Youth Services Manager: Programs, Outreach & Growth

Description

Summary:

This position serves as the manager for the Youth Services department by demonstrating effective leadership through mentoring, training, customer service, and teamwork to offer exemplary services, programs, and collections to children, youth, and their families. This position is also responsible for ensuring a smooth and efficient operation of the Youth Services Functions by supervising staff, including librarians, associates, and volunteers, that design and implement programming, outreach, and services for infants, children, teens, and caregivers.

• Oversees the supervision of Youth Services staff and daily operations of the library’s Youth Services department for those from birth through age 18.
• Fosters a culture of outstanding customer service by ensuring accurate, friendly, courteous service and a positive library experience by ensuring all staff is trained on customer service best practices.
• Oversees collection development and evaluation efforts for youth and teen collections by ensuring the development and maintenance of high-quality collections in various formats for teens and children at a range of reading levels, designed to inspire a passion for reading, encourage curiosity, and joy of discovery. Provides access to information, knowledge, and diverse ideas.
• Develops and implements reference and reader’s advisory services for parents, teachers, and children of all ages and abilities, including providing bibliographic and literacy skill development instruction.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates youth programming initiatives by offering programs, story times, reading programs, and special events for children of all ages and abilities and their caregivers in various formats and at multiple venues.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of age-appropriate and welcoming physical and digital spaces that provide the best possible access to materials and resources for teens, children, caregivers, and teachers.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with key personnel in the local schools and other community organizations that serve children, teens, and their families to enhance partnerships and promote collaboration.
• Manage all patron-related matters that front-line staff cannot handle, including escalated issues and complaints. Will escalate unresolved staff/patron issues to upper management/HR when needed.
• Ensures patron record confidentiality.
• Participates in reviewing and developing Youth Services related policies. Implements effective departmental procedures in line with library policy.
• Manage Youth Services operations to ensure that all policies and procedures are appropriate and followed.
• Assist in creating and maintaining the departmental procedure manual.
• Ensures the Youth Services staff are well trained on the currently used Integrated Library System and all other library technology and databases. Troubleshoots patron issues with those systems.
• Works with IT and vendors on any issues related to equipment in the Youth Services Area area. Performs routine inspections and preventative care.
• Serves as a Public Access Services liaison with Cooperative Computer Services (CCS), the Library’s ILS Consortium, and implements CCS policies and procedures at the Library.
• Competency with and performance of all job functions in the Youth Services Department.
• Assists in maintaining a safe and secure library environment, following procedures to report injuries and potential hazards.
• Promotes the library and its resources to community organizations.
• Prepares written and statistical reports for the Executive Director, the Library Board, and/or other department managers as needed or requested.

• Evaluates and recommends staffing levels, staff development needs, and other personnel matters. Leads in the selection and recommendation for hiring Youth Services staff.
• Hires, supervises, develops performance expectations, trains, evaluates, and manages performance.
• Oversees the work of Youth Services personnel. Sets service standards, coordinates workload, projects staffing needs and schedules Youth Services staff to provide appropriate staffing levels based on library…