Library Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY

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To assist the Library Media Specialist teacher in fulfilling educational goals in order to deliver Framingham Public Schools’ high expectations for achievement, equal access to high levels of instruction, the achievement of academic proficiency for all students, and the closing of the opportunity gap among subgroups within the schools.

OUR MISSION :

Framingham Public Schools is committed to excellence for all students. Our mission statement guides our work: Through a comprehensive education, we aim to create and empower free-thinking, responsible citizens who can participate equally in our rich and diverse community. FPS and the community stand united in our core values: Providing a safe, inclusive, culturally responsive teaching and learning environment; Engaging antiracist and responsible civic advocates; Respecting diversity of thought, learners, cultures, and community; Fostering learning and healthy growth of all students and staff; Ensuring every school will be an active, participatory, equitable community.

Diversity among teachers undoubtedly advances the academic achievement of students. Compliance obligations establish a baseline which we seek to exceed. As a district, Framingham Public Schools is committed to achieving, developing, and maintaining a workforce reflective of the rich racial, linguistic, and cultural diversity of our students. Framingham Public Schools aims to teach our children, and ourselves, to be culturally proficient and inclusive in order to live, learn, and work together in a vibrant and diverse world.

Indeed, Framingham Public Schools is committed to inspiring our school community to be accepting and willing to learn from individuals with differing backgrounds. Our goal is to reflect the diverse community we serve and create a great place to work for everyone by embracing the individual skills, perspectives, and experiences our people bring to the workplace and harnessing these for high performance and improved service delivery. We want our employees to feel included, valued, and respected and have access to equal opportunity, which supports full participation at work. Framingham Public Schools seeks to retain the diverse talent in our workforce and support our people to maintain a long and productive working career.

Framingham Public Schools is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from persons with disabilities and who identify as members of historically underrepresented groups.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Library experience is preferred. Ability to learn the Destiny software catalog system. Basic familiarity with excel/sheets and Google workspace.

Framingham Public Schools seeks candidates whose background, teaching, or service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of education. Also, we are interested in candidates who will bring to their professional practice the perspective that comes from a non-traditional educational background or an understanding of the experiences of those underrepresented in the educational field.

SKILLS AND ABILITY:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to read and comprehend documents such as memos, safety rules, and procedure manuals; to express ideas clearly in written and oral communication; to work as a team member; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff and the community; to embrace a proactive and solution-focused approach to meeting student needs; to work with students of diverse backgrounds with diverse needs in an equitable and inclusive manner, and to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and School Committee policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Manage Library catalog and circulation records.  Take proper care of and mend books.  Work with books in multiple languages (i.e. Spanish and Portuguese). Keep shelving in order. Process new Library material (cataloging; creating, printing, applying labels) Remove outdated and damaged items from the Library collection. Give proper research and selection assistance to all students and teachers. Provide assistance with electronic Library material as needed. Maintain a proper Library atmosphere. Maintain and give out supplies. The position requires travel to the different elementary schools

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to move about to provide services and may be required to occasionally traverse throughout the school building. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will have essential duties requiring him/her to work in a classroom with the ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, bend or twist at the neck and trunk. The employee must frequently use hands and/or fingers to handle and/or feel objects and/or tools. Workday may include providing limited personal care to students. The employee must also occasionally lift or position students to provide services. The employee occasionally operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (i.e., a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, and labelmaker). The employee must be able to read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids. The employee must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person, via email, and on the telephone. The employee may be exposed to volatile and assaultive behavior. In the classroom, the employee must be able to see and hear on a continuous basis in order to ensure the safety of students as well as speak frequently to assist with providing instruction. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly across even or uneven surfaces. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is expected to lift at least 20 lbs (i.e. books, school supplies, etc.) and may be asked to operate machinery, tools, or equipment with prior training. The employee should be able to stand, walk, and/or push a wheelchair for extended periods of time as well as provide assistance and personal care to students. 

The employee will be working in a normal school environment with an acceptable level of noise. The employee interacts with students, parents, and other staff members and occasionally must meet multiple demands from several people. While the majority of the workday is spent inside, the employee must spend time outdoors for recess, fire drills, and special activities. May be exposed to bodily fluids, disease, or pathogens. May receive unintentional injuries from aggressive students.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

REPORTS TO:

Librarian and Building Principal. The performance of this job will be evaluated as per the Framingham Teachers Association (Unit T) Contract.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) CLASSIFICATION:

This position is classified as Non-Exempt (Hourly).

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