About Our Job

The Denver Public Library (DPL) isn't just a place to borrow books; it's a vibrant, essential hub for our diverse city. As a growing urban library system with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors, we're deeply woven into the fabric of Denver.

Join a team where your values align with your work. At the Denver Public Library, we're not just serving our community; we're building a culture guided by values that empower both our staff and the public. 

• Welcoming:  We make our resources, services, and expertise accessible for all, recognize the inherent dignity in each person, and provide safe places where everyone can be themselves.

• Curiosity: We foster a culture of exploration, innovation, and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.

• Connection: We are neighbors. We foster relationships, listen and act to build and strengthen our community. We bring people together to share information, ideas, and experiences.

• Equity: We work to change inequitable practices, structures and policies, and attitudes that drive them, to provide opportunities for every person in our community to thrive. As we do so, we actively examine our roles in perpetuating oppressive systems.

• Stewardship: We are accountable to our community, using our resources responsibly. We lead with honesty and integrity, protect privacy and preserve and share the full history of our Denver community.

If you're passionate about service, community engagement, and creating positive change, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come join a team that believes in the power of knowledge, connection, and equity.

Unrivaled Benefits

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:  

• Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance  

• Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer matches at 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan  

• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), 4 paid wellness days, and 12 paid holidays

• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits  

• Enhanced Work/Life Balance: Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program

• Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources  

• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides) 

• For more information please visit our website.

 

About Our Branch

The Hampden Branch is located in Southeast Denver in the Hampden Heights neighborhood. We’re a busy, medium-sized branch with a focus on providing a customer experience that reflects DPL’s Values of Welcoming, Curiosity, Connection, Equity and Stewardship. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where we serve people of all ages from diverse ethnicities, all gender and sexual identities and with varied mental and 

physical abilities.   

The Lena Archuleta Branch Library is located in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, a culturally rich and close-knit community known for its strong Latino heritage, local businesses, and active community organizations. We are a community-focused branch that emphasizes relationship-building, accessibility, and responsive service. Our staff work closely with the community to meet people where they are, offering resources, programs, and spaces that support learning, creativity, and connection for residents at every stage of life.

About Our Position

DPL is hiring a Library Programming Associate for the Hampden Branch and Lena Archuleta Branch. The Hampden Branch is currently closed for renovations. This position will report 20 hours to the Hampden Branch (on-site programs in Southeast Denver) and 20 hours at the Lena Branch. This position will report full-time to the Hampden Branch upon completion of the renovation. 

In this position, DPL’s Plaza and Language Services (PLS) team collaborates with Denver's multicultural community to create equitable opportunities for learning, discovery, and connection. Plaza, one of PLS’s main programs, has been an important element of Denver Public Library programming for over fifteen years, and takes place at ten library branches and online. Plaza creates inclusive spaces for people from all over the world to connect with resources and meet new people by offering low-barrier spaces for language practice, citizenship exam preparation, legal help, technical assistance, resource navigation, and more. All programs are free, family-friendly, and open to all. 

In this position, you will lead and support library programs, including a 2-3 weekly Plaza program and other branch needs, including for our teens, youth, families, and adults. You will collaborate with our branch staff and staff from other library locations to develop, host, and evaluate these programs. You will lead a group of staff who work directly with library customers to help them reach their goals. You will work with the larger DPL Plaza team to improve and sustain our immigrant services. You will also conduct other programs and outreach in the Southeast and other areas of the city.

What You Would Bring

Our ideal candidate has:

• Familiarity with at least one area of Denver, including neighborhood demographics, trends, needs of immigrant communities, local community organizations, and libraries.

• Familiarity with Google Suite software and the ability to embrace the challenge of learning new software and technology.

• Ability to observe and respond to changing community trends.

• Ability to apply creative solutions to problems as part of a collaborative team effort. 

• Ability to work as a part of a multicultural, multilingual team representing a variety of backgrounds, skills, and experiences.

• Ability to facilitate connections for new immigrants and refugees in a respectful manner. 

• Ability  to multitask in busy environments while demonstrating a positive attitude.

• Ability to work independently and take initiative.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural awareness in working with customers, coworkers, volunteers and community.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET, or TASC Certificate.

• Three (3) years of technical or administrative experience performing standard research and evaluation, preparing and presenting course work or programs, or implementing work processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of experience working with youth and adults from varying backgrounds.

• Proficiency in a language other than English. Spanish is preferred.

Don't let a "checklist" hold you back! Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups often self-select out if they don't meet every qualification. If you're reading this and feel a true passion for making an impact, we wholeheartedly encourage you to apply, as an equal combination of education and experience will be considered for all applicants. Your excitement for this work matters just as much as your resume.

*Only when substitution is permitted according to the job profile

Work Environment & Location

To fulfill the requirements of this role, candidates should have a reliable form of transportation, which is strongly preferred to ensure consistent attendance across our various sites. You must be able to travel between at least six different locations to provide essential support for our programming and community outreach initiatives. Additionally, this position requires a flexible schedule, including the ability to work two to three evenings per week and on Saturdays.

The Denver Public Library's branches are the arms to the community—each a unique reflection of the dynamic, diverse communities we serve. At DPL, we pride ourselves on showing up and providing support whenever there is a need. While you may be hired for a specific location, please know that we are hiring with the expectation that at any time, you may be required to work at any one of our branches based on operational needs. This allows our staff to experience the full breadth of Denver's communities and ensures we consistently deliver the highest level of service across our branches.

DPL employees may be redeployed to work in other locations or capacities to support core functions of the library system during branch closures or other emergencies. 

Application & Additional Info 

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Job postings will close at 12AM on the posted ending date. If interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible.

Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history and employment verification  

All Denver Public Library employees must apply through their internal profile.

Ready to learn more and see how you can contribute? Visit us at denverlibrary.org and connect with our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

LQ2397 Library Program Associate

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Library Hiring Range

$23.89 - $29.86

Target Pay

Agency

Denver Public Library

Assessment Requirement

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.