Community Engagement Librarian

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Community Engagement Librarian

Job Profile Title

Librarian C

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Director of Academic Engagement, the Community Engagement Librarian oversees the Penn Libraries’ outreach and engagement efforts to advance K-12 literacy and other initiatives that connect the resources and expertise of the Penn Libraries with public institutions in the city of Philadelphia. This position is responsible for leading the development of collaborative and strategic partnerships both across the University of Pennsylvania and in the community with the goal of creating impactful and sustainable literacy programming and initiatives.

The work of the Community Outreach Librarian can be broadly understood to consist of three main areas of engagement: public K-12 library and literacy initiatives; communication, collaboration, and coordination with campus groups who are also in the community engagement space; collaboration with other Libraries’ departments in support of Libraries’ community outreach/engagement involving collections, digital and data projects, exhibitions etc.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Actively building and managing library collections at selected public schools in collaboration with teachers and curricular needs, selecting, purchasing, and overseeing the delivery of new books, and weeding collections. Organizing the effective cataloging of school library collections, including volunteer efforts by Penn staff.
• Consulting with schools on the opening/reopening of school libraries and training school staff, students, and volunteers on running the library, cataloging, managing the collection, and use of an integrated library system.
• Supervising two FTE (subject to change based on funding) and overseeing the onboarding, mentoring, training and education program for 5-15 work-study Penn students working in the Philadelphia public school libraries and other community literacy initiatives.
• Developing and organizing programming to introduce Philadelphia public school students to libraries and librarianship, including visits to the Penn Libraries and arranging author visits.
• Collaborating and coordinating with other community engagement professionals in the Penn Libraries to develop and support programming and other campus units that engage with community programming and collaboration/ communication with Philadelphia organizations working in the school library or community literacy space.
• In collaboration with the Libraries’ Advancement Office, stewarding effective relations with donors.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• M.L.I.S., M.I.S., Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Science, and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and…