Community Resource Specialist
Bachelor's
Master's
$53,352 USD yearly
Job Details: Job Location: Legal Address - Lawrence, KS, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Come be an information champion at Lawrence Public Library!
Community resource information is fragmented and ever-changing, making it difficult for both citizens and library staff to navigate the wealth of local service providers and connect a vast array of needs with available resources. We believe our role is essential: Libraries are community hubs which naturally make us the first place people come when they need help connecting the dots.
You understand that knowledge is power and helps people thrive.
We’re searching for a creative, ambitious, and enthusiastic individual who is committed to connecting community members with the information and resources they need in order to live their best lives. Your mission will be to work closely with the Adult Services Supervisors, library staff, partner organizations, and community leaders to master the network of existing resources that meet basic needs while integrating library services more widely into the Lawrence community.
Meet your future team.
If you enjoy hunting for, gathering, and sharing accurate information, Lawrence Public Library’s Adult Services department is your kind of people. We love researching a variety of topics, connecting staff and patrons to community resources and services, assisting patrons with technology needs, learning new things every day, and leveraging our collective knowledge to transform our community for the better. We recognize that there is no singular path by which everyone seeks information and strive to meet people where they’re at through in-person and digital service points, programming, and outreach.
What our ideal candidate looks like.
We’re seeking someone with a strategic vision and passion for reducing barriers to library services and community resources for Lawrence’s low-income and diverse populations. You’ll keep your finger on the pulse of the community by staying informed of local resources and concerns, developing relationships with partner organizations, communicating information about available library resources, planning programs to meet community needs, and exploring opportunities to further develop library services to underserved communities. Keep in mind that this is an Adult Services Specialist position with a subject specialist concentration on social services, not a direct service position.
As the Community Resource Specialist, we’ll need you to:
Be an information maven! You’ll use a wide variety of information sources, including catalogs and databases, to connect patrons to the information, books, media, or materials they seek while staffing service desks or by phone, email, or online chat
Build relationships with and promote library services to community stakeholders who work with or represent underserved populations
Gather and share information about local resources with community members and library staff
Think creatively about how information is formatted and shared to best reach the target audience
Coordinate programs, events or classes to meet the informational needs of the community
Represent the library at advisory boards and other community events or meetings relating to underserved populations
Create relevant library web pages, brochures, and other community resource-related library materials and keep them up-to-date
Curate and promote library resources through lists, reviews, displays, and subject guides
Take an active role in contributing to the department's online presence, creating content for blogs and/or other social media efforts.
Help patrons navigate library technologies, including public access computers and printing
Assist in maintaining library collections by organizing, shelving, and weeding materials
Qualifications: Required qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with coursework in liberal arts, social work, and/or communication, instruction, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience working with the public
Knowledge of community resources and social service agencies in Douglas County
Ability to be self-directed and to work as part of a team
Experience with program development for adult audiences
Experience working with diverse and/or low-income populations
Experience working in collaboration with partners
Strong writing, interpersonal, and communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people from diverse backgrounds
Available to work at least one evening a week and some weekends
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with teaching, training, or public speaking
Experience working in a public library
Experience with social media
Graphic design skills
Master’s degree in Library Science
Schedule:
Monday, 9-6
Tuesday, 11-8
Wednesday, 9-6
Thursday, 9-6
Friday, 9-6
This is a full-time position that will be hired at either the Specialist or Librarian (MLS required) level depending on qualifications. If hired at the Specialist level the starting salary is $48,505.60 per year, and if hired at the Librarian level the starting salary is $53,352 per year; a generous benefits package is also included. If this sounds like the job for you, please consider joining our team at the Lawrence Public Library by submitting a job application, resume, and cover letter. For references, please be sure to include people that have worked with you in the past and can speak to your strengths. The application deadline is Monday, October 26 at 5 pm. We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting us before October 26, 2026 to check on the status of your application, and we appreciate your patience. Applications will be reviewed by October 28, 2026 and we'll be in touch with all candidates shortly after that date.
***PLEASE NOTE***: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. If you are applying through a 3rd party website like Indeed, you will not see our supplemental application questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in the email after you apply through Indeed to set up your Paycom account with us and complete those questions. Otherwise, it is best to apply on our website at https://lplks.org/library-jobs/
Community resource information is fragmented and ever-changing, making it difficult for both citizens and library staff to navigate the wealth of local service providers and connect a vast array of needs with available resources. We believe our role is essential: Libraries are community hubs which naturally make us the first place people come when they need help connecting the dots.
You understand that knowledge is power and helps people thrive.
We’re searching for a creative, ambitious, and enthusiastic individual who is committed to connecting community members with the information and resources they need in order to live their best lives. Your mission will be to work closely with the Adult Services Supervisors, library staff, partner organizations, and community leaders to master the network of existing resources that meet basic needs while integrating library services more widely into the Lawrence community.
Meet your future team.
If you enjoy hunting for, gathering, and sharing accurate information, Lawrence Public Library’s Adult Services department is your kind of people. We love researching a variety of topics, connecting staff and patrons to community resources and services, assisting patrons with technology needs, learning new things every day, and leveraging our collective knowledge to transform our community for the better. We recognize that there is no singular path by which everyone seeks information and strive to meet people where they’re at through in-person and digital service points, programming, and outreach.
What our ideal candidate looks like.
We’re seeking someone with a strategic vision and passion for reducing barriers to library services and community resources for Lawrence’s low-income and diverse populations. You’ll keep your finger on the pulse of the community by staying informed of local resources and concerns, developing relationships with partner organizations, communicating information about available library resources, planning programs to meet community needs, and exploring opportunities to further develop library services to underserved communities. Keep in mind that this is an Adult Services Specialist position with a subject specialist concentration on social services, not a direct service position.
As the Community Resource Specialist, we’ll need you to:
Be an information maven! You’ll use a wide variety of information sources, including catalogs and databases, to connect patrons to the information, books, media, or materials they seek while staffing service desks or by phone, email, or online chat
Build relationships with and promote library services to community stakeholders who work with or represent underserved populations
Gather and share information about local resources with community members and library staff
Think creatively about how information is formatted and shared to best reach the target audience
Coordinate programs, events or classes to meet the informational needs of the community
Represent the library at advisory boards and other community events or meetings relating to underserved populations
Create relevant library web pages, brochures, and other community resource-related library materials and keep them up-to-date
Curate and promote library resources through lists, reviews, displays, and subject guides
Take an active role in contributing to the department's online presence, creating content for blogs and/or other social media efforts.
Help patrons navigate library technologies, including public access computers and printing
Assist in maintaining library collections by organizing, shelving, and weeding materials
Qualifications: Required qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with coursework in liberal arts, social work, and/or communication, instruction, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience working with the public
Knowledge of community resources and social service agencies in Douglas County
Ability to be self-directed and to work as part of a team
Experience with program development for adult audiences
Experience working with diverse and/or low-income populations
Experience working in collaboration with partners
Strong writing, interpersonal, and communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people from diverse backgrounds
Available to work at least one evening a week and some weekends
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with teaching, training, or public speaking
Experience working in a public library
Experience with social media
Graphic design skills
Master’s degree in Library Science
Schedule:
Monday, 9-6
Tuesday, 11-8
Wednesday, 9-6
Thursday, 9-6
Friday, 9-6
This is a full-time position that will be hired at either the Specialist or Librarian (MLS required) level depending on qualifications. If hired at the Specialist level the starting salary is $48,505.60 per year, and if hired at the Librarian level the starting salary is $53,352 per year; a generous benefits package is also included. If this sounds like the job for you, please consider joining our team at the Lawrence Public Library by submitting a job application, resume, and cover letter. For references, please be sure to include people that have worked with you in the past and can speak to your strengths. The application deadline is Monday, October 26 at 5 pm. We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting us before October 26, 2026 to check on the status of your application, and we appreciate your patience. Applications will be reviewed by October 28, 2026 and we'll be in touch with all candidates shortly after that date.
***PLEASE NOTE***: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. If you are applying through a 3rd party website like Indeed, you will not see our supplemental application questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in the email after you apply through Indeed to set up your Paycom account with us and complete those questions. Otherwise, it is best to apply on our website at https://lplks.org/library-jobs/