TITLE: Outreach Services Manager (Para-professional level)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Manages and directs Outreach Department Services to people who are visually, physically, developmentally or learning impaired, institutionalized, aging, literacy challenged, ethnic or minority populations with special needs, underemployed, or geographically isolated. Reports to the Adult/Outreach Services Coordinator.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carries out activities related to various New York State programs including Coordinated Outreach, State Correctional Facilities and County Jails.
• Recommends policy and procedural changes when deemed necessary.
• Remains aware of changing demographics relative to target groups. Continually evaluates and adapts current services and develops and implements new and innovative programs for meeting the needs of the target groups.
• Publicizes and promotes outreach services through presentations, newsletters, brochures, flyers, FLLS website information and links, and visits to member libraries and human service agencies in FLLS region.
• Provides outreach library services to agencies and individuals within system service area and keeps member libraries informed concerning these outreach activities.
• Participates in planning workshops for agency personnel and member library staff on topics dealing with outreach services.
• Schedules and organizes meetings of FLLS Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Council (COSAC) and coordinates the activities of this group.
• Oversees all operations of the NYS Talking Books & Braille Library liaison program with FLLS for the NYS Library in Albany.
• Supervises staff and volunteers assigned to Outreach Department including Mail-It services.
• Maintains contacts with other Public Library System Outreach providers. (NYLINE-O, NYLA, regional meetings).
• Gathers and prepares statistical reports on outreach services (e.g. number of monthly orders and deletes sent to Cataloging Coordinator, annual departmental statistics and narrative for annual reports).
• Acts as liaison consultant for Outreach deposit collections in libraries, senior agencies and correctional facilities. Requires knowledge of the interests and needs of the client groups.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written
• Customer service experience
• Familiarity with libraries and library automated systems helpful

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience in human services
• Supervisory experience
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Software.

HOURS: Full time (35 hours per week).

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Starting annual salary of $29,000. Benefits include New York State Retirement, Health Insurance, Disability, TIAA/Cref, Vacation & Sick Time.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: May 2, 2008.

POSITION SUMMARY:
This is a professional position under the general direction of the Board of Trustees. The Director ensures that the operations of the library conform to the policies established by the Board and the regulations established by the New York State Library. The Director performs managerial duties related to personnel, budget, and collection development and building maintenance. In addition, the Director is responsible for patron services, public and community relations, and library programming. The Director will assist the Board in securing funding from various governmental and granting agencies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Associate’s degree or equivalent, with experience in public or other library administrative position required. Applicant should have excellent oral and written communication skills, and be able to establish effective working relationships with a wide range of the community, including staff, the board, and the general public. Computer literacy and familiarity with standard office machines is essential, as is a flexible work schedule.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is preferred; MLS would be highly desirable. The optimal candidate would have one year of experience as a Director or three years in a supervisory position. Grant writing skills, and training or knowledge of Polaris system or other online circulation system helpful.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include two weeks paid vacation, other benefits available

FULL TIME: 30 hours/week

Library Mission Statement : The Newfield Public Library will continue to provide a comprehensive collection of materials and services to meet the informational and recreational reading needs of a growing, changing community.

Vision Statement: The Newfield Library will:

• Be a warm and friendly place where people of all ages can stay awhile to browse, sit and read, meet with neighbors and exchange ideas.
• Expand the collection of all sorts of materials which will contribute to the knowledge and enjoyment of people of all ages.
• Provide special programs for all ages so that they will discover and continue the pleasure of reading and learning.
• Work with the Newfield Historical Society to collect, preserve and make available to the public historical information about the town of Newfield.
• Seek to keep the library on a firm financial foundation.
• Continue to maintain and enhance relationships with the supportive Newfield community.

Newfield Public Library Profile:

Newfield Public Library was founded in 1890

Facilities: 1560 sq. ft. library built in 1875. Library moved in to this space in 1970. The building contains a dry basement used for storage and books sales; the main floor (1000 sq. ft.) where patrons are allowed and a finished second story which houses Archives Alive and is used as a meeting space. Archives Alive is a project funded through grants and associated with and supervised by the Newfield Historical Society. Exterior maintenance project underway for construction / maintenance work to begin in 2009.

Funding: Budget $70,000.

Staff: Library Director, three part-time support staff.

Library Hours: Monday through Thursday, 2pm to 8pm. Saturdays 10am to 2pm. The Library is open a total of 28 hours weekly.

Materials: 15,000 volumes, 21,000 annual circulation, access to Internet on four computers. Provides programming for children’s services through the pre-K and kindergarten programs and summer day camp. Other programming as opportunities arise.

Service area: Primary population served is approximately 5,500 residents in the town of Newfield.

Affiliations: Newfield Public Library is a member of the Finger Lakes Library System (FLLS) with access to over 400,000 volumes via member collections, on-line databases accessible to patrons and training services provided by FLLS for staff.

Future plans: Capital underway for maintenance of exterior of building planned. Project to begin construction summer of 2009.

Advantages: Excellent school system. Affordable housing and good family environment. Great community relations and long standing institution within the community.

Board: A seven member Board of Trustees provides supervision of Library Director. Each member serves a 5 year term and members are selected from the community as vacancies arise.