YALSA would like to thank the Teen Programming HQ’s current manager Dawn Abron for all the great ideas and leadership she’s poured into the HQ the past two years. Thank you for all your great work, Dawn!
YALSA is seeking a Member Manager for its programming web site, Teen Programming HQ for a one year term starting March 1, 2021. The Member Manager will receive an honorarium of $500 per year. Please note that this is not a salaried staff position, but a member volunteer opportunity. Apply by February 15, 2021 by sending a resume and cover letter to Anna Lam at alam@ala.org.
The mission of the site is to provide a one-stop-shop for finding and sharing information about library programs of all kinds for and with teens. The site promotes best practices in programming by featuring user-submitted programs that align with YALSA’s Teen Programming Guidelines, Futures Report and Mission Statement. Additionally, the site enables members and the library community to connect with one another to support and display their efforts to continuously improve their teen programs.
The Member Manager will work with YALSA’s Communications Specialist to ensure the site is relevant, interactive, engaging and meeting member needs for information about innovation in teen programming, as well as participates in the maintenance of the site and work within the guidelines for the site as set by the YALSA Board of Directors. The Member Manager drives the recruitment of experts and the collection of content for the site; generates ideas for direction and content; obtains, analyzes and uses member and library community feedback about the site; assists with marketing; and ensures programming related activities, news and resources from YALSA are integrated in the site, and vice versa.
List of Qualifications for the Member Manager:
- Strong project management and organizational skills
- Ability to delegate work and to manage a variety of contributors and volunteers
- Dynamic, self-motivated individual
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
- Experience in web site maintenance
- Ability to set and meet deadlines
- Knowledge of best practices in teen programming, as outlined in YALSA’s Teen Programming Guidelines, Futures Report, and Mission Statement
- Ability to work well in a team environment
- Ability to work well in a mostly virtual setting, including using tools such as Google Drive, Google Calendar, Skype, etc. to coordinate work and communicate with others
- Membership in YALSA and a passion for YALSA’s mission
- High ethical standards and no real or perceived conflict of interest with YALSA or its portfolio of print and web publications
General Member Manager Responsibilities:
Oversight & Coordination
- Effectively motivate, support and supervise a group of volunteers
- Update and maintain systems and processes to ensure efficient oversight, promotion and integration of the site and database. Make adjustments as needed
- Ensure the vetting process is consistent through the utilization of guidelines, standard messaging, etc. Make adjustments as needed
- Work with the Communications Specialist to recruit and vet experts to vet the program proposals
- Communicate with the Communications Specialist on a regular basis to assign tasks, discuss marketing strategies, discuss site management, etc.
- Work with the blog managers and YALS and JRLYA editors as appropriate to coordinate dissemination of information to members and the library community.
- Maintain communication with YALSA member groups whose work relates to teen programming
- Follow all established policies and guidelines, enforce them as necessary and periodically conduct a review of them to ensure currency
- Direct questions about sponsorships, advertising, etc. to YALSA’s Executive Director
- Write reports prior to the Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting for submission to the YALSA Board
Seek Out & Manage Content & Contributors
- Provide oversight to the panel of experts to make sure the quality of program submissions is acceptable and complies with YALSA’s Teen Programming Guidelines and Futures Report
- Work with the panel of experts to recruit contributors on a continuous basis
- Work with the panel of experts to seed questions and spur discussion in the community portion of the site
- Manage a strategy to deal with comments and spam daily to guarantee that the site content is appropriate
Promotion
- Regularly highlight contributions to the site through social media, listservs, the YALSA eNews, online communities, and other means
- Plan and implement incentives, contests and other activities to drive traffic to the site and encourage contributions
- Leverage relevant events, such as Teen Read Week or summer learning, to encourage new contributions and to promote existing content
- Answer questions and inquiries about the site in a timely fashion
- Work with the YALSA Communications Specialist to create cross-promotion of all YALSA’s web presences
- Utilize social media and YALSA communication channels to increase awareness of the site and its content
Technical Maintenance
- Work with YALSA’s Communications Specialist as appropriate to update and manage software
- Monitor new technologies and their potential to impact the site, and make recommendations to the Communications Specialist, as appropriate
YALSA Communications Specialist Responsibilities:
- Communicates regularly with Member Manager to provide support and facilitate work
- Works with the site developer and the ALA IT Dept. as needed on technical issues
- Handles all financial transactions for the site
- Promotes the site through appropriate venues
- Coordinates efforts and facilitates communication among all YALSA publications, including the blogs and journals
- Manages the site software, including liaising with the developer and ALA’s IT Dept. to troubleshoot technical issues
- Ensure site guidelines and policies are complied with
- Oversee the recruitment process for Member Managers, as needed
