General Purpose
Under administrative direction, plans, coordinates, and manages the children/youth operations, programs, services, and personnel in an assigned Library Branch within the Detroit Public Library (DPL) system; plans and develops cooperative projects in the community; maintains collections relevant to program areas and assigned branch location; provides quality customer service; and supports organizational goals, policies and guidelines.
Primary Responsibilities
The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.
In children/youth services area of assignment:
- Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
- Coaches, trains and motivates staff; coordinates and/or provides staff training; and assists with managing employee relations; assists with managing the workflow and prioritization of projects and measures the performance of the department and all related staff and recommends or suggests appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff; develops developmental work plans for staff; recommends corrective actions, discipline and termination procedures as appropriate/necessary.
- Performs a variety of administration responsibilities for assigned DPL branch location; assesses the position of the branch in the community to determine the direction for programs and materials acquisition; sets overall goals for the branch; evaluates locations of and makes necessary location changes of branch materials; collects and maintains branch data on circulation and service statistics for various reports and for community profile updates; prepares and submits branch data reports as requested/scheduled; coordinates and conducts annual inventory of branch equipment and furniture; and represents the branch at informational and planning meetings and relays pertinent information and direction received back to branch staff.
- Provides a variety of customer service functions for assigned branch location; provides reference desk duties including locating or helping patrons locate requested materials and information; provides information and referral service for patrons in need of various services; places holds/requests into library operating system for materials not available at the local branch; phones customer to inform them when requested books/materials have arrived; maintains preference profiles of regular customers to set new books aside as they arrive; resolves customer disputes regarding fines, unreturned library materials, staff or customer conduct, and other various complaints; uses library computerized operating systems to check the status of patron records, place hold requests, and to update patron records.
- Substitutes for other librarians, and for managers at other branch locations; solves patron computer and peripheral equipment problems; monitors branch programs and adjusts services and programs as needed; types and submits Track-It work orders for problems with telephones, computers, and printers; responds to inquiries and follows up with patrons on unresolved problems.
- Manages and administers a relevant collection for assigned branch location; purchases books and materials, continuations, and subscriptions to periodicals; acquires information from government sources and arranges in logical and useful way; directs the elimination and weeding of items not useful to the branch and Library’s mission; tracks request from patrons for materials not available at the branch and orders said materials when appropriate; prepares ongoing order lists in relevant ordering databases of materials to be ordered; revises database item records for new books and tracks item records in system database; identifies items to be sent to the bindery and edits item records accordingly; identifies donates withdrawn books to schools; procures donations of new books; and administers assigned budgets in order to maintain a relevant collection.
- Plans, develops and conducts children/youth programs appropriate for the assigned branch community; designs, prepares, and distributes flyers and other media materials announcing branch programs; maintains meeting and conference room calendars and schedules; obtains and submits contracts and other associated forms for all program presenters; provides material support for branch book clubs; promotes and supports the library’s marketing strategies and activities by volunteering for programs, serving on committees, working with the Marketing and Communications department on developing programs and helping with the creation and dissemination of publicity; visits schools, community events, and other institutions to promote and represent the library and it’s programs.
- Provides support to the Library – Assistant Director – Branch Services on matters as directed; participates on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Library policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
- Ensures an environment of customer-responsive services, providing customer-responsive service and handling customer service issues.
- Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Education and Experience:
Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution and three years of public library management or supervisory librarian experience in children/youth services, that includes staff supervision and budgetary responsibility; preferably in a multi-sited non-profit or public sector environment; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Licenses or Certifications:
· Must possess a valid State of Michigan Driver’s License.
Physical Demands / Work Environment:
· Work is performed in a standard library environment.
· Subject to sitting, standing, walking, stair climbing, reaching, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds.
Required Knowledge of:
· Managerial, organizational, and leadership principles and practices.
· Principles and practices of library science.
· Community requirements and issues impacting library services.
· Collection management principles and practices.
· Reference and circulation processes and procedures.
· Books and electronic information technologies, including current and future trends in computing technologies.
· Significant authors, associations and publishers of books and reference sources in the assigned field.
· Project/program planning and management principles and practices.
· Public and community relations principles and practices.
· Other pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
