The Enoch Pratt Free Library has an opening for a collaborative and innovative Librarian II Materials Selector to help build and maintain a diverse, relevant, and responsive library collection.
Under the supervision of the Collection Development Department Manager, the Librarian II Selector develops, evaluates, and maintains collections for children and adults, selecting materials that support the library's mission and meeting the evolving needs and interests of the community across all library locations.
The Enoch Pratt Free Library is the public library system for the City of Baltimore. It consists of a central library, 21 branches, and a mobile unit that serves the city’s diverse neighborhoods. There are approximately 2.3 million volumes in the entire system, comprising print, digital, and audio-visual products.
This on-site position is located at the Central library, which serves as the State Library Resource Center (SLRC) as well as the main branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The selection of library materials reflects and supports the mission of both. Daily start and end times are negotiable. Employees may be eligible to work remotely one day per week after 90 days of employment, consistent with library policy and operational needs.
Department: State Library Resource Center
Location: 400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Salary: $62,375 to $75,811 per year
Job Type: On-site Full-Time, Benefits Included
Summary of Duties:
- Supports the educational and recreational needs of youth in the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland by providing new materials in various formats for branch (NLS) and central library (SLRC) collections.
- Identifies the needs and interests of a diverse school-age population and tracks trends in children’s and adult publishing.
- Assists with the purchase of new adult level materials in a timely manner for branch and central library collections using both digital and print selection tools.
- Identifies and monitors new titles by utilizing library specific print and digital publications including newsletters, blogs, and other trending resources.
- Supports library programming by ordering and tracking materials requests to ensure accurate and timely delivery.
- Prepares replacement lists for assigned subject areas in fiction and nonfiction using the Collection Assessment and Replacement Schedule.
- Assists with evaluating, weeding, inventorying, and refreshing the library’s collections.
- Implements collection development initiatives with various team members.
- Analyzes circulation and other library data using electronic analytics tools and reports to identify and respond to the needs, interests, and trends of a diverse community.
- Administers materials budget for areas of selection of responsibilities and tracks budget via provided reports and other tools.
- Interact with pertinent vendor and publisher account representatives.
- Reviews individual and publisher gifts for inclusion in Library collections.
- Train branch and departmental staff in collection management policies and procedures, including de-selection of materials.
- Regular visits to branch locations and related departments.
- Maintains open communication with library staff.
- Works closely with other Collection Development and Technical Services Department staff to determine priorities, facilitate effective workflow, accomplish goals, and resolve issues as they arise.
- Participates in Department and Division planning to support the library’s strategic initiatives.
- Serves on Library committees as appropriate and demonstrates interest and engagement in Library activities.
- Stays current on trends, knowledge, and skills through involvement in continuing education opportunities.
- Participates in professional activities at the local, state, and national level as appropriate and demonstrates interest and engagement in library activities.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Masters in Library Science (MLS or MLIS) from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited college or university.
- Public Librarian Certificate, or requirements necessary to apply for a Maryland Public Librarian Certificate, within 90 days of starting employment.
- 2 years of experience in a library and/or setting serving a diverse user population.
- Experience with collection development.
- Experience with Microsoft Office suite.
- Physical Requirements: Physical exertion such as standing; or recurring activities such as bending, crouching, reaching; pushing loaded book trucks; or recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as boxes of books or journals.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Two years’ experience in selecting materials in a library environment.
- Reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages is a plus.
- Experience Sirsi/Dynix, with MARC records, and integrated library systems.
- Web-based bibliographic, acquisitions and library collection analytics tools.
- Experience with children’s cognitive and emotional development.
- Experience with project planning and implementation in a library environment.
- Experience with current publishing trends and collection development principles, practices, and concerns.
- Multicultural experience, or experience serving diverse or vulnerable populations or communities.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Commitment to intellectual freedom and the development of diverse, equitable, and inclusive collections.
- Skillfully create bibliographic lists and/or recommend titles for a library collection.
- Experience developing collections that reflect diverse perspectives, cultures, languages, identities, and interests.
- Understanding of intellectual freedom principles and library ethics.
- Knowledge of community-responsive collection development practices.
- Proficient in use of print, non-print, and electronic library resources.
- Experience assisting customers with readers' advisory.
- Experience working with children and/or children’s literature in a school or public library.
- Familiarity with MARC records and integrated library systems (Sirsi/Dynix preferred).
- Understanding web-based bibliographic, acquisitions and library collection analytics tools.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and others.
- Tactfully communicate effectively and respectfully, both verbally and in writing.
- Meet deadlines and quickly adapt to changing priorities.
- Able to read closely and perform detailed work.
- Synthesize and utilize multiple streams of information.
- Genuine curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning, with a broad range of interests and reading background.
(We reserve the right to withdraw this posting at any time due to overwhelming response.)
Position of Trust: Those under final consideration for appointment will be required to authorize the release of and successfully complete a criminal conviction check.
Financial Disclosure: This position is required to complete a Financial Disclosure pursuant to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 7-9 of the City Ethics Law.
Please Attach Your Resume To Be Considered.
THE ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
