Statement of Duties: The City of Danbury is currently seeking a Librarian I (Children’s Services). The Children’s Services Librarian provides professional services to patrons from birth to age 18, plans and executes programs, and builds and maintains the collection of material. The Librarian is responsible for participating in outreach to the Danbury schools and other local agencies that provide services to children and/or young adults.
Supervision Required: Under general supervision of the Head Librarian. the employee plans and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with substantial responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action and substantial independence in planning and organizing the work activities, including determining the work methods. The employee is expected to solve through experienced judgment most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out and carries it through to completion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail.
Supervisory Responsibility:The employee, as a regular and continuing part of the job, is required to lead other employees to assist them in completing their assigned work. Employee also performs non-supervisory work that is of the same kind and level as is done by the employee(s) being supervised. The employee(s) supervised work at the same location and the same work shift and the staff size is well established and relatively stable throughout the year.
Confidentiality: The employee has access on a regular basis to confidential information of the department such as patron records.
Accountability: The nature of work assures that errors are usually detected in succeeding operations. Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include time loss caused by back checking by others and slowdowns in the processing of the work. Errors are generally confined to a single department such as billing or accounting errors.
Judgment:Numerous standardized practices, procedures, or general instructions govern the work and in some cases, may require additional interpretation. Judgment is needed to locate, select and apply the most pertinent practice, procedure, regulation or guideline.
Complexity:The work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work.
Work Environment:The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of a public library setting subject to frequent interruptions. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend department sponsored special events or in accordance with the library’s work schedule on weekends and weekends.
Nature and Purpose of Relationships: Employee interacts with co-workers, the public and external contacts such as vendors or community groups to explain or interpret procedures or guidelines, plan or coordinate work, or resolve problems. Extraordinary courtesy, tact, and diplomacy are required to resolve complaints or deal with uncooperative persons.
Occupational Risk: Duties of the job present little potential for injury to the employee.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
- Responsible for maintaining and building the Children material collection. This includes budgeting, ordering, processing and cataloging material, and maintaining the collection through regular weeding and updates.
- Conducts weekly story-time sessions to promote early literacy. Initiates, plans, and conducts a regular schedule of quality programming for children. This may include after school programs, programs during school holidays, and summer reading programs. Hires outside presenters or performers as needed. Maintains annual programming budget for presenters and supplies. Continually assesses programs and attendance based on statistics and patron feedback.
- In collaboration with the Program and Outreach Coordinator, represents the library at outreach events in the community to promote literacy and library services. Conducts quality literacy programs in the community by participating in outreach and in-reach with community partners including the Danbury schools and other educational organizations. Plans and presents class visits, tours, and other special programs for school-aged children.
- Liaises with schools and community partners to support library programming for Danbury youth. Maintains regular communication and coordinates visits to schools and other children’s area facilities on a regular basis. Assists in connecting families to library resources.
- Prepares statistics as needed for the department on a monthly basis.
- Prepares library displays to promote programs, seasonal events, and topics of interest to children.
- Actively promotes library services, materials, and programs to patrons.
- Provides in-person library service at a public service desk. Utilizes library technology, including online databases as well as traditional library resources, in answering patron queries. Instructs and guides patrons in the use of library resources. Also responds to patron inquiries through email. Assists patrons with the use of library technology, such as computers, printers, tablets, audiovisual equipment, and related software.
- Engages in professional development appropriate to youth services, including reviewing current professional journals, attending professional workshops and meetings, and communicating with peers in library settings. Represents the Danbury Public Library appropriately at workshops and educational meetings relating to Youth Services.
- Collaborates regularly with Children’s Program Coordinator, Teen Librarian, and the Librarian II: Youth Services, to develop and execute department goals as well as collaborate on larger family programs.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
Masters in Library Science from an ALA-accredited graduate school
3-5 years relevant professional experience
Special Requirements: None required
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills Required:
Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of modern library operation with focus on children’s literature and related services. Knowledge of the organization and management of library including operations and computer applications in support of department operations and services. Knowledge of current trends in library services for children and young adults. Knowledge of youth popular culture, literature, media, educational and technological trends.
Abilities: Ability to think creatively and to work independently with a high degree of accuracy; ability to use a variety of computer software programs as well as print and electronic resources. Ability to work with young adults of various backgrounds, ages, and abilities. Ability to create long-range and short-range departmental goals and objectives. Ability to manage a sizeable amount of young people simultaneously. Ability to communicate effectively with others, both written and orally. Ability to establish priorities and to complete objectives in a timely, effective manner. Ability to effectively engage with youth both individually and in group settings.
Skill: Proficient interpersonal and customer service skills; proficient oral and written communication skills; excellent organizational skills. Proficient skill in the use of electronic resources and the Internet in support of children’s services. Genuine enthusiasm for working with youth of all ages. Experience working in a team environment. Strong organizing, prioritizing, and multitasking skills.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Demands: Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with extended periods of bending, walking, kneeling, standing, twisting, and reaching with hands or arms to reach or retrieve library materials or books. The employee is required to lift, push or pull objects such as books and equipment.
Motor Skills: Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a personal computer and/or most other office equipment, keyboarding and/or word processing, filing, or sorting of papers.
Visual Demands: Visual demands require the employee to constantly read documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes. The employee is rarely required to determine color differences.
Application Information
Application Submission:
Applications must be submitted online at www.danbury-ct.gov/employment. Qualified applicants must submit an application no later than 11:59 pm, Thursday November 13th, 2025. EEO/M/F/D/V
Important Note: Paper applications will not be accepted.
The application must be completed in its entirety. Omissions, false, misleading or inaccurate information will result in rejection of the application.
It is recommended that applicants do not wait until the last day to submit the application. Applications should be completed as soon as possible after publication of the announcement for examination.
Please contact the Human Resources/Civil Service Department at (203) 797-4598 or humanresources@danbury-ct.gov if you need assistance or if you have any general questions.
1. Application Review
The Civil Service Commission is responsible for reviewing the applications to determine if they are complete and meet the minimum requirements for the position. The Commission will review all the applications for the position during their bi-weekly meetings following the closing date of the position.
If an application is accepted by the Civil Service Commission, then the applicant will be notified in writing and will be informed of the next step in the process. If the Commission does not accept an application, the applicant will also be notified in writing.
2. Testing
Once an application is accepted by the Civil Service Commission, the applicant will be notified in writing of the next steps in the testing process. Each test phase must be passed in order to continue to the next level of the selection process. The examination for this position will consist of the following parts:
PARTS WEIGHT
ORAL EXAM 100%
It is the applicant’s responsibility to adhere to the City’s testing schedule. Unless otherwise stated, there will be no make-up examinations or alternative examination dates.
If an applicant fails the test, the applicant will be immediately eliminated from consideration for this hiring process.
Oral Test Date: *week of December 1st, 2025
Test Time: To be Determined
Test Location: To be Determined
Danbury CT 06810
*Exam date may be subject to change
Unless otherwise notified, applicants are not permitted to bring and/or use calculators, electronic devices, books or other reference materials during the examinations).
Reasonable Accommodations in the testing process:
All requests for reasonable accommodations in the testing process along with medical documentation establishing the need for the accommodation must be submitted to the City of Danbury Human Resources Department no later than the closing date of applications.
3. The Eligibility List
A passing average score of “70” on the above test will place an applicant on the Eligibility List in rank order. The rank on this list is established according to the scores on the exam(s) indicated above plus any additional applicable seniority points awarded. The resulting list is then certified by the Civil Service Commission and will be used to fill vacancies as they occur, as per Civil Service Rules.
If the list is not exhausted, it remains in effect for one year. However, the Commission can decide to extend an eligibility list for one additional year.
Participation in the testing and recruitment process and/or placement on an eligibility list does not guarantee a continuance in the remainder of the hiring process nor does it imply or constitute an offer of employment.
4. Additional Testing Requirements
Once the eligibility list is certified, depending on the number of vacancies, candidates with the highest ranking on the list will be interviewed by a panel of City Officials. As future positions become available, applicants are interviewed from this list based on their ranking for as long as the list is active.