Children's Programs and Public Service Assistant

JOB SUMMARY

Ottawa Public Library (OPL) provides accessible innovative library and information services throughout the City of Ottawa that meet the unique needs of diverse communities delivered through a range of vehicles and reflecting a citizen-centred approach. The Public Service units are responsible for the customer-centric public library activities programs and services offered by the Librarys 33 branches mobile and digital services to meet the needs in their catchment area.

You provide information reference and readers advisory services; develop implement and conduct childrens programs; provide circulation and page services in the Library and/or the community and/or mini-libraries nursing homes and other locations; and perform routine collection maintenance duties.

You may be the senior person in charge or exercise responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the library branch.

Work is performed within the context of the policies and framework of the Library corporate culture as embodied in the Mission Statement Core Values Customer Experience Guidelines and the Canadian Federation of Library Association position statements on Intellectual Freedom and Diversity and Inclusion with particular emphasis on providing customer service excellence.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 2-year college diploma in Library and Information Technician Early Childhood Education or related field.

Minimum of 1 year of related experience working with childrens programs.

KNOWLEDGE

• Adult/childrens literature in a variety of formats readers advisory services trends in reading literacy and ESL collections and adult programming.
• Trends and techniques for developing effective library programming for children.
• Reference resources in print microform and electronic formats and of current developments in reference services.
• Electronic database and other bibliographic searching techniques.
• Principles of collection development and maintenance.
• Methods and techniques for sorting and shelving library materials according to alphabetical Dewey Decimal or other prescribed sequence and procedures.
• Library circulation procedures and practices.
• Methods and techniques of responding to inquiries and resolving patron complaints.
• Desktop applications intranet and internet and keyboarding procedures to the extent where it may be required to demonstrate such usage to colleagues or library patrons.
• General knowledge of library policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of customer service techniques and protocols
• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation.
• General knowledge of Ottawa Public Librarys policies and procedures related to health and safety.

COMPETENCIES SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• To deliver library programs to a range of users including pre-schoolers school age and adults.
• Use tact discretion and confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Exercise effective judgement and independent decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to design and create thematic displays.
• Data entry retrieval and keyboarding skills including use of standard office equipment and operation of an IBM compatible computer in Microsoft Windows.
• To perform routine manual or clerical tasks and manoeuvre book carts and lift boxes up to 40 pounds.
• Minimum keyboard skills of 25 wpm.
• Perform multiple tasks concurrently.
• Customer service orientation including the use of tact discretion and confidentiality
• Attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills ability to deal with the public and handle problems as they arise.
• Flexibility ability to adjust priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Strongly committed to quality customer service.