Department:

Libraries & Historical Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Are you community-oriented with a knack for communication and a need for exceptional customer service? Sarasota County is currently recruiting for a Community Outreach Specialist to join our Pop-up Library. In this role, you will serve as the coordinator of outreach services, which will expand access to non-library users and provide resources to underserved communities.

Why Sarasota County? Our award-winning public library system offers extensive collections where people of all ages can find their hobbies, their histories, their music, art, and culture. In addition to books, videos, digital resources, and more, plentiful public meeting spaces provide places to meet neighbors and elected officials and explore their myriad connections to each other and their neighborhoods.

Don't miss your opportunity! This position is one of the few library roles that do not require a master's in Library Science degree, starting out paying $58,656 and benefits begin within 60 days of hire. Take the next step in impacting our community - apply today!

About the Position

In this role, you will...

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with community partners, local non-profits, and other County departments.

• Assist with a regularly scheduled calendar of visits for outreach vehicles to sites across Sarasota, especially those serving children, seniors, and underserved populations throughout the County.

• Develop and present outreach programs for diverse audiences.

• Promote the understanding and use of the library and its resources.

• Loads and unloads book trucks on the Pop-up Library vehicle and drives vehicles to outreach facilities.

• Performs collection development and maintenance for the Pop-up Library vehicle.

• Continually seeks new opportunities to improve outreach effectiveness.

• Implement standards of service that ensure the prompt and efficient resolution of inquiries and requests from internal and external customers, delivered with the utmost courtesy and respect.

• Demonstrate the impact and value of literacy programs and communicate this through public speaking engagements, presentations, and meetings with community leaders.

• Monitors trends in adult literacy resources to include materials for English language learners.

• Recommends materials for the Libraries' Reader Development collections.

• Develop Reader Development kits for at-home use on a variety of themes.

• Assists in materials checkout/check-in, retrieves and processes reserves, billing, and missing items processes as needed.

• Participates in cross-training in other sections and aids in cross-training in their section.

• Attends agency, system-wide, local, regional, state, and national meetings and workshops to enhance professional skills.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

• Full-Time, 40 hours/week

• Must be available to work: Sunday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Work schedules may vary due to split shifts, rotations, on-call, emergencies, etc.

• Employee may be re-assigned to a different work location (other than the original assignment) within the library system to meet changing service needs

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• One year experience in public contact customer service work, and proficiency in computer related to public response.

• -OR- Related community events/activities planning may substitute for the required education.

• Valid Florida Driver's License by date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An Associate's Degree in Library and Information Science, Communications, Education, or related social services field AND two (2) years experience. 

• Supervisory experience in a related field of work.

• Background in early childhood development and familiarity with both local community social agencies and literacy issues.

• Fluency in Spanish is beneficial.

Subject to Passing Substance Screening:  This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening.  An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for five (5) years.

About Everything Else

Starting Salary: $58,656.00

Our interview process could inc