Career Opportunity

Jail and Reentry Services Librarian (3630) - SFPL - Temporary Exempt

Recruitment: RTF0120070-01150613

Published: March 14, 2022

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) is dedicated to free and equal access to information, knowledge, independent learning and the joys of reading for our diverse communities. The library system includes the architecturally significant Main Library in the city’s Civic Center, 27 neighborhood branch libraries, two administrative buildings and four bookmobiles. With a collection of more than 3.7 million items, and circulation exceeding 11 million each year, SFPL serves more than 6 million visitors annually. The library system has extraordinary political and fiscal support that mandates an annual funding allocation from the city’s property tax revenues, resulting in a budget of $171.2 million in FY 22. With a strong budget, SFPL has approximately 900 employees committed to outstanding public service.

In June 2018, the Library was named Library of the Year by Gale/Library Journal for its active promotion of San Francisco’s values of inclusion, diversity, and equity and its ability to create programs and policies that support those democratic values. The library embraces its role as the most democratic of institutions, providing safe and welcoming facilities for all. Through a robust array of services and programs, the library places an emphasis on literacy and learning, digital inclusion, social justice, equity and healthy communities.

Statements on Racial Equity
San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) must build a culture, space, and workplace that is accessible and welcoming to all current and future employees, and to actively build an environment in which all people, regardless of background, identity, or ability, can be equal participants. In this way, our staff at all organizational levels can reflect the communities we serve. A safe, equitable public library is an actively anti-racist public library. Creating an inclusive public library means aligning with the lived realities of people of color. The San Francisco Public Library is committed to advancing racial equity for our workforce and community. SFPL will actively engage in anti-racist practice, programs, and collection development in carrying out the Library’s mission.

Role description

Position Description:

San Francisco Public Library has received funding through Public Knowledge at Mellon Foundation to conduct a two-year research project focused on identifying, locating, and sharing information about library and information services available to people who are incarcerated.  This work will be supported by the addition of a two-year, full-time exempt 3630 librarian. This librarian will be responsible for day-to-day Jail and Reentry Services as well as research activities.

The Jail and Reentry Services Librarian will join a small team located in the Jail and Reentry Services program at San Francisco Public Library. The librarian will play a key role in the ongoing work of Jail and Reentry Services through involvement in various grant duties, including data collection, coordinating a network of librarians across the United States, and identifying experts on library services to people in jails, juvenile detentions, and prisons in the United States. The Jail and Reentry Services Librarian will also provide in-person library services within the two San Francisco jails and Juvenile Justice Center in coordination with Jail and Reentry Services and staff, as well as remote reference work for people who are incarcerated. The Jail and Reentry Services Librarian is responsible for explaining and carrying out assigned duties within the framework of established methods and procedures; making regular contacts with librarians in other agencies, the general public and people who are incarcerated, outside organizations and library personnel in connection with library activities and operations; maintaining a continued awareness of current reading trends and literature.

The ideal candidate for this position is familiar with information access and incarceration, detail oriented, collaborative, skilled at professional communication, and has experience with large-scale research projects.

Essential Duties:
Research support (25%): This position will extend ongoing research conducted by San Francisco Public Library’s Jail and Reentry Services staff. The research duties may include but are not limited to:
• Coordinate with staff at the Colorado State Library Library Research Service to design, refine, and distribute research materials to librarians and library staff who provide library services for incarcerated people
• Coordinate with staff at the Colorado State Library Library Research Service to design, refine, and distribute research materials to groups providing information access for incarcerated people (i.e. Books to Prisoners and similar groups)
• Conduct interviews or focus groups with librarians, library staff, community groups, and incarcerated people to identify what information is available or unavailable during incarceration or in the process of reentry
• Conduct internet searches to identify groups that provide information access for incarcerated people
• Contact relevant groups and librarians regarding including their information in an online resource
• Advise on research analysis as needed
Enhance professional network (15%);This position will assist with building networks among librarians who provide library services or facilitate information access for incarcerated people:
• Build from existing work by the Jail and Reentry Services program to identify and contact librarians and library staff interested in expanding their professional networks
• Craft invitations to events (virtual and in-person)
• Identify needed resources for large-scale, in-person events and secure all needed reservations
• Identify trends in topics raised through network-building events
• Identify subject experts within the network
• Represent San Francisco Public Library’s Jail and Reentry Services program externally as needed
Build professional capacity (20%): This position will assist with the creation of a year-long training series:
• Coordinate with Jail and Reentry Services staff to identify speakers
• Schedule various speakers and interpreters for each session of the training (one per month)
• Coordinate with staff at an outside organization to host training videos
• Work with an administrative analyst to ensure the prompt distribution of funds to speakers
• Provide IT assistance with Zoom as needed
Provide library services (40%):This position will assist Jail and Reentry Services staff with in-person and remote library services:
• Provide in-person library service in the San Francisco County jails and Juvenile Justice Center
• Remain informed about patron interests
• Conduct regular reader’s advisory
• Participate in collection development

• Provide reference service through the mail

• Some lifting will be required

How to qualify

These minimum qualifications are to be used as a guide for establishing the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license which may be required for employment in the class. Although these minimum qualifications are typical of the class, additional minimum qualifications and special conditions may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the job announcement.

Education:

Possession of a Master’s Degree in library and information studies (e.g. MLS/MLIS) from a college or university program accredited by the American Library Association.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Must be able to receive clearance to enter the jails from the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department
• Experience providing library and information services to people who are incarcerated
• Familiarity with information access and incarceration
• Experience providing library services in a jail, juvenile detention center, or prison
• Involvement with a community-based group that provides books or other information to people who are incarcerated
• Strong ability to take initiative on new projects
• Organized and detail-oriented with excellent time-management skills and ability to follow through
• Excellent communication skills
• Proficiency in a language other than English (Spanish or Cantonese preferred)
• Candidates directly impacted by issue areas strongly encouraged to apply

Important: Your application MUST include a cover letter and resume.  To upload these items, please attach using the "additional attachments" function.

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

What else should I know?

Application Opening: March 14, 2022

Application Deadline: April 1, 2022

Compensation Range: 3630 Compensation Range

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.