LIBRARIAN III

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The current salary range (Pay Range 2IN) is $72,705 - $89,460 annually, and the resident incentive salary range for City of Milwaukee residents is $75,613 - $93,038 annually. Appointment to the position of Librarian III is normally at the beginning of the pay range.

BENEFITS: 

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program, which includes the following:

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Comprehensive Wellness Program
• Onsite Clinic Services 
• Onsite Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative Work Schedules
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
• Flexible Spending Arrangement
• Commuter Value Pass  

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/der/benefits.

The Selection Process will be job-related and will consist of one or more of the following: an evaluation of education, experience, and/or responses to supplemental questions; a written or performance test, a structured interview, or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to structured interviews and performance examinations. Structured interviews may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

INITIAL FILING DATE - The selection process will be held as soon as practical after the deadline listed above. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the City's needs have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the selection process components. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative dates or times for the selection process. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

PORTFOLIO: Applicants who are referred to the Milwaukee Public Library for final consideration will be required to submit a portfolio prior to their interview of their professional librarian career. Portfolios should be approximately 10-15 pages in length and should cover Reference and Customer Service, Collection Development and Maintenance, Programming and Outreach, and System Support. Each section should include examples and reflections that explain the significance of each in your career path as a professional librarian.

• Applications and further information may be accessed by visiting https://www.jobapscloud.com/MIL/
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

EEO Code 204

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.