Community Librarian

About the County of Lambton

The County of Lambton, situated in Southwestern Ontario along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River, shares a border with Michigan and serves roughly 128,000 residents. As one of the largest local employers, with approximately 1,300 staff, the County operates seven divisions delivering a broad range of services including emergency medical response, provincial offences courts, long-term care homes, an extensive library system, museums, art galleries, archives, public works, health and social services, and planning.

The County dedicates itself to sustainable development, economic advancement, environmental care, and improving residents' quality of life through efficient and responsive service provision and collaboration with municipal and community partners.

Role Overview

As an integral part of the Lambton County Library system, the Community Librarian provides frontline support and service assistance to both the library visitors and team members. This role includes fostering a welcoming atmosphere and spearheading the design, coordination, and delivery of educational and outreach programs within library locations and wider community settings. The Community Librarian liaises with local groups to assess program needs, often collaborating with Public Services Coordinators. Furthermore, specialized in-library programming and staff training are key responsibilities. The role aligns with the strategic goals established by senior leadership and local government.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and implement programs and outreach initiatives in partnership with community organizations, agencies, businesses, and stakeholders to enhance library resource usage and meet evolving community needs.
• Work closely with Public Services Coordinators, Technical Librarians, and Library Supervisors to achieve the library’s strategic objectives.
• Identify shifts in community demographics, interests, and trends to inform program development.
• Deliver detailed informational and reader advisory services to patrons.
• Offer reference assistance to visitors for research and information retrieval.
• Promote literacy and lifelong education throughout the community.
• Conduct presentations, library tours, orientations, and class visits both in-library and externally.
• Represent the library at community events and on relevant committees to advocate library services.
• Provide instructional programming and deliver staff training.
• Serve as a professional resource for Branch Assistants and provide backup support in circulation, administration, and programming duties.
• Maintain compliance with records retention policies and complete necessary filing and reporting tasks.
• Ensure adherence to circulation policies and perform various clerical functions supporting borrowing and lending using manual and automated systems.

Customer Service and Communication

• Act as a positive representative of the library within the community.
• Engage courteously with the public, partners, and colleagues, fostering a respectful work environment.
• Provide guidance on the use of new technologies and electronic platforms to patrons.

Additional Duties

• Efficiently utilize the Integrated Library System (ILS).
• Stay knowledgeable about electronic resources and platforms enhancing users’ library experience.
• Be willing to travel to various library facilities as required.

General Requirements

• Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, collective agreements, and County policies to ensure compliance.
• Possess the physical capability to perform assigned duties as outlined in the position’s Physical Demands Analysis.

Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Library and Information Science is mandatory.
• At least six months of experience in a service-oriented role or volunteer work within a library environment.
• Proficiency with computer applications such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, the Internet, digital platforms, and electronic databases.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service abilities.
• Previous exposure to library operations and familiarity with Integrated Library Systems is advantageous.
• Clearances including a Police Vulnerable Sector Check or Police Information Check as applicable are required.