Non-Fiction Selector

This position is part of the Collection Development team at the Advanced Learning Library in Wichita’s Delano neighborhood. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to working with the public and providing an in-depth, well-rounded nonfiction print and digital collection to meet the diverse needs of the community.

Distinguishing Features of Work

The Wichita Public Library seeks an innovative, dynamic, and enthusiastic individual to serve as an adult nonfiction materials selector. This role assists and oversees maintenance of all adult nonfiction collections system-wide. Candidates must have strong readers advisory skills and be prepared to provide education on best practices to staff and direct readers advisory service to customers. This position provides direct reference service to customers one evening a week and on rotating weekends. This is an exempt position.

Responsibilities

• Selects all adult nonfiction materials to meet diverse community needs, in both print and e-material format.
• Places material orders from multiple vendors in a consistent and timely manner.
• Efficiently manages an annual budget from multiple funding sources.
• Assists with evaluation and maintenance of adult nonfiction and adult reference collections at all library locations.
• Provides excellent readers advisory assistance to customers, both in person and digitally.
• Leads readers advisory training for staff relating to adult nonfiction topics.
• Assists customers in person, online, and by telephone with information needs.
• Must be proficient in utilizing the library catalog, online subscription databases, and the Internet.
• Supports public computing users with their use of library electronic resources, the Internet, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Participates on library planning teams and serves on special projects as assigned.
• Stays abreast of best practices in libraries and publishing trends through training and development activities, reading professional literature, and participating in professional activities.
• Performs additional related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of library methods, principles, and practices.
• Considerable knowledge of reader interest and of books and authors.
• Ability to establish and maintain courteous and tactful relationships with associates and library patrons.
• Ability to: push a loaded book cart weighing up to 250 pounds; reach, bend, stoop, or squat and arrange books on library shelves; use manually operated office tools and supplies such as scissors, staplers, glue; hold, inspect, turn single pages, and read books weighing up to fifteen pounds with pages made from papers of a wide range of quality and thickness.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally, in writing, and/or by whatever creative means are necessary to cross communication barriers.

Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.

Skills

• Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong research capabilities.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Competency with technologies including personal computer applications and devices.