquisitions tasks for Adult Fiction and Mystery.
- Keeping up-to-date with new trends in libraries, particularly in readers’ advisory services for adults, and encouraging collaborative partnerships within the Library to support ongoing initiatives.
- Working a minimum of one evening per week, and a minimum of one weekend a month, in addition to special events and possible multiple evening programs per month.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required. Graduate degree desirable.
- 2-5 years experience in a customer service-oriented position.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, a positive attitude, and a patron-centered approach to library service that employs unwavering kindness and professionalism.
- Strong aptitude in oral and written communications.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Applications and a knowledge of Mailchimp and Canva are desired.
- Experience in event planning and support.
- Experience in collection development or book purchasing.
- Ability to perform as a flexible team player in the daily activities of public library work. Willingness to learn, collaborate, multi-task, problem solve, and be forward-thinking when setting goals for the department.
- Ability to take initiative and independently organize work, set priorities, and follow up on assignments.
- Deep understanding of the Fairfield County reading community.
- Bilingual candidates, or those with functional knowledge of another language, are highly desirable.
Physical Demands
- Essential job duties and responsibilities include remaining in a stationary position for extended periods, the ability to regularly lift and carry objects such as books up to 50 lbs., bend, stoop, and reach. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential duties.
Salary
This is a full-time position (37.5 hours/week) with an annual salary of $58,000 commensurate with experience. Salary includes generous vacation, sick, and personal leave; significant opportunities for professional development; health benefits; and enrollment in the Town pension program.
Contact Information
Apply with a cover letter and copy of your resume to Bree Marsden, HR Manager, at jobs@darienlibrary.org by Friday, January 26, 2023. Please make your subject line Readers' Advisor.
Equal Employment Opportunity
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.
