Upper School Librarian

Job Description:

The Blake School seeks a creative and engaged Upper School Librarian to provide management and expertise in our library media program. Passionate about working with upper school students, the ideal candidate will have experience empowering students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, ethical users of information, and skilled researchers who access both print and digital resources. Blake is particularly interested in candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, lived experience and thinking that makes a community strong and empowers students to engage across differences. 

The successful candidate will have an extensive knowledge of diverse voices in young adult literature, a demonstrated ability to promote literacy among students, experience partnering with upper school teachers, and experience in library operations including collection management, cataloging, programming and volunteer opportunities. The librarian will also provide integrated support to the community for academic technology.

The committee will begin reviewing applications April 1. Blake will cover the travel and lodging costs for finalist candidates visiting from out of town.

Experience and Skills:

Essential Functions and Responsibilities :

The librarian empowers students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers and ethical users of information incorporating multimodal literacies. The librarian supports students’ success by:

• Guiding students' exposure to a diversity of viewpoints and genres
• Modeling effective inquiry-based strategies for locating, evaluating, applying, reflecting and presenting ideas in multimodal forms
• Modeling and promoting digital citizenship and ethical use of information
• Providing reference support to the community, including informed support to students working on research projects
• Mentoring a group of students through the schoolwide advisory program 

As an instructional partner, the librarian works collaboratively to build and strengthen connections among student information and research needs, curricular content and information resources. The librarian will:

• Create resources to help guide student research and support the research process
• Evaluate and promote academic technologies (i.e. Google Suite, Canvas, Hapara, Pear Deck, Flip, NoodleTools and other active learning and student-centered tools) and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, and communicate with students and teachers, augment student understanding and personalize instruction
• Collaborate with teachers as an instructional partner for certain systems including Canvas Learning Management System and Veracross 
• Join educators to plan and implement meaningful experiences promoting a love of reading and lifelong learning
• Plan and execute passive and active programming in the library to build community, encourage curiosity and add whimsy to the school community

The librarian works collaboratively with members of Upper School Instructional Support and Technology to manage the library program, including defining the policies of the school library program, acquisition, circulation inventory and use of print, digital and device resources. The librarian will:

• Create and maintain the school library as a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, barrier-free and conducive to collaborative and hands-on student learning
• Promote an acquisition policy that reflects Blake’s commitment to pluralism by ensuring that print and digital resources reflect the diversity that forms the fabric of our society
• Coordinate and manage the parent volunteer program for the library
• Lead and participate in professional learning opportunities with teachers and media and digital learning professionals at school or in local, state or national workshops
• Collaborate with Blake teacher librarians across the school to promote initiatives such as book clubs, summer reading programs, the Beardecott, best practices in instruction and design school-wide policies
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications :

• Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in library science, secondary education or a related field
• A minimum of three years of recent successful library media, preferably in an upper school environment
• Experience working with educators

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Knowledge of and experience using best practices in teaching and learning
• Knowledge of and experience using current digital tools and resources
• Knowledge of and experience using informational resources in a variety of formats
• Knowledge of and experience integrating current instructional technologies into curriculum
• Knowledge of ethical and lawful practices in the use of print and digital resources
• Skill in all aspects of library media center management and operations
• Enthusiastic learner of new and emerging technologies and pedagogies
• Evidence of sound written and oral communication skills
• Evidence of organizational skills
• Experience and interest in working with students and teachers whose diversity of identity, lived experience and thinking makes a community strong and empowers students to engage across differences
• Evidence of a strong commitment to service
• Ability to think innovatively and work collaboratively with a team
• Ability to coach and motivate educators and students
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable
• Ability to be welcoming, positive and considerate toward others, which promotes an environment of mutual respect and trust
• Experience supporting or developing mobile device-rich programs preferred, such as Blake’s 1-to-1 MacBook Air laptop program
• Willingness to commit to lifelong learning

Working Conditions:

• Must be able to operate a computer or related equipment

Essential Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
• Must be able to safely climb, bend, pull, reach, kneel, and stoop
• Must be able to read, write and communicate in English