Supervisor of Youth Services, Medford Public Library, Medford, MA

Posted November 7, 2022

Description:

The Supervisor of Youth Services coordinates and supervises day-to-day
operations of the Youth Services Department, which consists of separate Children’s and Teen
sections. Supervision includes department scheduling, budgeting, circulation, interlibrary loan,
programming and outreach, collection management, research and information services, and other
administrative functions. Serves as the head children’s librarian. Plans and implements programs for
children ages infancy to twelve. Fills in at public service desks as required.

$63,149.16 – $76,882.34 annually (Union)

Full-time (35 hours), including some Saturdays and evening hours.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs daily supervision of YS staff. Supervises circulation and clerical staff; supervises
part-time staff and pages.
• Prepares and updates weekly work and desk schedules for YS staff; with the Director, reviews
vacation, personal, sick, and schedule change requests.
• Plans and implements programming for children ages infancy to twelve; works directly with
children and parents in programs.
• Assists with grant seeking and applications to support programming. Works with the Library
Foundation and Friends of the Library to fund and sponsor programs.
• Handles maintenance issues in the Youth Services areas; works with the custodian with
regards to cleaning and maintenance situations.
• Supervises YS circulation staff and procedures; handles patron issues and complaints. Trains
circulation staff on new procedures and policies; keeps staff up to date on changes in circulation policy and procedure.
• Supervises YS interlibrary loan staff and procedures.
• Participates in the hiring of applicants for vacancies; assists the Director with employee
evaluations and the creation of job descriptions.
• Supervises children’s volunteers. Keeps track of volunteer hours. Recruits volunteers for
specific projects and programs.
• Supervises orientation and training of all full and part-time YS staff. Creates and updates
training materials. Instructs all employees about changes to library and network rules and
procedures.
• Works with the Director and other staff on strategic planning.
• Works with children individually and in groups; Works with parents, teachers, and schools.
• Maintains awareness of trends in youth services and of issues affecting youth.
• Coordinates outreach to schools and teachers.
• With other YS Staff, collaborates with community organizations on programming and
initiatives.
• Supervises publicity and social media promotion for children’s programs.
• Oversees children’s collection management; with other staff selects fiction and non-fiction and media; tracks high demand items; monitors usage and circulation statistics; weeds collections as necessary.
• Oversees Reader’s Advisory and collection promotion services for children; create RA
brochures and displays and online booklists; responsible for the children’s RA portions of the
library website; seeks out book-based programming opportunities.
• Perform other related duties as required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Master of Library Science degree from an ALA accredited college or university. Any combination of
training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from a library school accredited by the
American Library Association with a Master’s Degree in Library Science. Prior experience as a youth
librarian is essential. Must have good knowledge of children’s programing and awareness of trends
in youth services. Must like teens and have a passion for children’s literature.
Must have valid Massachusetts driver’s license.

KNOWLEDGE SKILL & ABILITIES:

Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of library administration; managerial
and supervisory method; project management and control techniques; the operational uses and
capabilities of electronic library technology resources.

Ability: Ability to be effective under changing work priorities and with frequent interruptions. Ability to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, other agencies,
program participants, community leaders, the media, and the general public..

Skills: Strong communication skills both orally and in writing. Interpersonal skills to assist patrons with
various library services and operations. Proficiency with a variety of software programs related to
library operations: integrated library systems, email and calendaring applications, and Microsoft
Office.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this position, an employee is regularly required to sit, stand at a
counter for an extended period, sit, talk, or hear, in person and by telephone, use hand to finger,
handle, feel or operate standard office equipment. Employee may be required to move full and empty
book carts, shelve and retrieve library materials and office supplies from high and low settings.
Employee is frequently required to bend, reach, and move throughout the library. The employee
must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Sufficient vision or other powers of
observation are essential to permit the employee to read, sort and shelve library materials.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a busy library environment with frequent interruptions. The noise level in the
work environment is usually low to moderate.
Please fill out a Standard Employment Application and include with your cover letter and resume. The
application can be found at www.medfordma.org/departments/personnel/jobs. Mail all documents to:

Office of Human Resources
City of Medford – Room 204
85 George P. Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155
Or send cover letter and resume with the job title in the subject line to
[email protected]
For the posting please visit the City of Medford’s website – www.medfordma.org