Reference (three positions) and Digital Services Librarians, Springfield (MA) City Library, Springfield, MA
Posted September 21, 2021
Description and Application Instructions:
The Springfield (MA) City Library seeks applications to work at our forward-looking, award-winning public library. We are recruiting talented, driven, community-engaged candidates for one Digital Services Librarian and three part-time Reference Librarian positions. Get excited about the possibilities of working in the city of Springfield by watching the videos linked below, then apply by Friday, October 1, 2021 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Each year, we welcome over 600,000 visitors throughout our nine locations and offer more than 5,500 programs for adults, teens, and children. Our 77,672 registered patrons account for circulation of nearly 600,000 items! View a quick virtual tour of each of our locations here.
Our Digital Services Librarian position is based at our Central Library. The person hired for this position will create programs for adults, answer reference questions, provide reader’s advisory, and engage with the community. They will also manage and maintain the Library’s website, its digital collections, and its participation in the Funding Information Network. The annual salary is $55,757. Apply here.
The Central Library is a lovely century old building with a computer lab and a large Community Room for programming and performances. Our neighborhood includes the Springfield Museums, many apartment blocks, and Downtown Springfield.
The three Reference Librarian positions are based at three of our neighborhood branch libraries. The person hired for this job will create and deliver programs, answer reference questions, provide reader’s advisory, and engage with the community at one of the branches. The annual salary is $24,932. Not sure which position to apply for? The application software makes it easy to apply for all of them, once you’ve uploaded your information to one of them.
The East Springfield Branch is tucked into a side street in a tight-knit neighborhood. We recently received a grant for beautification of the grounds including adding some performance space next spring. Apply here.
The East Forest Park Branch was built in 2019 and opened to great acclaim. It features a makerspace, a large community room, and dedicated teen and children’s spaces. Apply here.
The Library Express at Pine Point shares a building with two adult basic education programs, offering lots of opportunities to engage with adults improving literacy, English, math, computer, and other skills, along with neighborhood families who visit regularly. Apply here.
Our City’s population numbers 155,000. Our library system has nine locations: a downtown Central Library, and eight neighborhood branches. Residency within the City of Springfield, MA, within a year of the date of hire is required. The City of Springfield has a residency requirement and allows new hires up to a year to establish residency.
Review our mission and strategic priorities here. Come help us achieve this vision! Springfield is located in western Massachusetts on the banks of the Connecticut River and spreading eastward. The “City of Homes” offers a mixed housing stock, a flat landscape of 33 square miles, the 730 acre Forest Park, the Basketball Hall of Fame, and an American Hockey League team. Springfield City Library is community-centered and welcomes you to become a part of the team.
Take a look at our beautiful city:
Pynchon Plaza, with a peak at a new mural 2021
Springfield’s New Wave 2019
Fresh Paint Mural Festival 2019
Or look back at the 2021 Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, a free, annual celebration!
Qualifications
Excellent customer service orientation is needed, and a “turned outward” approach to community engagement is ideal. Bilingual abilities desirable (English and Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, Arabic, or other community language).
Further job details and job applications are available on the City of Springfield’s website. Please be sure to upload a cover letter when you apply so we can get to know you. The City requires residency within one year of date of hire. Inquiries via LinkedIn or email about this position are welcome, but all applications must be filed on the City’s website.
Requirements for the Digital Services Librarian position include a Bachelor’s degree and an MLS degree from an ALA-accredited program and some library experience.
Requirements for the Reference Librarian positions include a Bachelor’s degree with completion of an American Library Association accredited Master of Library Science preferred; current enrollees in an MLS-granting program may be considered as well.
When you apply, please upload a cover letter so we can get to know you.