Exhibit Educator [Midland County Public Library, Midland, TX]

Description

Midland County Public Library

Exhibit Educator

OVERVIEW

The Midland County Public Library seeks a temporary full-time employee to join our Exhibits team. This position requires a positive, personable, passionate person who loves providing learning experiences for children, and is comfortable being in control to ensure our patrons are having the best experience possible without negatively impacting others.

Start date is February 1, 2016 and the position will conclude October 1, 2016. This position will require some evening and Saturday hours, and hours may vary. The successful candidate will report to the Exhibits and Learning Experiences Coordinator of the Midland County Public Libraries.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working in a fast paced environment, and making decisions on the go as they will be part teacher, part museum docent, and part librarian. Bi-lingual in Spanish preferred. The successful candidate will maintain state-of-the-art exhibits and deliver dynamic programming that combines learning and fun with an eye for detail and excellent customer service. (S)he will also be responsible for maintaining statistics, orienting volunteer docents, and contributing to program evaluation.

ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND EXHIBIT PROGRAM

The Midland County Public Library is one of the only libraries in the nation combining traditional library and museum services. Featured in national publication Library Journal as a “Destination Place,” the Centennial Library is the winner of the International Interior Design Association and American Library Association’s biennial 2014 award for Interior Design in Public Libraries over 30,000 square feet. Over the last five years, the Midland County Public Library System’s innovative services and staff have won numerous national, state and local awards, and have been featured in numerous state and national publications. Specific exhibits that the successful candidates will be working on are outlined below.

Otra Vez  (February 18 – April 20)

Otra Vez is a compilation of work from the award winning up and coming El Paso artist Wayne Hilton. With a focus on Mexican culture, art and history, Otra Vez is a collection of mixed media sculpture with themes that explore Jose Guadalupe Posada, “La Catrina,” Luchadores, and piñatas.

The exhibit will welcome over 2,000 local and regional children on field trips, and countless more during after-school hours. Total attendance during the 10-week exhibition is expected to surpass 45,000.

Very Eric Carle! (June 4 – September 18)

This play-and-learn exhibit features activities inspired by five of Eric Carle’s classic books:  The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Very Lonely Firefly, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle and The Very Busy Spider. Midland will be the third stop and only Texas destination on a 10-year national tour.

Within the exhibit, visitors can:

• Become the Very Hungry Caterpillar by climbing through his tunnel
• Weave a web with the Very Busy Spider
• Find their light with the Very Lonely Firefly
• Make the Very Clumsy Click Beetle flip and jump
• Compose a night symphony with the Very Quiet Cricket
• artwork using many of Eric Carle’s materials and techniques
• Enjoy a gallery of prints from Eric Carle’s Very Series as well as works in progress

This exhibit will coincide with the library’s summer reading program, reaching over 2,200 children at the library each year. Total attendance is anticipated to exceed 100,000 visitors from around the region.

BENFITS AND SALARY

The Library has a room available to the successful candidate at the Wyndham Garden Hotel for free the duration of the project if (s)he would like housing assistance. Salary will be commensurate with experience, $2,500-$3,500 per month.

TO APPLY

Questions can be addressed to Annie Tillmann at exhibits@co.midland.tx.us. Qualified candidates are invited to email a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and a completed application form to exhibits@co.midland.tx.us or submit them to Midland County Public Libraries, ATTN: Exhibits, 301 W. Missouri Ave, Midland, TX 79701.  Position will remain open until filled.

Requirements

RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Exhibit Educator will be responsible for:

• Daily facilitation of activities and programming in conjunction with the exhibits including but not limited to field trips and daily programming.
• Being familiar with the content of the exhibits, knowing it forwards and backwards so you can wow patrons with your knowledge and expertise.
• Creating and facilitating weekly “experience zone” drop-in activities for adults and children to supplement the exhibit content in an informal, non-traditional manner.
• Sharing excitement and enthusiasm for the exhibit by actively interacting with patrons.
• Tracking data by talking to people. Find out where they’re from, why they’re here, how they heard about the exhibit. What they like about it, what they don’t, etc.
• Maintaining spreadsheets to analyze data for weekly reports that evaluate the exhibit.
• Shelving exhibit related library materials, and creating displays that appeal to patrons.
• Assisting with training, orienting and scheduling a team of learning experience docents to aid with programming as needed.
• Contributing to program evaluation, assessing the successes of the exhibit and subsequent programming to guide future visitor learning experiences.
• Assisting with the development of programming for upcoming exhibits at both libraries.
• Being flexible and tackling other duties as assigned.

Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated experience with customer service, children and teaching. Bilingual and museum experience preferred.