Employment Opportunities

At the Highwood Public Library, our staff paves the way for engaging programming, innovative services, and transformative collections. We are a small but mighty library serving a diverse and dynamic community!

We welcome candidates who are committed to excellent customer service, creative collaboration, and dynamic problem-solving.

Keep reading to learn more!

About our Library

 

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POSITION TITLE:  Counselor Contractor

Join the 2021 IMLS-award winning Highwood Library & Community Center, a small but mighty library serving a diverse community. The Highwood Library & Community Center is an innovative anchor that enriches, empowers, educates, and embraces the community it serves. Our vision is to uplift, inform and grow the community through the library’s collections, programming and engagement strategies. As part of our Health Equity Department, this position will offer mental health services through individual counseling and support groups using culturally relevant interventions that prioritize wellness and healing.

Position Status: Part-time contractual position; 8-10 hours/week

Rate of Pay: $40.00 – $65.00/hour

Hours:  Afternoons, Evenings, Saturdays

Bilingual (Spanish) required

This position reports to the Health Equity Manager

Duties and Responsibilities include:

  • Work with clients collaboratively to agree on treatment goals related to presenting concerns.
  • Provide individual psychotherapy using evidenced-based and culturally appropriate frameworks.
  • Plan and lead support group sessions relevant to community’s needs and level of expertise.
  • Provide therapeutic crisis intervention as needed while on schedule.
  • Maintain accurate, timely records and documentation of work with clients.
  • Track statistical information, participant demographics, assessments, client impact, and programmatic outcomes.
  • Work collaboratively with Health Equity team and library team.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Health Equity Manager.

Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, or directly related field; at least 6 months of directly related experience which may include internship and/or practicum. Certification/IL licensure as LCPC, LPC, LMHC, LMSW, LCSW, LSW or equivalent level.
  • Ability to act as a bridge to coordinate care and connect clients with resources.
  • Knowledge and understanding of mental health counseling ethics, programs and methodology, crisis intervention techniques, clinical operations and procedures.
  • Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic services and to make individual modifications.
  • Ability to maintain emotional stability and be proactive in line of work supporting trauma, emergencies, and other stressors.
  • Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients’ rights.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks in busy environment.
  • Willingness to contribute to a positive work environment by being resourceful, respectful, and approachable to other team members and the public.
  • Able to effectively demonstrate characteristics of being enthusiastic, outgoing, and strongly client- and community service oriented.
  • Must possess strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
  • Must possess strong interviewing skills, strong communications skills in person, in large groups, and in the written word in English and Spanish.

This position is grant funded and will depend on the continued availability of sufficient funding.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The library work environment is usually busy and demanding. This position requires intensive interaction with the public.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Yenny Avila, LCPC at yavila@highwoodlibrary.org.

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POSITION TITLE: Youth Services Assistant (Children)
Join the 2021 IMLS-award winning Highwood Library & Community Center, a small but mighty library serving a diverse community. The Highwood Library & Community Center is an innovative anchor that enriches, empowers, educates, and embraces the community it serves. Our vision is to uplift, inform and grow the community through the library’s collections, programming and engagement strategies. The Highwood Library & Community Center is seeking a part-time candidate for an open position as a Circulation Assistant. This exciting opportunity will work at the Children’s reference desk, helping patrons navigate the collection and technology, shelving materials, and making our patrons feel welcome at the library. This position will offer a high level of customer service to patrons and assistance with library resources.

Part time, non-exempt position
Hours: 18 hours/week, including some evenings and Saturdays
Range: $17.00 – $18.50/hour
Benefits: Up to 40 hours per year of paid leave (which includes 3 personal days)

This position reports to the Children Services Manager.

Responsibilities include:
• Provide prompt, courteous, and direct assistance to all patrons with basic information regarding use of library materials, equipment, and services
• Answer basic reference and readers’ advisory questions and assist patrons with book check-in and check-out
• Instruct and assist patrons in the use of electronic resources
• Contribute to the general order and care of facilities and Library materials. Collaborate with department staff to plan and manage programs and activities
• Participate in collection evaluation and maintenance
• Process materials.
• Collaborate in supporting library wide programs/events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Personal qualities and qualifications include:
• Bilingual: Spanish & English.
• Availability on Saturdays and evenings required.
• Strong ability to welcome all library users with a friendly and courteous approach.
• Must be able to work independently and complete tasks on time.
• Must have strong collaboration and problem-solving skills.
• Must be dependable, detail-oriented, and reliable.
• Must be able to work well as a member of a team.
• 18 years of age or older with High School Diploma/GED, Some college or a degree preferred.
• Ability to communicate with manager and team about day-to-day tasks and ask for clarification as needed.
• Typical office skills such as conducting Internet searches, working with computer systems, answering phones.
• Flexibility in dealing with patrons and staff.
• A willingness to help in special situations and cooperate as a team member to achieve efficient library operations.

Experience:
• Must have experience working with children.
• Previous Customer Service experience preferred.
• Experience working in libraries preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Constant standing and walking. Lifting up to 30 pounds, bending, reaching, stooping, climbing, pushing and pulling in excess of 75 lbs., reaching, handling, and fine manipulation skills. Ability to communicate by telephone. Ability to handle and shelve books. Ability to use a keyboard. Vision: near and far. Speaking and hearing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The library work environment is usually busy and demanding. Children’s programs are often noisy and crowded.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Diana Wence, Children’s Services Manager, at dwence@highwoodlibrary.org.

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Facilities Coordinator Contractor Position Description
Position Status: Independent Contractor
Hours: 20 hours per month
Rate: $50/hour or $1,000 per Month
Reports to: Executive Director

Job Summary: Join the 2021 IMLS-award winning Highwood Library & Community Center, a small but mighty library serving Highwood’s diverse community. This key position is responsible for overseeing the maintenance, safety, and operational readiness of library facilities and grounds, performs and coordinates repairs, preventative maintenance, vendor and contractor management, and facility improvement projects, maintains inventories, maintenance records, and compliance documentation while supporting budget planning and procurement processes. The Facilities Coordinator supports the Building & Grounds committee’s ability to provide governance and manages upcoming and ongoing facility initiatives. This position requires strong knowledge of building systems, project coordination, safety standards, and hands-on maintenance skills, with the ability to perform physically demanding tasks in the library environment.

About the Highwood Library & Community Center: Founded in 1976, the Highwood Library & Community Center is an anchor of the community, providing educational support, information needs, engaging services, and inspirational collections. The HLCC provides free multicultural and bilingual programs, services, and resources for Highwood and Illinois residents of all ages and ethnicities, including story time, book discussions, summer reading programs for all ages, as well as literacy-focused bilingual programming. The HLCC enriches, empowers, educates, and embraces the community it serves. Our vision is to uplift, inform and grow the community through the library’s collections, programming and engagement strategies.

Position Responsibilities:
General Maintenance & Operations:
• Continually monitors the building and grounds for condition issues such as damage, degradation, or malfunction.
• Performs professional-grade repairs and maintenance whenever possible, to include but not limited to drywall,
paint, and carpet, lighting, fixtures and furniture.
• Maintains working relationships to coordinate landscape, snow removal, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and door
service.
• Ensures safety and cleanliness of library facilities and grounds.
• When necessary, contacts professional contractors, coordinates service calls and provides building access.
• Recruits and coordinates volunteer helpers and initiatives.
• Adheres to procurement guidelines in HLCC’s Financial Management Policy.
• Gathers and provides quotes and data for grants and projects related to facility maintenance and improvements.
• Aligns library needs on a prioritization schedule accounting for budgetary allowances and constraints.
• Identifies and mitigates safety hazards.
• Gathers, compares, and presents quotes for facilities grant applications.

Building & Grounds Committee Meetings and Quarterly Updates:
• Attends and provides information to support the Building & Grounds committee’s ability to provide governance.
• Supports committee chair in creating and posting agendas and meeting minutes.
• Provides Building & Grounds Committee with details of prior month’s tasks performed
• Apprises Building & Grounds Committee of upcoming items being addressed as well as currently
unaddressed needs.
• Recruits prospective Building & Grounds Committee members with areas of expertise relevant to the
library’s needs.
• Conducts quarterly committee facility and grounds walkthrough to identify additional needs.
• Provides a quarterly report of progress/status of Long-Term Facility Assessment.

Maintenance Data Tracking:
• Creates and maintains a full inventory of furniture, fixtures and equipment.
• Oversees digitization of maintenance records and long-term facility assessment implementation. Recruits
volunteers to and oversee the digitization of all maintenance documents, documents related to
construction, renovations, and warranties.
• Creates, updates and conducts a facilities maintenance checklist assessment on a quarterly basis.
• Learn, interpret and integrate Capital Needs Assessment into a prioritized, planned schedule incorporating
• prioritization of needs and budgetary allowances
• Create maintenance and repair log; tracking items, locations, and needs addressed

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Core knowledge including building systems and maintenance, safety and compliance standards, contract
management, and financial administration
• Essential Skills including project management, supervision and leadership, and technology familiarity
• Key Abilities including effective written and verbal communication skills, problem solving and physical
ability to perform commonly required tasks
• High school diploma preferred
• 10+ years’ experience in construction, maintenance and janitorial fields

Physical Demands:
• Regular lifting and carrying of items up to 50 lbs.
• Frequent walking, standing, balancing, bending, climbing, kneeling, crouching, and reaching
• Navigating and working in small or difficult to reach spaces
• Ability to use ladders, hand tools and power tools
• Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions and use PPE against loud noises, dust, and fumes

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a contractor encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The library work environment is usually busy and demanding.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Laura Ramirez at director@highwoodlibrary.org.