High School Librarian

Title of Position: High School Librarian

Starting Date: July 1, 2027

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Salaried/Exempt

Position Overview

DePaul College Prep High School seeks a dynamic, innovative, and student-centered High School Librarian to lead our library. The Librarian plays an essential role in fostering an environment of academic rigor, intellectual curiosity, and community engagement aligned with our Vincentian values.

This position oversees all collection management, designs and delivers information literacy instruction, collaborates with faculty across academic departments, and facilitates community events including quarterly parent programming. The ideal candidate will manage and cultivate an inviting, flexible library environment where students are encouraged to collaborate, explore independent interests, develop critical thinking skills, and grow into lifelong learners.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

Collection Development & Management

• Plan, select, acquire, catalog, and maintain a diverse, balanced, and up-to-date collection of resources that supports the high school curriculum and fosters personal reading interests.
• Conduct regular collection assessments, inventory audits, and systematic weeding to ensure resources remain relevant, inclusive, accurate, and aligned with contemporary academic standards.
• Manage library software systems, circulation workflows, acquisitions budgeting, and vendor relationships.

Bibliographic Instruction, Research & Information Literacy

• Design and deliver cross-disciplinary bibliographic instruction that equips students with essential research methodologies, database navigation techniques, and proper academic citation standards.
• Actively incorporate and emphasize the digital resources available through the Chicago Public Library (CPL) system (such as specialized databases, e-book platforms, and digital archives) into the research curriculum to expand student access to information.
• Teach media and information literacy, guiding students to critically evaluate sources for credibility and bias, analyze digital content, and practice ethical digital citizenship.
• Collaborate with classroom faculty to co-design research assignments, integrate information literacy standards, and support student academic inquiry.

Learning Space & Student Engagement

• Manage and maintain the library as a warm, inclusive, and modern space designed for both collaborative group work and quiet individual study.
• Empower students to pursue their own academic and personal interests, providing guidance and access to materials that ignite curiosity.
• Foster a school-wide culture of reading, critical inquiry, and self-directed learning aimed at developing independent, reflective thinkers.
• Establish clear library expectations that promote mutual respect, productive collaboration, and a positive academic atmosphere.

Community & Parent Association Programs

• Plan, organize, and facilitate quarterly Parent Association book discussions, selecting engaging titles, preparing discussion frameworks, and building meaningful connections between families and the school community.
• Promote library initiatives, reading lists, research tools, and new additions through school communications, digital newsletters, and campus events.
• Engage with local Chicago educational and cultural institutions to bring external learning opportunities and library partnerships to campus.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Education: Master’s Degree in Library Science (MLS) or Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited institution required.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with library management systems (e.g., Follett Destiny), academic databases (JSTOR, EBSCO, Gale, etc.), learning management systems, and integration of public library digital ecosystems (Chicago Public Library).
• Instructional Expertise: Proven ability to teach research skills, media literacy, source evaluation, and information ethics effectively to high school students.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to lead group discussions with both high school students and adult parent groups.
• Mission Alignment: Commitment to supporting the Catholic, Vincentian mission, culture, and educational values of DePaul College Prep.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Standard school and office environment, requiring the ability to manage physical collections, assist students throughout the library facility, and operate educational technology.
• Occasional evening availability required to facilitate quarterly Parent Association book discussions and participate in open houses or school community functions.

About DePaul College Prep

DePaul College Prep is a co-ed, Vincentian, Catholic, college prep high school with an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. Located in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, and operating in academic partnership with DePaul University, DePaul College Prep is grounded in its mission, vision and core values of Faith, Respect, Excellence, Service and Health.

Mission Statement

DePaul College Prep, in partnership with DePaul University, is a Vincentian, Catholic community that provides a rigorous college prep education. Guided by our core values of Faith, Respect, Excellence, Service and Health, we educate young adults of Chicago to think independently, pursue intellectual excellence, practice compassion, and value all individuals as children of God.

Vision Statement

We strive to create an educated, compassionate, and just world, one student at a time.

Benefits Available:

Sick, Personal, & Vacation Days Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

403(b) Plan Life and Disability Insurance

Transit Benefit Accident, Critical Illness, & Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Reduced Summer Hours

Salary Range:

$55,000 - $65,000, depending on experience and qualifications