MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY SYSTEM

JOB DESCRIPTION COLLECTION

 

BERKSHIRE ATHENAEUM

 

CLASSIFICATION TITLE:       Senior Supervisor

JOB TITLES:                            Children and Youth Services Supervisor
Circulation and Collection Development Supervisor
Local History and Genealogy Supervisor
Reference Services Supervisor
Technical Services Supervisor                                          

GRADE LEVEL:                        11

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Senior Supervisors are full-time professional positions at the highest management level other than Library Director, responsible for the five departments of the library, meeting library and departmental goals by performing certain specific functions, including some clerical work for the department.  Planning, decision-making and problem solving involving interpretation of library policy and the exercise of independent judgment are involved, and/or in-depth knowledge, education, training, and ability in advanced library procedures, including online information searching.  Public desk staffing is routinely involved.
 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: The Senior Supervisors work under the general supervision of the Library Director. 
 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: The Senior Supervisors are responsible for the supervision of Supervisor / Specialists I, Senior Assistant, Library Assistant II, Library Assistant I, Shelver and Library Helper positions. 
 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·         Provides professional attention and assistance to staff and/or public.

·         Reviews literature, surveys personnel, and confers with Library Director to determine departmental needs, assess current program, propose and implement changes for improved operations.

·         Provide training and supervision of subordinate staff.

·         Monitors departmental expenditures for personnel and library materials.

·         Applies problem solving abilities to appropriate circumstances; routinely addressing complaints and resolving problems.

·         Performs complex Internet, CD ROM and other computer searches.

·         Provides public desk coverage as applicable, including assisting library users in answering reference questions of higher complexity; assisting patrons locating and using department materials and equipment; and maintaining public discipline and decorum.

·         Plans, schedules, promotes and executes, as appropriate, programs, events and/or exhibits.

·         Works with lay advisory groups (i.e. Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, Young Adult Advisory Council, Berkshire Family History Association, etc.) as may be appropriate.

·         Uses the department’s audio-visual, office and/or computer equipment and resources,  routinely offers training to staff and/or public in its use, and conducts basic diagnostic and maintenance procedures.

·         Other duties as assigned, including preservation, clerical and shelving tasks as needed.
 

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty successfully with a minimum of supervision.  The requirements noted below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

·         A masters degree in library science.

·         Demonstrated knowledge of computer applications for libraries and online searching skills, and the ability to implement this knowledge and skill as appropriate.

·         Demonstrated knowledge of library resources in targeted subject area.

·         Demonstrated patience and skill in dealing with general public.
 

LANGUAGE AND/OR COGNITIVE SKILLS:

·         Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 

·         Superior ability to write reports and correspondence. 

·         Ability to speak before groups. 

·         Ability to communicate fluently in English.

·         Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
 

REASONING ABILITY:

·         Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in writing, oral or diagram form.

·         Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: A current driver’s license for occasional driving to training programs, meetings, or other library-related events.
 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

·         Routinely required to talk or hear, including oral communication via normal telephone connections. 

·         Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. 

·         Ability to operate a keyboard.

·         Routinely lift items weighing up to twenty pounds from the floor to positions overhead; and move loaded book trucks (weighing in excess of 100 pounds) over carpeted and uncarpeted surfaces and over thresholds.

·         Occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or smell.

·         Special vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.