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<br />REPORT <br /> <br />January 24, 2000 <br /> <br />Subject <br />Approve job specifications for the classifications of Library Outreach Specialist and Senior Library <br />Outreach Specialist; and amend the Salary and Wage Plan accordingly. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />1) That the City Council, by resolution, approve the job specifications for the <br />classifications of Library Outreach Specialist and Senior Library Outreach Specialist; <br />2) Amend thè Salary and Wage Plan accordingly. <br /> <br />Background <br />In the past, recruitments for the position of Librarian have been productive, with ample qualified <br />persons applying; and the City did not have a problem retaining the existing Librarians on staff. More <br />recently, the trend has shifted and as in other employment fields within the Bay Area, recruitments <br />are very competitive. Also, factors such as changing demographics, and a low unemployment rate <br />have resulted in the need for more creative ways to appropriately staff the library. To stay on top of <br />this trend, the library must develop innovative ways to: <br /> <br />. Attract potential candidates for all levels; <br />. Provide career development for those library staff members who do not possess a Master of <br />Library Science degree (MLS); and <br />. Generate interest in library science and higher level positions within the library. <br /> <br />Accordingly, the classifications of Senior Library Outreach Specialist and Library Outreach Specialist <br />have been created and modified respectively to accomplish the above objectives. <br /> <br />If the City is to be successful in its goal of responding to the needs of the community it will need to <br />consider a variety of recruitment and retention methods. We cannot succeed by utilizing the <br />standard requirements (Le. an MLS for all librarian positions) as we have in the past. We are finding <br />that non-traditional requirements will result in a more varied and diverse applicant pool and allow the <br />Library to achieve its mission. <br /> <br />The new classification of Senior Library Outreach Specialist (equivalent in pay to the Librarian I <br />position but does not require an MLS), enables the City to hire qualified persorTs'f:COm?variety of <br />backgrounds and education who can effectively promote the library and initiate appropriate new <br />services and programs for the community. The existing Library Outreach Specialist specifications <br />have been modified to reflect the liaison functions the position performs in the community. The <br />proposed specifications place more emphasis on collaborating with and understanding the <br />community, and consequently providing more relevant library services. <br /> <br />-'.'...... ,'.-. "r <br />