Careers

Readers Librarian

The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is looking for a Readers Librarian who is energetic, organized, creative, and has a passion for reading and connecting people with good books.

This position helps Topeka & Shawnee County residents find ways to become a more engaged community of readers; inspires readers in their early adult life, when reading tends to take a backseat to work and family obligations and helps them find ways to make reading an enjoyable and rewarding priority in their lives; reaches readers across various formats and platforms; and aids the community in telling stories, not just reading them.

As the Readers Librarian some of the things you will do are:

Customer Engagement:  

• Initiate interactions, starts conversations, and promotes the library to our community.  Deliver high quality customer service by assisting customers with technology equipment, library materials, digital resources, information needs or other services. Engage with customers in-person, over the phone, through email or by text messaging. Promote the use of materials, services and programs to customers. These interactions may take place in the Library or in the community including at outreach sites and locations.

Customer Touchpoints: 

• Develop, coordinate and implement service initiatives that directly relate to the Library’s mission, values and goals. Touchpoints include programs, services, experiences, visual merchandising, customer spaces, Digital Branch, and community events.

Programming: 

• Develop services and programs to create an engaged community of readers through multiple delivery methods based on the interests and needs of the community. Work in concert with team and partners to present programs, following the Library’s programming framework. Evaluate programs using clearly defined goals and outcomes. Recommend improvements to program offerings to align with the Library’s strategic priorities.

Leadership: 

• In cooperation with supervisor, develop strategies that focus on library initiatives with readers and writers and creates a work plan that supports those strategies. Serve on committees and projects as assigned.  Lead meetings or teams as requested by supervisor. Collaborate across library departments on projects and programs connected with this initiative.

Community Engagement: 

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with appropriate community organizations, and other organizations that align with the Library’s mission, values and goals. In cooperation with supervisor, offer programs and services in the community at outreach sites and partner locations.

Promotion: 

• Collaborate with Communications and Marketing to promote programs, services and resources in traditional and social media.

Attendance:

• Maintain prompt arrival and efficiently and dependably maintains scheduled hours.

Position Requirements/Preferences

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• One year of customer services experience.
• Valid driver’s license with insurable driving record.

Preferred:

• Master of Library Science from and accredited college or university.
• Three years of customer service experience.
• Multilingual fluency in English and at least one other language is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated evidence of strong commitment to service excellence with readers advisory.
• Knowledge of trends in publishing, writers, and reading interests.
• Knowledge of technology tools and learning resources such as databases, print and online resources.
• Research skills such as data mining, critical thinking and analysis.
• Demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to find new ways to reach non-users and forge meaningful relationships.
• Ability to perform detailed work with accuracy.
• Ability to communicate inclusively, with cultural sensitivity, and to be approachable in verbal, written, and non-verbal communications.
• Ability to work independently or in a team and adapt quickly in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to work scheduled hours, arrive promptly and maintain regular and reliable attendance.

A pre and/or post-employment drug screen, criminal history record check and physical capacity testing are required as a condition of employment.

SCHEDULE: Days, nights and some weekend hours are required.

PAY & BENEFITS: Starting salary will be in the range of $46,633.60 to $58,281.60 depending on experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits including health & dental insurance with pre-tax premiums, and a retirement plan (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System KPERS). Group life, disability coverage and accidental death benefits are also provided. Other optional benefits available at employee's expense include vision, life and cancer insurance and a deferred compensation plan.

A completed and signed TSCPL job application along with a resume and cover letter is required for consideration. 

Applications must be received by April 23, 2024.

Employment Application Supplemental Employment History