ADULT SPECIALIST

How would you like to be a part of exploring history one family at a time? The St. Louis Public Library’s Genealogy Room is seeking an Adult Specialist who is enthusiastic, creative, patient, and committed to providing excellent customer service to patrons researching their family. This person must be passionate about working with the public, providing technology-related assistance, and navigating the research process. This position is responsible for executing innovative and equitable programs and services to foster a strong and diverse community. The Adult Specialist is someone who is organized, detail oriented, and values learning and teaching others about family history research. The role requires someone who can appropriately prioritize numerous projects at once and act as an ambassador for the library during programs and outreach activities throughout the St. Louis area.

In this role you will:

• Provide reference assistance to customers in-person, over the phone, and through email, as well as process obituary requests and schedule instruction sessions.

• Provide family history research assistance at the Genealogy desk, including locating print materials and assisting customers navigate the digital databases available at the Library.

• Facilitate research projects and unique programs for our genealogy collection, as well as create library displays and book lists in BiblioCommons.

• Ensure customers are following library policies that contribute to a safe environment.

• Represent the Library at outreach events in the community.

You will need to be:

• Passionate about the mission of public libraries, which includes the ability of library users to seek and read information freely

• Friendly and comfortable working with a diverse audience in an urban environment.

• Familiar with genealogical research methodology and have applicable experience using genealogical databases.

• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to work with competing tasks and priorities.

• Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Google Meet).

• Able to speak publicly in order to execute unique and exciting programs and events.

You will need to have:

• A bachelor's degree

• Customer service and research experience

• Strong communication, writing, and speaking skills

• Strong organizational and time management skills

You will earn:

• Competitive salary range starting at $41,064

• Medical, dental, and life insurance

• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick days

• Pension plan through the Employees Retirement System of the City of St. Louis

• Professional Development Opportunities

Schedule

Monday through Wednesday  9am - 6pm, Thursday  11am - 8pm, alternating Friday and Saturday 8:30am - 5pm. One Sunday shift (1pm - 5pm) every six weeks.
Hours subject to change. 40 hr/wk.

About SLPL: 

St. Louis Public Library is a true urban library, representing the historic center of the St. Louis region: the City of St. Louis. With its roots in the mid-1800s, St. Louis Public Library has a long history of innovation and service, a large and historic collection including rare books and extensive special collections, and a diverse and dedicated staff. Our technology is a major resource throughout the City and beyond, and the Library makes an enormous investment in technology annually to keep them state of the art. We operate 15 locations in a relatively small city of 61 square miles. These range from the magnificent Central Library – one of the world’s great public libraries – to regional and neighborhood libraries that vary in size and design but are centerpieces in their communities. St. Louis was an early, passionate supporter of library services to children, and that remains a core value and mission. Outreach into our varied communities, marketing the Library’s remarkable strengths, and working with civic and cultural partners to benefit St. Louisans are all closely held values and goals at the Library. 

About Central Library and the Genealogy Room:

• Originally built in 1912. Central Library is one of the original St. Louis Carnegie Libraries.

• The third floor of Central Library has been dedicated to our Special Collections since 2012.

• The Special Collections Floor consists of the Genealogy Department, St. Louis Room (local history), and Rare Books and Manuscripts.

• Our Genealogy Room has 8 research computers, over 17,000 genealogical titles, a local newspaper microfilm collection, and 4 microfilm readers.

About the neighborhood:

Downtown St. Louis is a vibrant, diverse and welcoming neighborhood filled with amenities that make it a regional destination for locals and travelers alike. 

To apply:

If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit slpl.org and click on the Careers link, and submit both your cover letter and your resume with your application. Thank you!