Library looks to hire a pair of new employees

The Commerce Township Community Library will be hiring two more full-time employees in 2012 — a children’s librarian and an adult services manager — in a move that will allow each department to have three full-time librarians.

Currently, the library has four full-time librarians to cover two service desks for the 66 hours each week the library is open.

“We have trouble covering the desks sometimes between vacation days and sending our librarians to different training classes,” said Library Director Connie Ozinga.

However, librarians are responsible for more than just manning the desks. They also review literature, pick new books to order for the library’s collection, organize book displays, and help with book clubs and library activities like youth story times, in addition to a host of other duties.

In June, a part-time youth program specialist left. Ozinga said they kept the position open to leave room in the budget to hire a full-time children’s librarian.

“It gave us an additional $20,000 to allocate in the budget,” Ozinga said. “And with a full-time youth librarian, I’m no longer going to need someone in that position.”

While job descriptions for each position still have to be approved by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees, Ozinga hopes she will have the job description for the children’s librarian before the board in January and then follow with the description for the adult services manager position.

“I’d like to get the youth services job up before the board in January and then go straight into the process of hiring someone,” Ozinga said. “I want to wait until we are all done with (hiring for) the children’s librarian position before we start hiring in the adult services position.”