Child and Youth Services Librarian

Job Summary

As our Child and Youth Services Librarian, you’ll inspire young readers by creating and leading engaging programs for children, tweens, and teens. You’ll build strong connections with schools and community partners, curate vibrant collections, and help families discover great reads. If you love championing library services, offering exceptional customer support, and bringing leadership and creativity to your work, this role is a wonderful opportunity to make a real impact.

Known as the “Gateway to Muskoka”, the Town of Gravenhurst is a progressive growing urban and rural municipality located in the District Municipality of Muskoka, home to approximately 13,000 permanent year- round residents and a seasonal population of equal size. Gravenhurst offers both permanent and seasonal residents opportunities in recreation, leisure, tourism, culinary, culture, heritage, arts, sights, sounds and attractions, making it a great place to live, work and play!

POSITION SUMMARY

 The Child and Youth Services Librarian is responsible for: the development, promotion, implementation and evaluation of programming for children, tweens and teens; acting as a liaison with the community and providing outreach to local schools and other organizations that support youth; maintaining collections for children, tweens and teens; offering reader’s advisory; promoting services and programs; providing high level customer service to library users; and demonstrating professionalism and leadership skills.

This is an existing vacancy.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Programming – Develops, promotes, implements, and evaluates creative, dynamic, innovative literacy-building programs (in-person and/or virtual) for children, tweens and teens both in the library and in the community; reflects and addresses local community needs for programming opportunities; coordinates programming in conjunction with community events and holidays; organizes activities for March Break as well as summer programming and supervises summer students; remains aware and engaged with relevant trends (i.e. maker spaces, STEAM, digital media) and other interests especially as these relate to new technologies, ensuring programs offered at the Gravenhurst Public Library are current and well attended.

Community Liaison and Outreach – Connects with local primary and secondary schools to provide programs and services; liaises with community organizations to develop mutually beneficial programs and partnerships that promote literacy and library services.
Collection Development and Reader’s Advisory – Provides in-depth information and reader’s advisory for children, tweens, teens, and their parents/caregivers; maintains collections for children, tweens and teens (both physical and digital) and provides recommendations for purchase, assessment, weeding, processing, and repairs; follows established collection development criteria when selecting library materials; ensures the children and teen areas are inviting, interactive and attractive (i.e. book displays, bulletin boards, games, shared tools and activities).

Promotions – Represents the library at outside events and to community organizations; articulates and communicates the need to deliver high quality library service for children, tweens and teens to stakeholders; and promotes library programs and services using social media and traditional marketing tools.

Customer Service – Ensures Gravenhurst Public Library is a welcoming, engaging and safe space; provides support at the front desk with the circulation of materials; renews materials; submits requests to Interlibrary Loan; informs library users about available holds; handles and records monetary transactions i.e. sales, fines, fees, and memberships; provides assistance to library users in locating information and/or library materials; registers new library users; conducts new patron orientation; renews and updates memberships; instructs people in the use of library resources and equipment; provides general information and assistance to patrons using the public access computers; and performs opening and closing procedures, which includes setting the alarm and ensuring security of the library facility.

Leadership – Acts as a goodwill ambassador for the library, promoting the library’s values and services in all user interactions; effectively collaborates, communicates and supports colleagues to achieve shared goals; develops a familiarity with the library’s strategic plan; creates organizational procedures, processes, and policies; keeps apprised of current library policies and procedures, current news and community happenings; writes grants for specific projects; provides statistics and reporting; and delivers guidance and direction to student placements and volunteers in the performance of tasks.
Carrying out special projects and other duties as assigned by the CEO/Chief Librarian or designate.

EDUCATION, SKILLS and EXPERIENCE 

• Masters of Library Science degree from an accredited university program or equivalent degree; with a specialization in working with children and teens
• Minimum one (1) year of experience working with children and teens in a public library environment.
• Demonstrated experience with training and instruction.
• Exceptional readers’ advisory skills for families, children and teens
• Well-developed programming skills with experience in STEAM programming, maker technologies and digital media
• Demonstrated experience with Windows and Apple products and operating systems.
• Highly proficient at information service delivery
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, including a welcoming manner, active listening and nonjudgement response
• Strong familiarity with current library trends
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Horizon Library software systems preferred
• Ability to master, explain, and at times create organizational procedures, processes, policies, and operations
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals
• Ability to supervise the work of others while fostering a positive work environment
• Accomplished at working independently while contributing to the work team
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and supports library goals and objectives
• Exceptional ability to successfully multitask in a busy environment
• Able to accommodate a variable work schedule
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Proven aptitude for taking initiative
• Holds a Valid Ontario Driver’s License and has access to a reliable vehicle.
• Physically able to carry out all aspects of the job
• Vulnerable Sector (Criminal) Record Check requirement: successful applicants must be prepared to provide a Vulnerable Record Check before being employed by the Gravenhurst Public Library.

HEALTH & SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the Gravenhurst Library Board has adopted health and safety policies established by the Town of Gravenhurst, Gravenhurst Public Library staff members are responsible:

• To learn, understand and practice standard Town operating procedures.
• To be familiar with and comply with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations; and the Towns Health and Safety Policies and Procedures.
• To take every possible precaution to protect themselves and fellow workers from health and safety hazards and unsafe situations.
• To report unsafe acts or conditions to their supervisor or a Health and Safety Committee Representative.
• To report any occupational injury or illness immediately to their supervisor.
• To use personal protective equipment, where required.
• To report any contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Physical/psychological Demands and Working Conditions

Environment: Work is conducted in an office environment with some exposure to criticism from the public. Requirement to juggle priorities, meet deadlines, verbally communicate to exchange information; deal with constant interruptions and changing demands during the course of a working day; occasions whereby an extremely short amount of time is available to complete a project or task (regularly); wide variety of tasks requiring ability to manage multiple projects and make independent decisions (daily); while maintaining a pleasant, professional and positive demeanour.

Physical: Requirement for sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting and in a field environment; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations; to operate equipment and a vehicle.

SUPERVISORY:

Positions Supervised Directly: Student placements, summer program assistants and volunteers

CONTACTS & HOURS OF WORK

Incumbent communicates regularly with library staff, municipal staff, and the general public. This position works 35 hours per week (weekday, evening and weekend shifts).

Join Our Team!
We are proud to offer our valued staff:

• Competitive salaries! Our jobs are evaluated and set on a pay scale and we work to maintain competitive salaries in the market.
• Employer paid group health and dental benefits for permanent full time employees – plus a Health Care Spending Account.
• OMERS pension plan
• Continuous learning, training and development opportunities
• Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) for eligible employees and their immediate families
• The pleasure of working with great people in a supportive and fun environment

Learn more about Gravenhurst Public Library by visiting our website https://www.gravenhurst.ca/library/
 
Compensation: 

Annual Salary Range: $66,328.00 to $74,653.00

How To Apply

The deadline to submit applications for this vacancy is March 29, 2026 @ 11:59PM.

Applications are accepted through the Ultipro portal only.