Community Resource Specialist

Come be an information champion at Lawrence Public Library!

Community resource information is fragmented and ever-changing, making it difficult for both citizens and library staff to navigate the wealth of local service providers and connect a vast array of needs with available resources. We believe our role is essential:
Libraries are community hubs which naturally make us the first place people come when they need help connecting the dots.

You understand that knowledge is power and helps people thrive.

We’re searching for a creative, ambitious, and enthusiastic individual who is committed to connecting community members with the information and resources they need in order to live their best lives. Your mission will be to work closely with the Adult Services Supervisors, library staff, partner organizations, and community leaders to master the network of existing resources that meet basic needs while integrating library services more widely into the Lawrence community.

Meet your future team.

If you enjoy hunting for, gathering, and sharing accurate information, Lawrence Public Library’s Adult Services department is your kind of people. We love researching a variety of topics, connecting staff and patrons to community resources and services, assisting patrons with technology needs, learning new things every day, and leveraging our collective knowledge to transform our community for the better. We recognize that there is no singular path by which everyone seeks information and strive to meet people where they’re at through in-person and digital service points, programming, and outreach.

What our ideal candidate looks like.

We’re seeking someone with a strategic vision and passion for reducing barriers to library services and community resources for Lawrence’s low-income and diverse populations. You’ll keep your finger on the pulse of the community by staying informed of local resources and concerns, developing relationships with partner organizations, communicating information about available library resources, planning programs to meet community needs, and exploring opportunities to further develop library services to underserved communities.

Keep in mind that this is an Adult Services Specialist position with a subject specialist concentration on social services, not a direct service position.

As the Community Resource Specialist, we’ll need you to:

• Be an information maven! You’ll use a wide variety of information sources, including catalogs and databases, to connect patrons to the information, books, media, or materials they seek while staffing service desks or by phone, email, or online chat
• Build relationships with and promote library services to community stakeholders who work with or represent underserved populations
• Gather and share information about local resources with community members and library staff
• Think creatively about how information is formatted and shared to best reach the target audience
• Coordinate programs, events or classes to meet the informational needs of the community
• Represent the library at advisory boards and other community events or meetings relating to underserved populations
• Create relevant library web pages, brochures, and other community resource-related library materials and keep them up-to-date
• Curate and promote library resources through lists, reviews, displays, and subject guides
• Take an active role in contributing to the department's online presence, creating content for blogs and/or other social media efforts.
• Help patrons navigate library technologies, including public access computers and printing
• Assist in maintaining library collections by organizing, shelving, and weeding materials

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with coursework in liberal…