Part Time Youth Services Library Associate - Plainsboro Free Public Library
Job Description:
Part-Time Youth Services Library Associate Wednesdays 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Sundays 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
About Plainsboro Public Library. Plainsboro Public Library (PPL) is a vibrant, communitycentered library serving one of New Jersey’s most diverse and multilingual communities. Guided by our Strategic Plan 2026–2028 — shaped by input from more than 1,200 residents under the banner “You Spoke. We Listened.” — we are committed to transforming our spaces, advancing literacy in all its forms, building lasting community partnerships, and ensuring our long-term sustainability. Every member of our team plays a role in delivering on that promise.
The Opportunity. PPL seeks an energetic, service-minded Youth Services Library Associate to join our team in a part-time capacity. In this role, you will be one of the friendly, welcoming faces of our Youth Services department — supporting children, teens, and their families as they discover books, programs, and resources that spark a lifelong love of learning. You will primarily work at the Youth Services desk, with occasional coverage at the Information Desk as needed. This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate who enjoys working with young people, takes pride in connecting families with resources, and thrives in a busy, community-focused environment.
Key Responsibilities Community Engagement & Customer Service
• Welcome children, teens, caregivers, and all patrons warmly and equitably, ensuring every visitor feels respected and valued.
• Assist young readers and their families in selecting age-appropriate books, audiobooks, and digital materials.
• Support patrons in using library resources, public computers, and youth-focused digital tools.
• Register patrons for storytimes, youth programs, and library events; promote upcoming offerings.
• Help maintain a welcoming, inclusive environment in the Youth Services area, including reasonable behavior expectations that support all families.
• Receive and respond to patron compliments, suggestions, and concerns; refer matters to the Head of Youth Services or Assistant Director of Public Services as appropriate. Information, Literacy & Program Support
• Conduct ready-reference and reader's advisory for children and teens; refer in-depth research questions to appropriate staff.
• Assist with the setup, facilitation, and breakdown of youth programs, storytimes, and family events.
• Support early literacy initiatives and recommend resources that strengthen reading skills at every developmental stage.
• Provide coverage at the Information Desk as needed, assisting patrons of all ages.
• Submit interlibrary loan requests through the JerseyCat system.
• Answer and route telephone calls professionally. Collection & Operational Support
• Shelve materials, perform shelf-reading, and search for items from system-generated lists in the youth collection and across the library as needed.
• Participate in collection refresh activities to keep the youth collection current, relevant, and reflective of our community.
• Create displays and develop reading lists that celebrate diverse voices and engage young readers.
• Oversee and direct the work of library pages and volunteers as assigned.
• Follow proper procedures for evacuation of patrons and staff during emergencies and drills. Professional Growth
• Attend conferences, meetings, workshops, and in-house trainings to keep technological skills current and maintain professional best practices.
• Read professional literature related to library work and emerging trends.
• Participate in ongoing and annual performance evaluations with the Head of Youth Services. • Perform related tasks as required. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities General knowledge of:
• Library clerical procedures and practices.
• Library software, databases, digital resources, apps, and common computer software such as MS Office.
• Children's and young adult literature, including picture books, early readers, middle grade, graphic novels, and YA.
• Age-appropriate engagement and basic awareness of child and adolescent developmental stages. Demonstrated ability to:
• Provide excellent customer service to children, teens, families, and our diverse, multilingual community.
• Engage warmly and patiently with young people of varying ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Maintain accurate records and statistics, and complete reports.
• Exercise initiative, independent judgment, and discretion.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patrons and colleagues.
• Communicate ideas clearly and respectfully, both orally and in writing.
Education and Experience A bachelor's degree (non-MLIS) from an accredited college or university is required, along with some experience working with children, teens, or the public — whether in a library, school, camp, tutoring, programming, or comparable service setting. An ideal opportunity for: Current MLIS students exploring a career in Youth Services. This role offers hands-on experience at a busy, community-focused public library and direct mentorship from our Head of Youth Services and broader Public Services team.
Preferred (not required): Prior experience working with children or teens in a library, school, camp, tutoring, or program setting; proficiency in a language other than English reflective of our community (e.g., Mandarin, Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu, Spanish); familiarity with early literacy practices, youth programming, or assistive and emerging technologies. Schedule Wednesdays: 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm Sundays: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Flexibility covering additional shifts when needed is preferred. Compensation $23.00 per hour.
How to Apply To be considered, please send a cover letter and résumé to jobs@plainsborolibrary.org. Include “Part-Time Youth Services Library Associate” in the email subject line. Please, no phone calls. Only candidates selected for interviews will be notified. Employment offers are conditional upon a successful background and reference check and include a six-month probationary period. Plainsboro Public Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants must comply with the New Jersey First Act. You Spoke. We Listened. Plainsboro Public Library | Strategic Plan 2026–2028 [Posted 05/12/2026]
Application link or email address: https://plainsborolibrary.org/employment-opportunities/
Salary range or hourly wage: $23.00/hour
MLS required: No, an MLS is not required.
Job focus: Youth Services
Work schedule: Part-Time