Librarian I – Youth Services, Somerville Public Library, (Somerville, MA)

Posted February 17, 2026

We seek a highly creative, tech savvy, innovative, energetic, positive individual who wants to join a team committed to providing excellent library services to teens and children in Somerville.

DUTIES:

Reports to the Head of Teen Services
Plans, implements, and evaluates in-person and virtual programs of interest to teens, tweens, and children
Develops, selects, and maintains library collection of books, magazines, AV, and other materials for teens, tweens, and children as assigned
Provides prompt, courteous and direct assistance to all patrons with basic information regarding use of library materials, equipment, and services
Provides reader’s advisory, technology, and homework assistance
Promotes new and existing library collections, services, programs, and events to teens, tweens, and children through in-library displays and via print, web, and other social media
Engages in outreach to teachers, librarians, and other staff within area schools and community agencies/organizations serving teens, tweens, and children and attends city-sponsored events of interest to children, tweens, teens, and families
Attends continuing professional development activities, relevant to library services for teens, tweens, and children
Staffs the Teen and Children’s desks on a regular schedule, and covers other public desks as assigned
Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

MLS from an ALA accredited library school
Must enjoy working with teens, tweens, and children
Demonstrated social media experience
Ability to deal with the public effectively and pleasantly
Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively across all departments
Ability to perform basic troubleshooting of library technology
Must appreciate working with youth from diverse backgrounds
Ability to speak two or more languages a plus

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.

Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential function.

Physical Skills: Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.). Job requires ability to bend, lift and carry library materials and pull book carts (up to 50lbs.)

Motor Skills: Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills: Visual demands include constantly reading documents in print and on the computer, for general understanding and for analytical purposes.

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week including evenings & Saturdays and 5 hours of paid lunch weekly
Salary: $1,381.67 weekly plus benefits
Union: SMEU B
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: February 11th, 2026

How to Apply:

Interested applicants can apply through the City of Somerville’s online application portal.

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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [email protected].

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) – 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.