Literacy & Outreach Substitute

Description

Job Summary: The Literacy and Outreach Substitute works a variable schedule, including evenings and weekends, sometimes on short notice and as needed. Literacy and Outreach Substitutes support the library's presence at fairs, programs, and events in the community, and at times in the library. Substitutes help develop and organize materials and prepare and run activities for fairs, programs, and events.

At times, substitutes may represent the library in the community with the pedal-assisted book bikes. Substitute shifts may be held anywhere in the Boulder Public Library District or at any library.

This is a non-exempt position with no guaranteed hours.

Essential Functions could include:

• Represent the library at fairs, programs, and events inside or outside the library, and provide customer service
• Create a welcoming environment and greet community members, learn about people’s interests and needs, and share information about library services, programs, and resources.
• Engage the public in activities and programs to learn and understand the type and variety of programs and services offered by the library.
• Lead library programs and/or workshops at the library or the community.
• Support and help (at times, run) library fair tables, and activities in the community, which includes set up and take down, and transporting materials and items back to the library.

Additional responsibilities may include:

• Maintains accurate program planning records and collects and reports attendance statistics.
• Assists with evaluating outreach activities, programs, and events.
• Participates in staff meetings to plan and/or assess outreach, programs, and activities.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with team members to smooth workflow.
• Prioritizes tasks and shifts attention as needed to complete daily work.
• Take proper safety precautions to prevent accidents. Responsible for the safety of self, others, materials, and equipment. Uses all required safety equipment and follows all safety regulations, policies, and procedures. Reports all accidents and damage to library property.
• Operates the pedal-assisted book bike within the Boulder Library District to promote the library by sharing information and books, and at times doing a small activity.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education and experience: Past work or volunteer experience in the community with diverse community members from different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Customer Service skills: Experience engaging with the public to understand their interests and challenges, and sharing information and resources that align with their needs and interests.
• General Skills: Self-directed and collaborative.
• Technical skills: Intermediate skills in using personal computers, performing data entry, and using information databases.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience providing customer service and working in the community as a representative of a library or organization, sharing information about an organization’s programs and services.
• Experience providing programs and outreach to diverse communities.
• Spanish language skills and/or experience working with people from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Interest and ability to operate an electric bicycle in Boulder to share books and library information.
• Experiences designing and/or utilizing creative community education and engagement techniques.

Please apply by May 8th at 4 p.m.

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Application Accommodations: BPLD is committed to advancing equity in our diverse community, and jobs are one of the best ways for us to do so. Please let us know if you require any accommodations to apply for this position due to a disability.

Examples of this could include: providing a paper copy of the application, emailing the interview questions to you in advance, or reading the application to an applicant with a visual impairment. This is not an exhaustive list.

Please note a few things:

• If you need more time to complete any sections of the application, we recommend using a word processing document or a text file to enter your answers. The system times out after 30 minutes and does not retain your information. Having it in a word processing document will help in case you need to copy and paste the information back into the application. There is a 1000-character limit for responses to those questions.
• Uploading documents and qualifications can impact the formatting of your resume. We will not discount your application if Paylocity transcription alters the formatting.

Reach out to hr@boulderlibrary.org, and we will work with you to determine whether we can accommodate your request.

Working Conditions:

Light work in an office environment and programs and outreach in the library, the community, and/or at community organizations’ offices and events. Performing repetitive motions. Grasping, lifting, and/or raising objects up to 30 lbs., from a lower to a higher position, or moving objects. Seeing, hearing, and speaking are required.

Ability to talk for extended periods of time at community events, move boxes and supplies, as well as guide learning with community members. Able to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities and conditions. Ability to get to community events and transport materials. Ability to drive and operate a pedal-assisted, electric Book Bike.

The BPLD is committed to advancing equity in our diverse community by providing accessible programs, print and digital materials, tools and technology, and educational opportunities. Across our five current locations, we are proud to offer resources including a makerspace, art galleries, outdoor learning areas, a multimedia local-history archive, community literacy programs, and a theater.

BPLD strives to be a safe and welcoming place for all staff and patrons alike. Through outreach, community partnerships, and volunteer-driven programs, we seek to adapt our services to those who may experience barriers to visiting our physical locations.

We circulate more than 1.5 million items annually, but we believe that a library is more than a place to borrow free materials. As a vital civic space, we provide opportunities for our more than 500,000 visitors each year to study, host meetings, meet new people, try new experiences, and connect with essential local services.

Our employees are part of a vibrant, uplifting workplace culture that honors the joy and commitment of meaningful public service while still caring for individual needs. Our work is highly collaborative, adaptive, inquisitive, and is always ongoing. We are passionate individuals with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences, and we are dedicated to our mission of connecting people, ideas, and information to transform lives and strengthen our community.