Children's Librarian Trainee - Soundview Library

Children's Librarian Trainee - Soundview Library

Final date to receive applications: 18 August 2026

Department:
Branch Libraries

Employment Type:

Full Time

Location:

Soundview Library

Reporting To:
Katherine Jimenez

Compensation: $54,268 - $56,893 / year

Are you an MLS student who is committed to changing lives and strengthening communities through the power of learning and reading? This position involves responsibility for learning library procedures, techniques, and skills under professional guidance of the manager and other experienced library staff. As the Trainee progresses through MLS coursework and in professional ability, he/she will be assigned increased responsibilities related to library operations.

Candidates for the Library Trainee program are selected on the basis of interest in library work and relevant experience. If selected, a Trainee is required to obtain the Master's degree in librarianship from a school accredited by the American Library Association. The appointment may be terminated if the Trainee fails to complete the program within 3.5 years or does not show ability to develop skills in the performance of professional library tasks.

Upon graduation, the Trainee must obtain a Public Librarian’s Professional Certificate issued by the State of New York.

Under the mentorship of the Library Manager and experienced library staff, the Library Trainee learns to perform the duties of a public librarian while pursuing a Master’s degree in librarianship. Over time, the Trainee performance increasingly difficult public service functions and engages children through collections, services, and programs in ways that allow them to follow their interests and discover new ones.

Responsibilities include:

• Assists with outreach to and developing partnerships with community-based organizations, schools, local businesses, and community groups that to promote the Library’s services, collections, specialized programs, and resources
• Co-facilitates group and family visits to the Library to enhance the reading skills of children, young adults and adults
• Promotes our collections and reading through readers advisory, staff picks, recommendation lists, blog entries, author talks, book discussions, and other innovative ways, both on site and online
• Provides reference services and resource recommendations using print, media, and digital resources
• Collaborates with the Educational Services Department and Library Manager to develop skills in creating, promoting and facilitating innovative programs to build literacy and a love of reading to meet the expressed and anticipated needs of the community, including early literacy programs, visual and performing arts programming, STEM programs, homework help, gaming events, book discussions, author talks, technology classes, and more
• Partners with the collection development team to shape and maintain the collection, ensuring it is diverse, current, relevant, and meets the needs of the community
• Learns to foster digital literacy and provide age-appropriate technology instruction to children, young adults, and adults
• Assists with development and maintenance of content for social media platforms such as Library blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest
• Develops and maintains the layout and appearance of the space to ensure a safe and inviting area filled with relevant resources
• Assists with branch operations, including circulation, fines & fees management, reserves, and opening/closing procedures
• In the absence of the Library Manager, may take responsibility for the facility, staff, and operations
• Performs related duties as required

Library Trainee salaries are based on completed credits in an ALA-approved MLIS program and range from $54,268.00 to $56,893.00 prior to graduation. Upon graduation, Trainees will automatically become Librarians at NYPL.

• Enrollment in an ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies program
• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably with a strong, well-rounded liberal arts background

• Enthusiasm for public service and the…