Library Center Administrator

Starting Salary Range and Benefits: This position is a full-time (32-40 hours/week), hourly, non-exempt position. Benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, health insurance, health savings account contributions, and dental coverage options.

Starting Salary Range: $18-$20.50/hr, depending on skills and experience.

Location: Grand Rapids, MI - In-person work is required and critical for this role during open hours of the library, with flexibility for some work being completed remotely.

Position Summary: The Cook Library Center Administrator is responsible for the administrative oversight of programming at the Cook Library Center (CLC), including scheduling, onboarding contract staff and volunteers, supply purchasing, and other administrative tasks for program partnerships and activities. This position is also responsible for managing the CLC catalog and shelving and assisting the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in the CLC's day-to-day operations.

Organizational Guiding Principles: Institutional culture has historically marginalized Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities, and our neighborhood is no exception. At Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities (GAAH), we push against that culture and engage with our neighbors through the arts and humanities to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and trusting relationships in ways that validate them as they forge new pathways.

The key characteristics that we look for in employees, volunteers, and board members are:

• Eager to learn and unlearn: We are willing to lean into discomfort to better understand each other and those we serve.
• Accountable to the team: We build trust and community by taking responsibility for our actions, even when good intentions have negative consequences.
• Committed to the neighborhood: We cultivate a flourishing neighborhood by practicing reciprocity and listening well.

The critical actions that we expect all employees to participate in and be comfortable doing are:

• Engaging with youth: We actively support and engage with the young people we serve.
• Calling out injustice: We help make things work for our neighbors by challenging systems, cultural norms, and personal biases.
• Sharing joy: We express and celebrate the things that bring joy, the good in others, and the good in situations.

Essential Responsibilities for this role:

1. Works as a member of the Cook Library Center programming team to accomplish the administrative tasks for the core programs at the Cook Library Center, including program registration and scheduling.
2. Manages scheduling and communications for new and incoming contract staff and volunteers for all Cook Library Center programs. Oversees onboarding of contract staff and volunteers; completes background checks and other necessary paperwork, provides orientation and tours, and identifies their availability in line with program needs.
3. Manage the schedule of the front desk at the Cook Library Center. Manage the desk or work directly with contract staff to run the front desk. Desk operations include, but are not limited to, managing incoming calls, greeting families and visitors, informal translation of documents, faxing and printing documents, and patron registration for CLC programs and borrower ID cards.
4. Manages the circulation of books, computers, and other CLC media. Oversees the Cook Library Center catalog (libib.com cloud cataloging system), selects books for purchase, and inputs new books into the library database. Assists with maintaining the cleanliness and organization of library shelving, furniture, and displays.
5. Maintains a safe space by monitoring activity at the CLC, working with other staff and community members to establish and follow community agreements. Maintains student relationships, manages behavioral issues, and works to meet the needs of CLC students and families to ensure they are able to participate in CLC programs. Facilitates dialog with parents as necessary to resolve student needs and behavior issues.
6. Assists with neighbor and family engagement to inform neighbors of program offerings, gather feedback around needs, and evaluate existing programs. Provides feedback to the COO.
7. Acts as part of the CLC staff liaison team that works with the Grand Rapids Public Library and other partners. Works to connect neighbors and patrons to other resources and services in the community that GAAH does not provide.
8. Works directly with the Cook Library Center team to administer the annual program evaluation using the Youth Program Quality Assessment tool (YPQA). Works directly with other members of the GAAH team to develop and implement improvement plans.
9. Manages supply purchasing for Cook Library Center programs and works directly with the COO to monitor expenses and supply needs.
10. Assists COO with data collection and maintaining program databases for grant reporting purposes.

Non-Essential Responsibilities:

1. Assist students with homework when CLC Elementary Coordinator and CLC Middle and High School Coordinator need assistance.
2. Assists with coordinating GAAH events, such as student celebrations, including event preparation, leading activities, assisting guests, and post-event clean up.
3. Occasionally lead student activities or clubs.
4. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications for the Position: We recognize and acknowledge that not all education and experience are gained through institutional function. We welcome candidates whose lived experiences and community involvement allow them to fulfill the responsibilities of the job in ways that cannot always be easily communicated on traditional resumes or may not have official labels, certificates, or titles. We also know that no matter your level of expertise, we will always be learning together.

Education & Experience:

1. High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
2. Two (2) or more years of experience working with individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, and learning styles.
3. Experience and/or training with computers and computer applications.
4. Experience working with students, children, and families and managing groups and/or classrooms.

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

1. Bilingual in English and Spanish. [REQUIRED]
2. Able to work in person during library open hours, which includes evenings. [REQUIRED].
3. Strong written and oral communication skills and a love for reading and writing. [REQUIRED]
4. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
5. Strong computer skills, especially using Google’s G-Suite, Microsoft Office, web-based programs, and the like. Experience with library catalog or database software is a plus. Proficient in troubleshooting computer issues, as well as the ability to type, complete data entry tasks, and assist others in using computers.
6. Embraces people (particularly youth) of diverse cultures, backgrounds, socio-economic status, and learning styles to understand and address their unique needs. Listens well and is collaborative with neighbors. Able to build trusting relationships with many types of people, sometimes across cultures.
7. Ability to remain flexible, multitask, and be open to working through various circumstances as they arise.
8. Able to work independently and collaboratively as a team, with or without supervision, in a youth-centered environment.
9. Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to address conflict directly and utilize resources effectively to solve logistical and operational issues.
10. Ability to make decisions on a case-by-case basis, drawing on an emotional, behavioral, and procedural understanding of our student population.

Core Competencies:

1. Relationship Building and Customer Orientation: A desire to serve neighbors and all patrons by focusing efforts on listening and responding effectively to customer questions, resolving customer problems to their satisfaction, and creating a welcoming, people-centered environment for all who enter our spaces.
2. Clear, Precise, Compassionate Communication: Speaks clearly on behalf of the organization and advocates for and with community members. Communicates well with diverse audiences, especially youth, including sharing context and asking questions to understand others’ perspectives.
3. Project Management Skills: Manages multiple projects, plans backward, anticipates obstacles, identifies and involves stakeholders appropriately, uses resources wisely, and understands the next steps to move the work forward.
4. Technical Aptitude: Able to effectively utilize technology, language, and the other tools at hand to complete the work, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively both internally with the team and externally with patrons, neighbors, and other stakeholders.

Physical and Mental Requirements: Physical effort varies, with lifting or carrying limited to 50 pounds or less intermittently, meeting in various environments and settings, and managing the day-to-day work of youth programming and library services. Work includes being physically present in program settings, participating in community events, and being present in the physical environment of our library to oversee the collection. It also requires the extended use of a computer keyboard and monitor. This work includes interacting with a large number of individuals and groups on a daily basis, requiring sustained social interactions with others. Working directly with youth and families experiencing systemic oppression can require varying degrees of emotional stamina. There are varying levels of pressure associated with project, event, and activity deadlines. Work is performed in a community-centered environment, where change is frequent, and flexibility and adaptability are inherent. Working conditions vary. The majority of the work happens in two community center settings, but some portions of the work may be performed remotely, in a group office environment, and in off-site locations for events and meetings. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

To apply for this position, please email your resume and a cover letter to hiring @ gaah.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning 5/17/2024.