Kingsport, TN is hiring: Head Of Youth Services-Library in Kingsport

Responsible for all aspects of the youth services of the Kingsport Public Library and Archives. Youth Services includes programming, collection development, and outreach initiatives for children from birth to 17 years old and their families. In addition, will be expected to operate as an individual contributor when necessary.

Key Responsibilities:

• Integrates services to children and teens into a seamless Youth Services department serving children from birth through teenagers.
• Collaborates with youth services staff to develop and execute innovative programs, collection management strategies, and services that anticipate and address community needs.
• Develops and strengthens community relations; serves as a liaison to schools, preschools, daycare centers, and other organizations serving youth; coordinates on & off-site visits.
• Coaches, mentors, schedules, and evaluates staff with the goal of continuous improvement.
• Oversees all aspects of Summer Reading activities.
• Recruits appropriate volunteers to help support library programs.
• Fills in for staff absences and vacancies as needed in youth services, including at frontline service points and other duties as needed.
• Creates multigenerational programming for families with children through collaboration with programming teams.
• Selects and orders materials for youth services in consideration of staff selections, community recommendations, professional organizations, and the library’s collection development policy.
• Performs reference assistance and reader’s advisory.
• Assists in other departments and at desks when needed and performs other duties as required.
• Attends community events and visits civic groups and other sites to promote library information and resources.
• Presents to community groups activities and services available at the library in general and Youth services specifically.
• Collects data on youth services activities for board reports and the Public Library Survey.
• Looks for and applies for appropriate grants.
• Attends a variety of workshops and meetings, including completing professional development and continuing educational goals.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in library science or related field and 3 years of youth services experience required. Preferred Master’s degree in library science or related field from an ALA accredited program.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of library science.
• Ability to be innovative and enthusiastic.
• Ability to lead, engage, support, and motivate a team.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills to establish and maintain good working relationships with other city staff members, other library systems, and the general public.
• Desire to work in a team-based, customer-centric environment; flexibility to assist other public service desks or departments.
• Capable of effectively presenting information to administration, public groups, and boards of directors.
• Ability to assess and articulate community needs for our youth and families.
• Good eye for detail and ability to analyze and interpret statistical data.
• Skill in prioritizing work and assignments based on needs.
• Knowledge of the community.
• Knowledge of best practices in youth programming, collection development, and Reader’s Advisory.
• Superior knowledge of children’s literature to develop collection development strategies and assist children and caregivers with reader’s advisory.
• Proficient in the use of software to produce documents, spreadsheets, and any other product necessary to complete assigned tasks.
• Ability to assess emerging technology and make appropriate recommendations for purchase to maintain appropriate technology for youth in specific areas and in the maker space.
• Desire to work with children.
• Desire to continue learning.
• Valid TN/VA Driver License.

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