Librarian, Youth Services

Job Description:

Librarian, Youth Services

Description

Position Description

Tacoma Public Library (TPL) is looking for a Youth Services Librarian to join their team! In this role you will be developing and delivering community-driven services to residents of the urban community of Tacoma.

We are seeking talented individuals to join our team, who:

• Are committed to collaborating with our community in order to deliver library materials services
  
• Are committed to working to support and deliver user-focused services
  
• Are passionate about racial equity and social justice
  
• Have demonstrated success in cross functional teams and in neighborhood library operations
  
• Have a vision and understanding of youth services including current and future needs
  

If you believe that the library can empower the community by bringing people together to discover, connect, create, learn, and thrive, your next position may be at TPL! We welcome applicants of all abilities.

Position Summary:
We are seeking a Youth Services Librarian to empower Tacoma's youth from infant through teen to become creative thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and resourceful users of information. Successful candidates will embody these characteristics themselves.

Are you excited about the idea of working in a diverse urban library system? The ideal candidate is committed to racial equity and social justice and has a passion for developing, promoting and facilitating innovative programs to build literacy and a love of reading to meet the expressed and anticipated educational, recreational and cultural information needs of our diverse community including book discussions, author talks, digital navigation, classes, literacy sessions, arts and wellness activities, story-times, STEAM activities, and a variety of other programs both in the Library and throughout the community.

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all Tacoma Public Library employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop, plan and conduct comprehensive programming for toddlers, preschoolers, school age children, teens, and their families and caregivers
  
• Provide outreach and develop partnerships with community-based organizations, city support agencies, child and teen educational institutions and local businesses to promote the library's services, programs and collections with a focus on children, teens, and their families and caregivers
  
• Determine public programming needs for children and teens, including identification of new and underserved populations
  
• Engage library patrons with the collection in ways that allow them to follow their interests and discover new ones
  
• Collaborate with the collection and technical services team to build and maintain a collection that anticipates and meets the needs of children and teens, ensuring it is diverse, current, and relevant and meets the needs of the community
  
• Encourage digital literacy and provide technology instruction with a focus on children, teens and their families and caregivers
  
• Participate with others in cross-functional teams to accomplish goals and objectives
  
• Maintain the appearance of the children's space ensuring a safe and inviting atmosphere filled with relevant resources for children and their families
  
• Collaborate with the Library's Public Information Office to promote and market your amazing programming
  
• Explains, demonstrates, and assists patrons in the use of library resources; helps patrons to identify, locate, and retrieve materials appropriate to their interests
  
• Participate in branch activities and library initiatives
  

Qualifications

Required:
Master of Library Science (MLS) or a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from an accredited library school and/or Washington State certification as a Librarian or currently enrolled in such a program with completion within 6 months of hire.

Desired:

• Experience creating and conducting a variety of innovative programs for children and their parents/caregivers
  
• Experience developing, maintaining and marketing youth collections
  
• Experience building partnerships with local organizations and schools
  
• Experience working successfully as part of a team
  
• Strong organization and planning skills
  
• Bilingual skills desired
  

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong commitment to public service and the ability to work well with a diverse patronage
  
• Successfully demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
  
• Knowledge and appreciation of children's literature, audiovisual materials, computer resources, and other materials that constitute a balanced, relevant youth collection
  
• Knowledge of emerging library technologies, service and programming trends for children in urban public libraries
  
• Ability to translate the needs and interests of children and teens into materials for our collection, in all formats
  
• Ability to innovate and think creatively
  
• Ability to map out a process from idea through implementation, to set and meet project timelines, and to communicate effectively to project stakeholders
  
• Ability to identify, plan and prioritize job responsibilities and tasks
  
• Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills including public speaking ability
  
• Ability to recognize and set priorities and to use initiative and independent decision-making skills
  
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to change
  

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Tacoma Public Library Stands Against Racism and White Supremacy
Tacoma Public Library is opposed to white supremacy in all of its forms and is committed to fostering an organization that is actively anti-racist. We believe that Black Lives Matter. We are grieving with our black community and all communities of color who continue to be harmed by institutionalized racism. We are committed to being a trusted community resource available to all and will provide resources and public programs that seek to reflect the values of anti-racism and elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Tacoma Public Library
Tacoma Public Library (TPL) has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for more than 125 years. TPL's neighborhood libraries originated with Andrew Carnegie's visionary philanthropy at the turn of the 20th century and are being transformed into true centers of educational innovation and service--and vital community hubs--that continue to provide far more than free books and materials.

Apply

All interested individuals mustapply online and attach a resume and cover letter that includes major responsibilities and accomplishments related to the position.

This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the Tacoma Public Library and Local 120.

Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details :
Annual Salary: $89,928.00 - $102,024.00
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma
(NOTE: TPL offers City of Tacoma benefits with alternate life insurance, Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and leave accruals.)
Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma
NOTE : For questions regarding this specific recruitment contact Kat Flores , HR Analyst
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Insurance Plans: You may participate in one of several group health insurance programs. Employees and their dependents are covered by a medical-surgical-hospital plan, vision plan, dental plan, and employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance and Deferred Compensation options are also available.
Employees are covered by the State Industrial Insurance Act.

Paid leave: Library Employees are entitled to receive paid holidays, and Personal Time Off (PTO).

Retirement: All employees of the Library except part-time Pages, temporary employees, and certain project employees, are included in the City of Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacorna.org or by calling (253) 502-8200. All members of the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System are also covered by Social Security.

The Tacoma Public Library is not a department of the City of Tacoma and the Library's employees are not employees of the City. The Library is a separate entity with its own governing body. The Library's governing body is the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees.

Employees of the City of Tacoma who accept employment with the Tacoma Public Library will lose their City of Tacoma employee seniority. They will also find that their leave accruals, and some of the benefits enjoyed as employees of the City of Tacoma do not carry over when they are hired for a position with the Tacoma Public Library.

Closing Date/Time: 7/31/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$83,928.00 - $102,024.00 Annually