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Jobs · OTHR · Ohio

Youth Engagement Specialist (20/24 hrs.) New Albany Branch

Columbus Metropolitan Library · New Albany, OH · 2 mo ago
On-siteOTHR$21.49–$28.89/hrPart-time

Location: New Albany Branch

Starting pay range: $21.49 – $28.89 hourly

Schedule

School Year:

  • Tuesday-Thursday - 2pm-6pm
  • Alternating Friday/Saturday - 9am-6pm
  • 1 in 5 Sundays - 1pm-5pm

Summer:

  • Tuesday-Thursday - 9am-1pm (or 10am-2pm)
  • Alternating Friday/Saturday - 9am-6pm
  • 1 in 5 Sundays - 1pm-5pm

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer
  • Mental health resources and employee assistance programs
  • Generous paid time off and leave options
  • Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) participation
  • Additional investment & savings plans
  • Voluntary and supplemental insurance plans

About the Position

As a Youth Engagement Specialist, you will create positive and enriching experiences by engaging youth and their caregivers in conversation and activities, promoting literacy and reading. You will help develop and deliver quality programs and informal engagements aligned with our library’s Young Minds Strategy, designed to help youth establish the foundation for a successful life. Additionally, you may conduct outreach to schools and other organizations serving youth and/or perform collection management activities.

The Young Minds Strategy focuses on three categories:

  • Ready for Kindergarten: building kindergarten readiness skills for ages 0-5
  • Third Grade Reading: supports and promotes early literacy development for K-3rd grade
  • High School Graduation: support and preparation for tweens and teens

Responsibilities

  • Proactively provide a high level of customer service by engaging youth and families in usage of library resources, activities, and programs.
  • Create a safe, welcoming environment that balances a fun atmosphere, engaging activities, and relationship building while supporting youth development and learning.
  • Plan, promote, and present programs and informal engagements for children of all ages at the location and off-site.
  • Answer customer questions and provide customer service throughout the building.
  • Make referrals by locating appropriate sources of information using a variety of tools and resources.
  • Connect with schools and community organizations to promote Young Minds programs and services through presentations, community events, and networking.
  • Work to diffuse youth confrontations, mediate, and reduce tensions.
  • Perform collection management activities for juvenile materials as directed.
  • Create displays and merchandise materials.
  • Direct volunteer and volunteen activities including orienting, training, and scheduling.
  • Ensure that the children’s and teen areas are neat, orderly, and appealing to customers and staff.
  • Maintain personal skills and knowledge through engagement with library trainings, reviewing resources, and professional development conversations with other youth services staff members.
  • Utilize computer applications and library equipment, maintain current knowledge of system-wide and location-specific procedures, processes, policies, and operations.
  • Support library policies and procedures, including the Code of Conduct, by following up with customers when necessary; alert Security Officer and/or manager about suspicious behavior and similar risks to safety and security.
  • Perform other duties as assigned, including serving on task forces, committees, etc.
  • Assume responsibility for the operation of the location in the absence of a manager.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree required.
  • 2-3 years’ experience working with youth or community engagement required.
  • Experience delivering programs and services to diverse audiences preferred.
  • Interest and ability to serve and develop rapport with youth and their caregivers.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to operate library technology including personal computer, email, software programs (e.g., Windows/Microsoft Office), and other job-related equipment and systems.
  • Ability to utilize reliable transportation to promptly report to job assignment and other locations, per job requirements.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residences or commercial vehicles (e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals, and/or working in moderate outdoor weather conditions). Work requires occasional lifting or pushing of up to 50 lbs. and the frequent lifting or pushing of up to 20 lbs.

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