The incumbent will be a self-motivated individual who is an excellent communicator and listener, team player, problem solver, and most importantly, exudes good customer service. The selected candidate will join a dynamic team of individuals focused on providing excellent, prompt, and accurate services to both external and internal customers while achieving the following mission: To provide professional early literacy and early childhood learning services and oversight for an assigned location, by developing and implementing programs and services to reflect the library’s strategic plan for the City of Richmond. 

The incumbent is responsible for working with diverse groups within the community and providing exceptional customer service by providing early literacy and learning outreach programs. This position will require work on site weekdays, evening, and weekend scheduling on a rotating basis on site. The Richmond Public Library is committed to becoming an employer of choice, and we are dedicated to the growth of our workforce. We value our employees and seek to attract and retain the best. We are also committed to individual, professional growth!

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Under general direction, works from established policies and procedures, and participates in setting early childhood Learning and Literacy program goals and objectives.
• Provides comprehensive library services to the library system, patrons, and community agencies specializing in early childhood.
• Promotes and markets programs and activities; specifically the BASICS.
• Prepares reports.
• Coordinates services and programs related to early childhood learning.
• Develops partnerships with community organizations for outreach programs for youth.
• Represents the library at outreach community events.
• Conducts research on early childhood learning and literacy best practices.
• Writes various reports, reviews, and other documentation as it relates to early childhood learning.
• Participating in team decision-making, staff development, and training.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.
• This position is considered an Essential Personnel, which means that the incumbent is required to work when the City is closed due to public emergencies, critical or hazardous conditions, or inclement weather.

Qualifications, Special Certifications, and Licenses:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• The incumbent has considerable knowledge of area of focus to include early childhood learning skills, early childhood literacy skills and development, outreach program development, customer service, and community organization partnerships.
• The individual can demonstrate skills in planning and implementing in program set-up and tear-down, conducting outreach programs for system-wide events, trainings on best practices, and helping staff to conduct outreach programs.
• The individual can demonstrate the ability to possess excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, public speaking skills, excellent oral and written communication, and a high level of decision making and creativity.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in Library Science ALA accredited.
• Four (4) years of public library experience.
• One year of supervisory experience.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be eligible and able to obtain Librarian’s Professional Certification through the Commonwealth of Virginia within one year of time.

PREFERRED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Excellent customer service, enthusiasm, energy, and interpersonal skills.
• In-depth experience with early childhood learning skills and development.
• Experience developing system-wide programs and training staff in new subject matters.