Coordinator, Youth Collections

Overview:
BookOps is the shared technical services organization of the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, and the Selection department is responsible for the selection and ordering of all circulating materials for both systems. The Youth Collections Coordinator works with the Youth Selectors, other Selection Coordinators, and many stakeholders across NYPL and BPL to coordinate, manage, and develop the physical and digital collections for patrons ages 0-18, as well as support strategic initiatives serving children and teens.

Principal Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Assistant Director, Selection, the Youth Collections Coordinator:

Coordinates and manages the development of the BookOps member libraries’ children’s and young adult collections across 150 physical locations.

Oversees the allocated materials budgets of each library for the children’s and young adult collections, and makes informed recommendations each year about the allocation of these budgets by audience and material type.

Actively participates in a responsive and flexible model of centralized selection and collection development that reflects the changing needs of the diverse communities served by BookOps’ member libraries.

Supervises a team of Supervising Librarians in the selection of appropriate materials in the specified area, and selects materials for children and teens as required.

Collaborates with the Electronic Resources Coordinator in the evaluation and selection of online resources for children and teens.

Manages multiple, simultaneous projects related to children’s and young adult collections, often in coordination with other central departments of NYPL and BPL, and in partnership with library branches.

Works collaboratively with colleagues across both libraries to identify and assess collection needs of local populations, and supports branch collection management activities, including ongoing collection assessment and circulation analysis.

Provides ongoing training and support to colleagues on collection development and readers’ advisory as required; and upon request provides consultative information to staff of member libraries’ Marketing, Public Relations, Exhibitions, and similar departments

Works closely with BookOps Acquisitions in such areas as managing autoship plans and vendor relations, and evaluates new vendors and collections products for both libraries.

Serves on relevant committees.

Maintains a personal program of continuous education and professional development, and assists direct reports in developing such programs for themselves.

Performs related duties as required.

Required Education & Experience:
ALA-Accredited Master’s Degree in Library and Information Studies

5 years of relevant work experience

Minimum Qualifications:
Knowledge of current practices and trends in collection management and development, including demonstrated experience with promoting and improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in youth collections.

Knowledge of current major publishers and public library materials vendors, both physical and digital.

General knowledge of most or all types of material for children and teens, as well as deep knowledge of specific genres, audiences, and/or subjects.

Ability to problem solve and make thoughtful decisions in a collaborative and coordinated planning environment, as well as ability to prioritize.

Ability to create and follow through on long-term plans, as well as the ability to make sudden changes to those plans as circumstances change.

Budget management experience.

Strong commitment to youth services and collections.

Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, reliability, and willingness to assume varied duties and assignments.

Experience in training and supervising staff, and ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Demonstrated flexibility, reliability, punctuality, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:
Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French, Japanese, Arabic, or Bengali

Experience with selecting or ordering from major library vendors

Experience with Sierra

Experience on relevant library committees or reviewing material for trade publications

Experience in collection analysis

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values::

Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues

Be Resourceful in solving problems

Be Curious in all aspects of your work

Physical Duties:
Limited physical effort is required

Light lifting required

May require travel within NYC

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday. Evenings and Saturdays as required. Union / Non Union: Non Union