ideaLAB Library Program Associate - Gonzales Branch

About Our Job The Denver Public Library (DPL) isn't just a place to borrow books; it's a vibrant, essential hub for our diverse city. As a growing urban library system with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors, we're deeply woven into the fabric of Denver. Join a team where your values align with your work. At the Denver Public Library, we're not just serving our community; we're building a culture guided by values that empower both our staff and the public.

Welcoming:

We make our resources, services, and expertise accessible for all, recognize the inherent dignity in each person, and provide safe places where everyone can be themselves.

Curiosity:

We foster a culture of exploration, innovation, and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.

Connection:

We are neighbors. We foster relationships, listen and act to build and strengthen our community. We bring people together to share information, ideas, and experiences.

Equity:

We work to change inequitable practices, structures and policies, and attitudes that drive them, to provide opportunities for every person in our community to thrive. As we do so, we actively examine our roles in perpetuating oppressive systems.

Stewardship:

We are accountable to our community, using our resources responsibly. We lead with honesty and integrity, protect privacy and preserve and share the full history of our Denver community. If you're passionate about service, community engagement, and creating positive change, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come join a team that believes in the power of knowledge, connection, and equity. Unrivaled Benefits The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to: Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer matches at 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), 4 paid wellness days, and 12 paid holidays

CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits Enhanced Work/Life Balance:

Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides) For more information please visit our website. About Our Branch The Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library is a bustling hub serving the West Colfax, Villa Park, and Sun Valley neighborhoods, as well as Denver's Historic Jewish Community. Situated in a vibrant area near numerous schools, parks, and businesses along the Colfax Avenue and Federal Blvd. corridor, our library warmly welcomes all members of the community. We see many children & families during the day for Early Learning programs and have a strong teen presence after school. Open seven days a week, we offer a diverse range of services including access to our extensive collection, community spaces, study rooms, and a technology center. Experience our multicultural Plaza events, Digital Arts and Media Music Recording Studio, and satisfy your curiosity in our IdeaLAB/Makerspace. About Our Position DPL is hiring a Full Time (40 HR) ideaLAB Library Programming Associate (LPA) for the Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch. In this position, you will create lifelong library customers by implementing services designed for customers of all ages and backgrounds who are looking to use and learn about maker tools and technology. You will develop and implement maker programming based on the needs and interests of the Denver community. You will welcome our customers to the makerspace, acting as a main point of contact for staff and customers seeking assistance with ideaLAB tools and equipment. You will foster curiosity by providing one-on-one and group training to customers and staff on the use of various types of technology, ranging from using a mouse to basic coding and 3D modeling, as well as handcrafts like sewing. You will strengthen connections by communicating effectively with customers, staff, and administration. About half of your time will be spent assisting customers during ideaLAB Open Lab hours, a drop in time for people to work on whatever they like in our low-barrier makerspace. The library is open to everyone, and we work with people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels in our makerspaces. Our ideaLABs are designed to be approachable and open-ended, accessible to everyone, and the LPA is a facilitator and peer, learning alongside our customers. The rest of your time will be dedicated to developing and implementing maker workshops/programs, and various operational and administrative duties. The current work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, and Thursdays the lab is open until 8. We are looking for makers who love working with people and teaching. We need lifelong learners who have a passion for promoting equity and social justice. What You Would Bring Our ideal candidate has: Knowledge of training and programming practices. Ability to train a wide variety of learners. Ability to design, prepare and implement instruction and training materials. Ability to communicate, collaborate and establish effective working relationships with employees, volunteers, organizations and the public. Ability to work with children, teens, and families. Interest and knowledge of sewing, quilting, garment construction, or related textile practices Ability to use fabrication tools (laser cutter, 3D printer), audio recording, and/or making and the arts generally is a definite plus. Ability to thrive working in an environment with constant public contact with people from all backgrounds and age groups. Including the ability to demonstrate positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural humility, and a sense of humor in working with customers, coworkers and community. Ability to creatively solve problems, negotiate, and handle stressful situations in a positive manner including setting boundaries and safety expectations with coworkers and community members. Ability to work as independently as a subject matter expert and leader. Ability to demonstrate innovation and flexibility. Ability to provide superior trauma-informed customer service, integrity, and commitment to innovation, efficiency, and fiscally responsible activity. Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity and a sense of humor in working with diverse customers, coworkers, and community. Ability to embrace the challenge of constantly learning new tools, software and technology. Ability to teach basic coding, website development and/or digital media software is a definite plus. A demonstrated commitment to developing and maintaining a welcoming environment for young people, including grade school age kids and teens. Collaborate with colleagues to ensure we are delivering high-quality customer service, programming, community engagement and outreach. Ability to participate in relevant library committee work by leading meetings or contributing as a member. Ability to create positive experiences for library customers by providing programming and outreach, designed to educate and promote library usage, to a wide variety of audiences, both in the library and at community partner locations. Support other library functions as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET, or TASC Certificate. Three (3) years of technical or administrative experience performing standard research and evaluation, preparing and presenting course work or programs, or implementing work processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

Fluency in a second language, Spanish, Hebrew/Yiddish preferred, Arabic highly preferred Please submit a resume that lists your work experience and a cover letter that connects your experience to this position. Work Environment & Location The Denver Public Library's branches are the arms to the community—each a unique reflection of the dynamic, diverse communities we serve. At DPL, we pride ourselves on showing up and providing support whenever there is a need. While you may be hired for a specific location, please know that we are hiring with the expectation that at any time, you may be required to work at any one of our branches based on operational needs. This allows our staff to experience the full breadth of Denver's communities and ensures we consistently deliver the highest level of service across our branches. DPL employees may be redeployed to work in other locations or capacities to support core functions of the library system during branch closures or other emergencies. The schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday. Application & Additional Info Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Job postings will close at 12AM on the posted ending date. If interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible. Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history and employment verification All Denver Public Library employees must apply through their internal profile. Ready to learn more and see how you can contribute? Visit us at denverlibrary.org and connect with our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. About Everything Else Job Profile LQ2397 Library Program Associate To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here. Position Type Unlimited Library Hiring Range $23.89 - $29.86 Target Pay Agency Denver Public Library Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor. Assessment Requirement The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days' notice. Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. See yourself experiencing growth and balance. See yourself being respected and valued. See yourself belonging here. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. Your journey starts right here. #SeeYourselfHere Never miss Denver Jobs—sign up for job alerts now!