Outreach, Programming, and Marketing Manager – Bixby Library (Vergennes, VT)

Outreach, Programming, and Marketing Manager
(Bixby Library Community Engagement Manager)
Bixby Memorial Free Library
Vergennes, Vermont
Job Description
25 hours per week

Position Summary

The Bixby Library Outreach, Programming, and Marketing Manager (Community Engagement Manager) ensures the vibrancy, relevance, cohesiveness, and effectiveness of the library’s communications tools and channels. They will orchestrate high-quality adult programming and events, leveraging indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, books, digital and community resources, the Library of Things, historical collections, artwork, Vermont Collection, and more. They will identify and forge mutually-beneficial partnerships with key community, state, regional, and national organizations and volunteers to leverage library resources to better the lives of the people in our five-town rural Champlain Valley, Vermont community, especially with those who might benefit the most from library resources. And they will assist the Director in identifying, applying for, and managing grants to support the operational and strategic objectives of the Bixby.

Reporting to the Library Director, the part-time position is 25 hours per week, including some evenings and Saturdays. $19-21 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Learn more about The Bixby on our website. Please send a cover letter and resume to Catharine Hays, Library Director, at catharine.hays@bixbylibrary.org.

Essential Job Functions

Plans, develops, promotes, and implements effective adult programming, events, and exhibits while increasing and expanding the relevance and utilization of Bixby collections and services. 20%

Develops, implements, and evaluates marketing and communications strategies, content, and public relations to extend The Bixby’s reach, support, and impact. 20%

Works with the Director and staff team to foster and nurture collaborative relationships with volunteers, community leaders, and supporters to expand community engagement. 20%

Works with the Director and staff team to identify, apply for, and manage the implementation of grants. 20%

Serves volunteers, patrons, and visitors at the Circulation Desk – 15%

Performs similar or related work as required. 5%

Education

  • BA or BS required
  • A Certificate in Public Librarianship from the Vermont Department of Libraries (or intent to pursue) is desired.

Experience and Qualifications

  • Familiarity, passion for, and/or professional experience in a public library setting, and the role and importance of public libraries
  • Demonstrated results in creating engaging, successful programming and events
  • Marketing and graphic design expertise, including web, social, experiential, word-of-mouth, visual, and email
  • Facility with current productivity and creative platforms
  • Attention to detail, excellent written and verbal skills
  • Effective public speaking and facilitation skills
  • Care, compassion, and the ability to relate to others
  • Positive, can-do team player and collaborator
  • Well-organized planner and effective time management
  • Strong sense of humor, resourcefulness, and resiliency
  • Grant writing and management experience desired; or enthusiasm to learn

Physical Requirements: Work is performed under typical library and office conditions. Duties require intermittent light to moderate physical effort to carry, lift, or move lightweight materials or equipment.

About the Bixby

The Bixby Memorial Free Library is an incorporated non-profit that serves and is supported by a rural five-town community in the historic and scenic Champlain Valley of Vermont. The Bixby staff, board, and volunteers are honored to steward a wide range of resources for our community:

  • The Bixby’s building is beloved among the top historical buildings in the state of Vermont, with three stories of meeting, gathering, and exhibit spaces surrounding a mosaic-floored, columned rotunda soaring to a stained glass dome.
  • With our library of physical and digital collections at our core, the Bixby also shares our renowned local art, archive, archeological, and museum collections.
  • The Bixby three-year strategic plan prioritizes Belonging, Sustainability, and Literacy as a vital and vibrant community center for people of all ages and stages of life.

About our Community

Located in the beautiful little city of Vergennes, Vermont, three of our towns border Lake Champlain, an easy drive to the college towns of Burlington and Middlebury, and close to winter sports in the Green and Adirondack Mountains. Steeped in history, Addison County offers many outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming, kayaking, and skiing. The restaurant scene in Vergennes is lively, and our opera house regularly schedules cultural events and concerts. Learn more about Vergennes in this clip: https://youtu.be/FEzQkTCiwng

– Posted 5/19/25

Digital Video Production Workshop

Adults (ages 16 and up)

Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22, 10:00am-4:00pm

Spend a weekend with media professional Adam Walker who will immerse you in the digital video world and help you to promote your ideas with a video message. Learn about camera controls, different motion techniques, creative angles, tripods, lighting, and iMovie video editing software while creating a 1 minute public service announcement. Then, learn how to post your production onto the YouTube website to share with the world. At the end of the workshop, family and friends will be invited to see the finished products! Bring your own video camera or use one of ours. All other supplies included. Please come to class prepared with at least two ideas for your public service announcement and bring your own bag lunch. Check out www.dogooder.tv for inspiration.

$160 for non-members
$126 for members
http://www.helenday.com/education/adult-classes-sign-up#advideo

Free Library Marketing Webinar on OPAL

This free webinar is available to anyone.  The link below takes you to the entry point where you can download and the install WebConference program.  Enter a user name (anything will do) and leave the password blank.  If you can’t make the webinar live, you can catch it in the archives later.

Friday, March 6, 2009 at noon Eastern Time. Cruise to Success: Marketing for Libraries

Loreen Phillips, the Head of Information Literacy Services at McDermott Library at the University of Texas-Dallas, has written a recently published book about marketing for libraries, Cruise to Success: How to Steer Your Way Through the Murky Waters of Marketing Your Library, published in Dec. 2008 by Chandos Publishing. Phillips provides clear, step-by-step instructions and guidelines for developing a successful library marketing program. We will speak with her about how libraries of all types, but especially academic libraries, can improve their marketing strategies, activities, and results.

Host: TAP Information Services

Location: OPAL Auditorium http://www.conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rs1641902f62b4

Workshop: Marketing for Libraries

Marketing for Libraries
Thursday December 4, 2008
9:30 am – noon
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston

Participants will learn the basic steps of creating a marketing plan using information from “Crash Course in Marketing for Libraries” by Susan Webreck Alman and the Certified Public Library Administration marketing course taught by Wayne Piper. Guest speaker Elizabeth Bluemle, co-owner of the Flying Pig Book Store, will share book store tips for merchandising and marketing outside and within the building. Bring along examples of your successful library marketing experiences to share with the group.

It is highly recommended that participants purchase and review “Crash Course in Marketing for Libraries” by Susan Webreck Alman before attending the workshop. ($30, ISBN-10: 1591584302, ISBN-13: 978-1591584308) This book outlines a marketing plan in less than 58 pages, with several appendices of real-life examples.

Contact Marti Fiske for information and to register, marti@williston.lib.vt.us or 802-878-4918. This workshop is sponsored by the Public Libraries Section of the Vermont Library Association.

Public Library Section News

I’d like to take this opportunity to “formally” introduce myself as the new Public Libraries Section (PLS) president of VLA. I look forward working with public librarians who have ideas or concerns that they would like to see addressed by VLA and assisting librarians in better serving their communities. My thanks to outgoing PLS president Peter Blodget of Latham Memorial Library for inviting me to become involved.

This autumn PLS will be sponsor a professional book discussion and how-to workshop on marketing libraries. Our goal is to present a step-by-step marketing plan you can use and promotional ideas from a book store marketing consultant and other librarians. Watch for details to be announced.

Also, please send me your ideas for workshops that you would like to have at the annual VLA conference. We are especially interested in hot topics or areas of service that have been underrepresented in previous conference offerings. If you can recommend, a speaker or let me know if you are willing to speak yourself.

Please contact me with any ideas or concerns that you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.

Marti Fiske, Director
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
21 Library Lane
Williston, VT 05495
802-878-4918
marti@williston.lib.vt.us