Job Title: Community Resource Specialist Pay Grade: L
Department: Administration FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: Associate Director of Public Services
*This is a Bargaining Unit position.
Position Overview
Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Public Services, the Community Resource
Specialist is responsible for identifying and interpreting the needs of and providing specialized
assistance to vulnerable populations or individuals struggling with poverty, homelessness and/or
life challenges. This includes limited counseling, to the extent needed to complete needs
assessment and evaluation, service referral and resource navigation, collaborating with
community-based organizations and behavioral health providers, and supporting staff to effectively
work with individuals in need. They are responsible for providing high-quality, trauma- informed
referrals, services, and programs to patrons, staff and community members.
The Community Resource Specialist is community-minded and exemplifies the characteristics of
collaborative, innovative, and person-focused solutions. They have a passion for working with
diverse communities and strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to take initiative and
work independently.
The following Core Competencies are essential and apply to all DBRL employees:
Customer Service - customer service is of primary importance in the library. Interactions with
others require trust, respect and focus on the needs of the individual. Quality customer service is
delivered to co-workers, as well as virtual users and users within the building.
Communication - clear and effective communication is the basis for success in relations with
co-workers, managers, users and all stakeholders. Communication competency is integral to customer
service.
Learning and Personal Growth - embracing lifelong learning and continual improvement will
demonstrate commitment to the job and enrich one’s life and professional path.
Ethics and Values - the library plays a crucial role in society and the community. All employees
practice the ethics and values carefully formulated by the library to fulfill its commitment to the
community.
The following competencies apply to this position based on designated responsibilities:
Organizational Leadership - leaders help everyone understand the vision of the library and the
connection to community needs. Leadership empowers staff and encourages collaboration and learning.
Personnel Management - Staff are the most important resource for achieving the library’s mission
and goals. From hiring to training and providing feedback, support for learning and innovation
needs to be clearly communicated.
Confidentiality - This position has exposure to employee information and confidential documents,
and must exercise a broad and substantial degree of initiative, tact and judgment in the
performance of the job duties.
Project Management - Effective project management involves managing people, resources and time.
Leaders recognize that communication is essential throughout the project life cycle.
Interpersonal - Managerial effectiveness is enhanced by clear communication, strong
relationships, ethical behavior and the flexibility to be a leader, team player and lifelong
learner.
Accountability - Successful leadership is measured by taking ownership for work, including
following up on commitments and possessing a strong ability to stay focused on individual,
department and library results.
Technical proficiency - Proficiency with modern software such as MS Office products, Google
tools and other function-specific tools facilitates communication, information sharing and document
retention, which leads to a more efficient workforce.
Essential Duties:
Respond to the day-to-day community reference calls at library facilities.
Provide information, support, referrals, and assistance to vulnerable populations. This includes
patrons experiencing life challenges such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance use,
unstable housing, poverty, or exclusion issues, etc.
Collaborate with library administration regarding the needs of patrons experiencing life
challenges so that library procedures, policies, practices and collection materials provide the
best experience possible.
Cultivate relationships with social service organizations to leverage resources, provide an
avenue for sharing information, develop programs and services, and provide direct referrals between
agencies.
Serve as the Library’s expert on a trauma-informed approach, social services and community
resources, keeping abreast of relevant research, current trends, and best practices.
Collaborate with the Safety and Security Manager to provide crisis intervention, using
de-escalation and trauma-informed techniques to decrease patron incidents and reduce behaviors that
lead to barriers to services across the library system.
Keep abreast of relevant research for current trends and best practices in service to at- risk
populations to advocate for and assess the needs of vulnerable populations in the library.
Promote and market library services to a diverse array of communities and individuals.
Conduct library outreach to service providers and vulnerable populations.
In collaboration with the Associate Director of Public Services, serve as a field instructor for
MSW Practicum Students.
In collaboration with the Human Resources Department., create and conduct employee training and
development as needed.
Travel to all library branches for site visits as available and needed.
Work on additional projects or committees as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position will supervise any MSW practicum students, in collaboration with the Associate
Director of Public Services.
Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity may be added, deleted or changed at
any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing.
Scheduling and shift assignments and work location may be changed at any time, as required by
business necessity.
Physical, Environmental, and Special Working Conditions:
Position requires working on a computer, occasionally standing for extended periods of time,
bending, stooping, reaching, lifting up to 15 pounds.
Work may be required on evenings and weekends.
All library employees may be called upon to assist other departments in a declared emergency
situation.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions of the position.
