Children's School Librarian, Maclay School, Tallahassee, FL

Established in 1968, Maclay School is an independent, non-sectarian, college-preparatory school dedicated to providing a liberal arts education to students in grades PK-12.  Maclay is located on 100 acres in scenic northern Tallahassee, Florida.  The Marian Lawton Langford Library is a state-of-the-art private school library with a collection of over 30,000 materials.  Patron services are a large part of the job, and the ability to multitask and problem solve either research, reading requests, or virtual library services/issues is a must.   We serve patrons of all ages, and while the majority of this position would emphasize children’s services, the ability to also work comfortably with young adults is required.

The Children’s Librarian will be responsible for the facilitation of literature, research, and information skills for K-5th grade classes.  Our library is based on the flex instructional model, where cooperative planning and teamwork with teachers is essential to its success.  The Children’s Librarian will report to the Lead Librarian and assist in tasks such as K-5 collection development, collection management including inventory and cataloging tasks, and after-hours services to our patrons.  The Maclay School library is a leader in professional development on campus and the ability to create and facilitate learning opportunities for teachers and staff is essential.

Job Duties as an Instructional Partner.  Design project-based learning and hands-on activities in the library that directly support the curriculum. Participate in curriculum development and attend faculty meetings. Provide professional development opportunities for K-5 faculty

Job Duties as an Information Specialist.  Develop a library collection of materials that support classroom instruction. Evaluate, promote, and use existing and emerging technologies to assist in elementary reading and research. Understand copyright and usage for elementary teachers. Model effective strategies for developing multiple literacies

Instructional Duties as a Teacher Librarian.  Develop reading for understanding, enjoyment, and lifelong learning. Facilitate research and information skills. Instruction and assistance in locating and evaluating print and online resources, and online search strategies. Model digital and cyber-citizenship for students and teachers

Professional Qualifications:  MLS from an accredited School Library Media program.

Attributes of a model Children’s Librarian.  Collaborative partner to teachers. Reading advocate. Loves literature. Can work comfortably with children and young adults. Strong communication skills. Ability to multi-task. Self-starter. Familiar with differentiated teaching strategies and learners

Minimum Technical Competencies.  Library management systems experience (Follett Library Manager preferred). Strong search strategies using multiple vendor databases (Gale, EBSCO, JStor, etc.). Microsoft Office 365 skills; comfortable with Word and Excel skills. Ability to work comfortably in the digital, Web 2.0 world and a familiarity with the online web environment including web browsers, screencasting, collaborative learning communities and mobile devices in libraries. A sense of exploration regarding emerging technologies and commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. Familiar with ebook and audio book materials.

Applicants.  Please submit the following to Dianne Johnston, Lead Librarian, via email at djohnsto@maclay.org.  Deadline for submission is May 1, 2014, but candidates are encouraged to apply early.

  1. Letter of interest addressing the qualifications, attributes, and technical competencies
  2. Resume
  3. Three professional references.  References will be contacted.