2025-2026 - Middle & Upper School - Librarian

Job Description

Job Description

Isidore Newman School seeks a collaborative, proactive Middle and Upper School Librarian with a strong work ethic and excellent organizational, communication, and instructional skills. Faculty and staff at Newman believe in the importance of strong relationships between and high expectations for ourselves and our students. We develop high trust and healthy boundaries with our students and colleagues, and we push them and each other to achieve academically and grow personally. The Rebecca Grant Popp Library is a community hub for grades six through twelve and serves simultaneously as a social gathering place and a quiet refuge. As the custodian of this space, the librarian will have touch points with students as well as other constituent groups and must have an abiding interest in helping students to experience academic and social growth; be successful in working with teams; and demonstrate cultural competency, respect for diversity of identities and experiences, and an orientation toward equity and inclusion.

Qualified candidates will hold an ALA-accredited MLS or MLIS, and a Master of Arts in humanities is preferred. Candidates must believe in, practice, and promote the American Library Association's Code of Ethics, Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read Statement and must ensure the diversity of the collection and protect it from censorship, as well as prioritize equitable access to resources and spaces. The Rebecca Grant Popp Librarian reports to the Heads of Upper School and Middle School jointly and should be committed to assisting students on an individual level as well as designing and implementing lessons for classes of Middle or Upper School students. As such, prior classroom teaching experience will be advantageous for this role.

The responsibilities of the Middle and Upper School Librarian include but are not limited to:

• Purchasing, cataloging, and processing new materials.
• Managing a budget.
• Maintaining a large collection of print books, periodicals, and subscription databases.
• Keeping current with new literature, particularly YA literature, in order to purchase and promote new books.
• Supervising students, particularly those in Upper School, who gather in the space informally.
• Offering regular classroom instruction on information and media literacy and digital citizenship.
• Educating all constituent groups on what the library has to offer, with the ability to leverage technology to do so.
• Offering extensive one-on-one support to Upper School students writing term papers.
• Maintaining an inviting library setting, including displays to promote books, alternating pieces of student art, and the like.
• Collaborating with teachers to determine student needs both in the library and in classroom instruction.
• Keeping up with best practices and engaging with peers around the country via membership in the Association of Independent School Librarians.
• Developing programming such as author visits or book clubs and supporting the independent reading initiative in Middle School.
• Collaborating with the Lower School Librarian to ensure continuity of programming from grades pre-k through twelve.

The ideal librarian candidate will . . .

• Love reading and the privilege of instilling a love of reading in students.
• Understand the developmental level of adolescents and enjoy working with them.
• Balance a respect for tradition with an openness to new ideas.
• Be even-tempered and patient.
• Have an innovative vision for library spaces.
• Relish the opportunity to be part of a diverse school community.
• Possess genuine enthusiasm for their own professional growth.
• Enjoy collaborating with colleagues in all areas of the School.

At the core of the librarian role are relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents, and additional duties or responsibilities within the Middle or Upper School will be required. As such, applicants who have a desire to be an active member of the community outside the library will be critical as well.

Candidates must be tolerant of dust and be able to lift 30 - 40 pounds.

How to Apply:

Educators interested in applying for this position should submit a cover letter expressing interest in the role, an updated resume or CV with all relevant experience, and at least three professional references.

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