Community Outreach Specialist – Pop-up Library Services Position Available In Sarasota, Florida

Department:

Libraries & Historical Resources Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here. Are you community-oriented with a knack for communication and a need for exceptional customer service? Sarasota County is currently recruiting for a Community Outreach Specialist to join our Pop-up Library. In this role, you will serve as the coordinator of outreach services, which will expand access to non-library users and provide resources to underserved communities. Why Sarasota County? Our award-winning public library system offers extensive collections where people of all ages can find their hobbies, their histories, their music, art, and culture. In addition to books, videos, digital resources, and more, plentiful public meeting spaces provide places to meet neighbors and elected officials and explore their myriad connections to each other and their neighborhoods. Don’t miss your opportunity! This position is one of the few library roles that do not require a master’s in Library Science degree, starting out paying $58,656 and benefits begin within 60 days of hire. Take the next step in impacting our community – apply today!

About the Position In this role, you will… + Develop and maintain strong relationships with community partners, local non-profits, and other County departments. + Assist with a regularly scheduled calendar of visits for outreach vehicles to sites across Sarasota, especially those serving children, seniors, and underserved populations throughout the County. + Develop and present outreach programs for diverse audiences. + Promote the understanding and use of the library and its resources. + Loads and unloads book trucks on the Pop-up Library vehicle and drives vehicles to outreach facilities. + Performs collection development and maintenance for the Pop-up Library vehicle. + Continually seeks new opportunities to improve outreach effectiveness. + Implement standards of service that ensure the prompt and efficient resolution of inquiries and requests from internal and external customers, delivered with the utmost courtesy and respect. + Demonstrate the impact and value of literacy programs and communicate this through public speaking engagements, presentations, and meetings with community leaders. + Monitors trends in adult literacy resources to include materials for English language learners. + Recommends materials for the Libraries’ Reader Development collections. + Develop Reader Development kits for at-home use on a variety of themes. + Assists in materials checkout/check-in, retrieves and processes reserves, billing, and missing items processes as needed. + Participates in cross-training in other sections and aids in cross-training in their section. + Attends agency, system-wide, local, regional, state, and national meetings and workshops to enhance professional skills. About the

Schedule Work Hours:

+ Full-Time, 40 hours/week + Must be available to work: Sunday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. + Work schedules may vary due to split shifts, rotations, on-call, emergencies, etc. + Employee may be re-assigned to a different work location (other than the original assignment) within the library system to meet changing service needs

About You Minimum Qualifications:

+ High school diploma or equivalent. + One year experience in public contact customer service work, and proficiency in computer related to public response. + -OR- Related community events/activities planning may substitute for the required education. + Valid Florida Driver’s License by date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ An Associate’s Degree in Library and Information Science, Communications, Education, or related social services field AND two (2) years experience. + Supervisory experience in a related field of work. + Background in early childhood development and familiarity with both local community social agencies and literacy issues. + Fluency in Spanish is beneficial. Subject to

Passing Substance Screening:

This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for five (5) years.

About Everything Else Starting Salary:

$58,656.00 Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s). If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents (http://www.scgov.net/home/showpublisheddocument/66596/638617478290291353) . You will need to present the following items on your first day: 1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents + If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.) 2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)

Benefits:

+ Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! C hoose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits! + For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net (https://www.scgov.net/government/human-resources/employee-health-and-benefits) for additional information. + Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. + Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​ A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team. We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different. Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353. Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance). Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.