The Mechanics’ Institute Library is a full-service, general interest membership Library located in San Francisco’s financial district.

Under the general direction of the Library Director, the Electronic Services Librarian will provide leadership and oversight in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of a broad range of library electronic services, including but not restricted to:

• Webmaster
• Library ILS system: Millennium (Innovative Interface, Inc.)
• Library collections: databases, e-books

and provide professional library services to members:

• Reference and reader’s advisory
• Instruction in use of Library electronic resources
• Collection development of technology-related print materials

Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an institution accredited by the American Library Associate, and experience with information technology systems, including the Millennium library system, and web development.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Good organizational skills, ability to work independently, and attention to detail
• Knowledge of current and emerging technology trends
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with patrons and colleagues
• Experience in developing instructional materials; teaching individuals or groups

Salary commensurate on experience; full benefits package is included for this position, which is full-time, and may include Saturday or evening hours. Mechanics’ Institute Library is an Equal Employment Opportunity worksite.

Complete applications will include cover letters, current resumes, and the names and contact information of three professional references. Please send to:

Sharon Miller
Mechanics’ Institute Library
57 Post St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

Mechanics’ Institute, by rockcreek.

Housed in an one hundred year-old landmark building on Post Street, the Institute serves its members with a large general-interest circulating and research library, offering book discussion groups, writers’ groups, and Internet research classes; the oldest chess club in the United States with activities for players of all abilities from beginners to grand masters; and an active program of literary and cultural events, including author programs, film series, salons, special events and art exhibitions. Source: Mechanics’ Institute.

BayNet speaks with Sharon Miller who is the Institute’s acting library director and BayNet’s newest Treasurer.

What is one thing your library is very good at? Personalized customer service. We take pride in meeting our members’ information needs.

Is there something else about your library that most people do not know? We are a full-spectrum library, no longer training men in the mechanical arts.

Who are your most frequent types of users? We have no one category, but daily see students, retirees, workers from surrounding retail and businesses, and children who are chess players.

What do you like best about your users? They all like our library!

Sharon Miller

As a library director, what are your primary responsibilities? I manage the budget and the personnel, oversee several book groups and writers’ groups, teach classes, give tours, and promote new projects. We are busy with technology upgrades and marketing ideas, and am always looking for ways to make our facilities more useful for our library users, so I enjoy talking with people. I love listening to the ideas presented by our enthusiastic members!

What is it about your job that most people don’t realize that you do? Fix photocopier problems.

What initially attracted you to library work? I wanted to spend my days in a library.  My family were enthusiastic public library users from my infancy.

What do you like most about working in your library? Our book discussion groups are fun, entertaining, and usually a wonderful learning experience for all of us.

What is most challenging about working in your library? Convincing people the Google is not always the best place to find information.

What accomplishment at work are you most proud of? Teaching people who have never used a computer how to do so, and seeing them successfully using email and other computer applications.

What is the most memorable experience you had at work? One of my everyday joys on the job is the physical place where I work: an historical building that is both charming and majestic. It is a delight to walk in every morning.

What is your favorite way to spend time off? My husband and I spend our weekends walking all over the city: doing errands (we have no car), seeing the sights, and enjoying this terrific place.

What do you think will be the biggest change in libraries and information services in the future? Changing the way reference librarians have traditionally interacted with people: rather than waiting for people to come to us, we will be finding ways to “push” information out. Libraries will be less of a “place” — although that will always be one part of who we are — and more of a service.