Librarian III

Job Description

Introduction

The City of Milwaukee is proud to employ a workforce
dedicated to delivering exceptional service to its residents. If you have a
passion for being a part of an inclusive team of public servants, please
consider the following opportunity.
The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) offers a dynamic,
innovative work environment where each employee contributes to making the
Library the best Third Place possible. Inspiration starts here - we help people
read, learn, and connect!

Purpose

The Librarian III performs selection and collection
management of materials in assigned areas of the Milwaukee Public Library.
The Acquisitions, Serials, Interlibrary Loan, and
Collections unit selects, purchases, and receives materials for Milwaukee
Public Library, in both physical and electronic formats. The unit supports
subscriptions, processing, and collection management work in MPL's collections.
In addition, the unit manages system-wide access to interlibrary loan services.

Essential Functions

Collection Development & Maintenance

Execute complex collection development and maintenance. Use
data, tools, and resources to make selection and deselection decisions in
alignment with MPL guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Maintain a deep understanding of the target audience's range
of developmental stages, informational needs, research areas, and recreational
interests to support collection development, management, and library customer
service.
Apply professional principles and MPL collection standards when
assigning resources and recommendations with consideration to security, access,
discoverability, preservation, and customer service.
Select, organize, and classify multiple formats of library
materials.
Stay abreast of collection trends, developments, and best
practices, including intellectual freedom, innovation, and customer trends.
Manage and coordinate complex collection development and
maintenance projects and related budgets.

System Support

Coordinate and guide system-wide collection-related
projects, tasks, and duties.
Train and guide collection work across the MPL System,
including using best practices for collection displays and exhibits.
Communicate priorities, significant trends, and developments
in assigned collection areas to the MPL colleagues and beyond in alignment with
the MPL as a Resource Library.
Serve and lead on designated library committees,
prioritizing the library's vision, mission, and strategic goals related to MPL collections.

Lead, attend and contribute to the growth and development of
the MPL and the library profession through conferences and professional
associations.
Assess, review, and select materials for the Interlibrary
Loan acquisition.
Collaborate with the Branch and the Central departmental staff
and managers on collection development and management. Identify collection
needs in service areas, using multiple data points and system-wide
collaboration.

Community Relations & Outreach

Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of the Milwaukee community.
Present on collections to promote library resources to staff,
patrons, partners, and organizations.
Represent the library in informational, educational, and cultural
activities of the community, and serve on committees.
Recommend resources for special projects and initiatives.
Collaborate with reference and programming staff to support
community engagement related to assigned collection areas.

Reference, Readers' Advisory and Customer Service

Assist adults, young adults, and children in the selection
and location of materials and information, and in the use of the online
catalog, electronic databases, the Internet, microform, and other indexes,
bibliographies, and reference tools.
Proactively assist the public with self-service resources,
including checkout, photocopiers, printers, computers, software applications,
e-commerce, online registration, and holds-pickup.
Conduct thorough reference interviews and readers' advisory
services to determine resource interests and facilitate appropriate
recommendations
Train and advise other librarians and reference staff in reference
interviews and readers' advisory services.
Alert patrons to the community's organizations and functions.
Maintain current knowledge of reference tools and emerging
information technology resources and trends in public library services.
Curate resource lists and bibliographies in multimodal
formats for staff and public dissemination, including writing reviews.
Curate and implement displays for assigned collection
management areas.
Evaluate direct patron acquisition requests for collection
consideration, applying MPL standards of collection policy and customer service.
Provide readers' advisory service to adults and youth using
appropriate reference tools and personal and professional knowledge of readers,
collections, genres, popular and newsworthy titles.

We welcome qualified individuals with
disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable
accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities
Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

Conditions of Employment

The Librarian III must be willing and able to do the
following:

Work Monday-Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours
as assigned.
Provide emergency assistance at locations through the MPL
system as needed.
Lift and move items weighing up to 10 pounds occasionally
and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Stand, walk, climb stepstools, crouch, and reach.

Minimum Requirements

1. Master's degree in library and information studies or
equivalent from an ALA-accredited program.
2. Three years of progressively responsible, post-master's
in library science (MLS) librarian experience in a public library
NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts
to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates' education
as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offers.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics

TECHNICAL

Knowledge of library science, including a thorough
understanding of the reference interview, library media learning principles,
and instructional methods.
Knowledge of library programming and collection development.
Knowledge of library public relations and marketing
techniques
Knowledge of modern library organization, procedures,
policies, mission, goals, and services.
Knowledge of publishing trends, acquisition operations,
vendors, and the ability to manage multiple materials budgets.
Knowledge of developmental stages, educational,
recreational, and professional needs and interests of target audiences in
alignment with assigned collection areas.
Knowledge of reference tools, emerging information
technology resources and trends in public library services
Knowledge of collection trends, developments and best
practices within library collections, including intellectual freedom,
innovation, and customer trends.
Skill in using online library catalogs, electronic
databases, the Internet, microform, indexes, bibliographies, and reference
tools.
Above average competence in delivery of computer services
(i.e.: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, use of on-line reference
resources, Internet use, etc.).
Ability to learn to use and troubleshoot library equipment.
Ability to read and interpret a wide array of materials,
from printed books and periodicals to electronic resources.
Ability to work effectively with library users and interpret
their reading and informational needs.
Ability to critically evaluate library materials from a
historical and contemporary perspective to make collection decisions in support
of MPL's role as a resource library.
Ability to train and evaluate the work of others. Ability to
lead and provide support to less experienced librarian staff.
Ability to develop and maintain thorough knowledge of the
Milwaukee Community and MPL System.
Skill in the development of in-depth knowledge of
contemporary literature.

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL

Excellent customer service skills; ability to de-escalate
and resolve patron challenges tactfully and satisfactorily.
Ability to work effectively and respectfully with coworkers
and library users of various cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds, ages,
and literacy levels, with an understanding of the social responsibilities of an
urban public library in an era of information access and technological change.
Ability to foster and contribute to an environment of
inclusion wherein all are treated respectfully, are valued for their strengths,
and feel that they can safely express themselves.
Ability to train and oversee the work of others engaged in
daily library operations.
Ability to provide effective training to librarians,
paraprofessionals, and support staff.
Written communication skills to prepare correspondence,
reports, book reviews, and marketing materials.
Verbal communication skills to share information with a wide
range of patrons.
Presentation skills to perform library outreach, participate
in media programs, and conduct formal programs to carry out the mission of the
library.
Ability to represent the library, its policies and programs,
before a variety of community groups and agencies.

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROFESSIONALISM

Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple tasks and to
adjust to changing priorities to meet deadlines.
Ability to function effectively when working independently
and as part of a team.
Analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to make effective
decisions and sound judgment.
Ability to learn new information quickly and conduct
research.
Ability to make quick and defensible decisions.
Ability to exemplify professionalism, honesty, integrity,
and proper stewardship of library resources.

Current Salary

The current salary range (Pay Range 2IN) is $72,705 - $89,460 annually,

Requirements

Requirements

1. Master's degree in library and information studies or
equivalent from an ALA-accredited program.
2. Three years of progressively responsible, post-master's
in library science (MLS) librarian experience in a public library
NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts
to your employment