Phoenixville Library News & Job Openings

Position: Circulation Manager and Volunteer Services Coordinator

Reports To: Library Executive Director

Summary / Main Purpose of Job:

The Phoenixville Public Library is a non-profit organization with the mission of providing access to educational, cultural, and recreational resources for the community it serves. The library is currently seeking a full-time Circulation Manager and Volunteer Services Coordinator. This position is responsible for but not limited to the assigned tasks and duties that support the work, goals, and objectives of the Phoenixville Public Library; the day to day operation of the Circulation Department, its staff, policies, procedures, programs and systems management; customer service and customer relations (internal and external) and day to day staff coaching and training in circulation. This position supervises two (2) full-time employees, fifteen (15) part-time employees and thirty-nine (39) volunteers .The candidate must be highly organized, flexible, and highly motivated.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (include but are not limited to the following)

• Coordinate and oversee the general operation of circulation, courier, and ILL activity in the library.
• Take the lead in maintaining a welcoming atmosphere in the library and deal with issues in a positive, effective manner.
• Interpret library policies to the public.
• Routinely develop, update and implement Circulation Desks policies and procedures and customer service programs
• Prepare & send all written correspondence for overdue/damaged or lost material & maintain records; bring each account to resolution
• Supervise circulation staff, library pages and volunteers.
• Prepare and deliver work schedules to all circulation staff

• Train circulation staff on automated on-line & off-line Circulation functions, cash registers, photocopier, telephone features and customer service.

• Conduct employee evaluations
• Must be able to communicate and interact with all the departments within the library
• Liaise with County Library Circulation and Inter-Library Loan services
• May act as the library representative to professional organizations and community groups

Qualifications /Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of job-related experience in a public library or experience in a comparable private or public sector position

• BA or BS is required
• Flexibility and teamwork are critical to this position.

• Commitment to quality customer services
• Ability to plan and manage several projects simultaneously
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work independently
• Ability to maintain professional appearance and behave in a manner appropriate to a public setting
• Excellent oral & written communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills, ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information in a professional manner
• Dependable, able to prioritize and meet deadlines

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, Ability and Experience

• Familiarity with OPAC software, Sierra preferred
• Proficient in MS Office Suite including but not limited to Excel, Word, Outlook

• Familiarity with database management and systems

• Supervisory experience
• A general knowledge of library operations and materials and a desire to serve the public in a friendly, comfortable environment.
• Knowledge of the mechanics of policies and procedures including that of the Chester County Library System

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit; walk; stand; bend at the waist while working; kneel, stoop, crouch or squat; talk or hear; handle and lift up to 25 pounds; push a cart of books that weighs up to 125 pounds; and sit at a computer terminal for at least 4 hours at a time. Occasionally, the employee will need to work with arms above shoulders or reach above shoulder height.
• Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and office equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.
• Mobility is required to travel to meetings outside the library.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform this job.

The following background checks are required:

• Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
• Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance
• Federal Criminal History Record Information

Salary: Salary will be commensurate with experience.

This is a full time, exempt position.

EOE

Submit cover letter and resume to:

Lara Lorenzi, Executive Director

Phoenixville Public Library

183 Second Avenue, Phoenixville, PA 19460-3243 or by e-mail to llorenzi@ccls.org

Are you looking for a rewarding volunteer experience?  The Phoenixville Public Library Adult Services Department is looking for additional individuals to instruct patrons one-on-one in the basics of using computers and the Internet.  Fluency in the use of computers, laptops, smartphones, standard office productivity software, e-mail, the Web, and social networking tools is required, as are strong communication and interpersonal skills, friendliness, patience, and approachability.

Availability of two hours a week is desired.  Daytime and evening hours are available.  Applicant must submit to criminal background checks and child abuse clearance.  If interested, or for more information, see Mark Pinto, Adult Services Director, call 610-933-3013, Ext. 132 or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org.

Effective Monday, November 28, the Library will open daily at 9:30 AM.  Closing times will remain the same.

Need Internet access at home, on vacation, or on the road for your business?  Phoenixville Public Library has partnered with T-Mobile to offer a limited number of mobile hotspots to our patrons for a nominal fee.  The Library hotspot program allows Chester County Library System card holders to access unlimited, high-speed Internet service anywhere a T-Mobile signal can be received.  Connect up to ten devices at a time, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.  Phoenixville Library offers hotspots for 7 or 14 day loan periods.  Rental fee is $14.00 for 7 days or $28.00 for 14 days.  Hotspots must be picked up from and returned to the Phoenixville Library’s Adult Circulation Desk, and are not reservable in advance.  Eligible borrowers must be at least 18 years of age, have an up-to-date library card and registration, have a library account in good standing (no fines or fees owed or other restrictions), and must pay the rental fee at the time of pickup.  Hotpots MAY NOT be returned to the outside bookdrops ($5.00 fine will apply).  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x122 or x132.

PA State Senator Andy Dinniman’s office has released a guide to internships that are available with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Summer 2016. This guide is available for in-Library use from the Adult Library Circulation Desk as well as online at http://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dinniman-2016-Summer-Internship-Programs.pdf.

Mobile printing is now available at Phoenixville Public Library.  With the Library’s new MobilePrint Service, you can use your personal computer or mobile device to print to the Library’s printers from anywhere!  Did your home printer crash?  Are you on the go and need to print something from your smartphone or tablet?  Simply submit the documents for printing and come to the Library to release and pick them up, using an e-mail address.  To print from a home or office laptop or desktop, visit http://www.printeron.net/ppl/secondavenue.  To print from a tablet or smartphone app, install the PrinterOn app, available for free from your device’s app ‘store’, and search for Phoenixville.  You may also e-mail from any device to the Library’s print system at ppl-secondavenue-bw@printspots.com (black and white printouts) or ppl-secondavenue-color@printspots.com (color printouts).  Regular printing charges apply.  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x132.

Join Phoenixville Public Library for the third year of the Community Read sponsored by Longwood Gardens.  The Community Read is a program designed to encourage reading for pleasure and start a conversation.  The powerful idea of ‘one person to inspire many’ is the center of this year’s theme, featuring two inspiring titles, one for adults and one for children.  In Grandma Gatewood’s Walk (2014), author Ben Montgomery traces the story of an unlikely heroine—a woman who, to escape personal struggles, in 1955, embarks on a journey of several thousand miles of rugged terrain…alone…without any equipment…at the age of 67.  In the children’s title, On Meadowview Street (2007), author Henry Cole tells the story of a little girl, Caroline, who makes a connection with a small flower. That connection grows…and grows, transforming her new neighborhood.  Copies of the books are available at the Library or may be reserved at www.ccls.org.  The Phoenix Book Club will discuss Grandma Gatewood’s Walk at its gathering on Monday, April 4, and other events are planned for adults, families, and children in conjunction with the Community Read.  Learn more at http://longwoodgardens.org/community-read.  For more information on Phoenixville Library’s programs, you may also call 610-933-3013 x132 or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org.

The Chester County League of Women Voters has published a guide to the Spring Primary election. The guide is available at the Adult Library Circulation Desk and is for use in the Library.

The Library recently received a donation of a desktop video magnifier, for use in enlarging printed type, pictures, handwriting, and small details.  It is available for patron use at the Information Desk in the Adult Library.  Magnification level and display colors can be adjusted, and the device is simple to operate.  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x132.

Looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity with Phoenixville Public
Library?  The Library is planning to offer a “gadget guru” service, where
patrons can walk in during a set time and receive assistance using their
smartphone, e-reader, tablet, laptop or other electronic gadget.  If you
are tech savvy and enjoy helping others, please contact me for a volunteer
application or to answer any questions.  Federal and state background
checks and child abuse clearances are required for all Library volunteers, paid
for by the applicant.  For more information, e-mail me at mpinto@ccls.org or call me at 610-933-3013
x132.