Children's & Teens' Services Assistant (CDD, 18 hours/week)

Position available:

Children’s and Teens’ Services Assistant (CDD, 18 hours/week) 

Start date: ASAP

End date: 31 August 2027

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis—apply early. 

Organization

The American Library in Paris, established in 1920, is the largest English-language lending library on the European continent. The Library welcomes more than 80,000 visitors a year and provides access to 100,000 books and thousands of periodicals, as well as a wide range of literary and cultural programs for readers of all ages. It operates as a non-profit association with 501(c)3 status in the United States and as an association loi 1901 in France.

Candidates should bear in mind that as a non-profit organization, the American Library in Paris’s salary structure does not match equivalents in the private sector, although the benefits of working inside this unique, historic, and dynamic institution are considerable.

Position Schedule

The Children’s and Teens’ Services Assistant is a part-time (18 hours/week) position which will run for 10 months, with responsibilities as follows:

Children’s and Teens’ Services

• Sunday 13h00–19h00 

• Tuesday 10h00–17h00, or 12h00–19h00  (with a 1-hour meal break)

• Wednesday 10h00–17h00 (with a 1-hour meal break)

Position Description 

As part of the Front of House team, under the supervision of the Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager: 

• Fulfills responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation of Library functions in the Children’s and Teens’ Services Department. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Responding to email, phone, and in-person queries

  • Familiarizing new members with the Library and the use of its services

  • Booking study rooms, reservable spaces

  • Assisting members in accessing online resources

  • Ensuring users’ comfort, health, safety, and enjoyment of the facilities and compliance with all safety regulations

  • Assisting with shelving, shelf reading, and stacks maintenance

  • Gathering and maintaining statistical data

• Providing support for children’s programming

• General collection maintenance tasks

• Providing customer service at the Children’s & Teens’ Services desk

• Creating and supplementing attractive and timely book displays 

• Proofreading text for event pages, and populating event pages on the Library’s website

• Creating event registration forms

• Responding to readers advisory questions following department guidelines

• Assisting with training and supervision of volunteers and interns

• Assisting in the support of the Library’s facility and technology infrastructure, including responding to mechanical dysfunctions (e.g. elevator, security doors, heating)

• Working on special projects and performing other duties as assigned

• Opening and closing the Children’s Library as scheduled

Qualifications

Candidates should have an appreciation for English-language literature for children and teens, and experience working with children and/or teens is a plus. Fluency in written and spoken English is essential; in spoken French, highly desirable. 

The American Library in Paris prides itself on outstanding patron service, and the Front of House team highly values collegiality and collaboration. Candidates should bring a record of experience in libraries and/or customer service. Organizational skills and attention to detail and process is essential, as are patience, good listening skills, and discretion.

The successful candidate will also have:

• Valid European working papers

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (students currently working towards a degree will also be considered for this position)

• Excellent communication skills

• Extremely strong interpersonal skills

• Proven organizational skills

• An appetite for hard work and the ability to prioritize and multitask in a close-knit and busy organizational environment

• The ability to push full book carts, shelve books on high and low shelves, and carry boxes

This is an ideal position for a student in Information and Library Science who has a particular passion for children’s and young adult literature and programming.

Our workplace values, compensation, and benefits

At the American Library in Paris, we value being professional, productive, positive, patient, adaptable, inclusive, and team-focused. The American Library in Paris is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strive to create a welcoming environment for all. We seek applicants who will embody and strengthen these values.

Candidates should bear in mind that, as a nonprofit institution, the American Library in Paris operates within a compensation framework that differs from that of the private sector, while offering a distinctive professional environment shaped by its history, mission, and international reach. 

The Library provides a thoughtfully designed benefits package that includes a minimum of five weeks of annual paid vacation; ongoing professional development; subsidized meal vouchers; full reimbursement of public transportation or bicycle-related expenses; and fully employer-funded top-tier health, vision, and dental coverage for employees and their families.

How to apply

We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply by uploading a letter of motivation and resume. In your cover letter, please explain how your experience is relevant to the position and what you would bring to the institution. Your attention to detail can be demonstrated by mentioning one of your most recommended books in the letter.

Please note that valid European working papers are required for this position. Please indicate in your cover letter or CV that you are legally permitted to work in France through nationality, or specify the type of visa/work permit you possess and its expiry date. Candidates without valid French working papers will not be considered for this position. The Library is unable to sponsor applicants who do not currently hold either a European passport or an unexpired French work permit.

We thank all candidates for their interest in the position. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview, and may be asked for professional references. 

Join Paris’s home for the thoughtful and curious, and help carry a century-old institution into its next hundred years.