POSITION STATEMENT
Middle School / Upper School Librarian

Start Date: August 24, 2026

OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Early Childhood-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks a Middle School / Upper School Librarian within a dynamic community of colleagues(BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars – diversity, equity & belonging; global social impact; and wholeness & wellbeing –  serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and  expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style. Brooklyn Friends School does not discriminate based on these characteristics or any characteristic prohibited by law and provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified colleagues and applicants. If you need an accommodation related to any part of the hiring process, please send an email to hiring@brooklynfriends.org.   

This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience.

THE POSITION

Brooklyn Friends School’s libraries provide welcoming, vibrant learning environments that nurture passion for inquiry, inspire creative and critical thinking, and instruct and support students and teachers in the effective and ethical use of information and ideas. Through library instruction and access to print and digital resources, students are guided and encouraged to develop the joy of reading, research, and lifelong learning.

Primarily assigned to the Middle School, this role may also  serve as co-advisor in the Middle School, responsible for the overall support and wellbeing of a small group of students in their care. All Middle School teachers are expected to be active community members, sharing supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community.  

Primary Responsibilities Include:

This position reports to the Head of Middle School.

• Teach library classes to students in Middle School (and/or other grades as assigned)
• In collaboration with other colleagues, develop and implement a current and relevant middle-upper grades library and research curriculum, with a focus on research and information literacy skills 
• Work with colleagues to develop a print book collection that is timely, diverse, and appealing to children and teachers
• Promote the love of reading through special event programming, summer reading promotion, and library displays
• Collaborate and develop collective development policy and strategy, as well as to purchase and process new library resources and replace outdated titles from the library’s print collection
• Collaborate with library colleague(s) to choose, purchase, and promote digital resources, including e-books and audio books and library databases
• Collaborate with the library department on campus-wide initiatives to promote library services and resources
• Develop, manage, and promote library events for middle and upper grades, and partner with library colleagues on events in other learning communities.
• Work collaboratively with volunteers in the Friends of the Library Program as well as any aides or after-school library support 
• Maintain library databases for middle and upper grades, in conjunction with other library colleagues
• Communicate effectively with families with regard to all aspects of the library, classroom life and child development
• Share supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community  
• Serve as a Middle School advisor
• Perform necessary routine tasks and daily maintenance of the library
• Serves as an active community member that is highly collaborative and partners well with teachers, families, administration, and students 
• After-school hours are required for learning community, departmental, and all-school meetings. All librarians are expected to be active community members, sharing duties and general support of the school community

Qualifications and Characteristics Sought:

• Master’s in Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited university (or an equivalent combination of educational degrees and experience)
• Demonstrated experience working in a library, school, or educational setting with strong classroom management skills
• A knowledge of current library practices, books, and educational resources for students in younger grades
• Ease with technology (including online library catalog and databases, LibGuides, office computer software, projection software, use of iPads and laptops, and basic technology troubleshooting)
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt the library program and with teaching in a multi-use library facility while managing and overseeing the daily functions and classes of library space(s)
• A growth mindset, with a passion for promoting the love of libraries, reading, and joyful learning
• Ability to partner and collaborate across professional statuses, i.e., with all colleagues (i.e., teachers, leadership, families, student body, local and national independent school communities, and the neighborhood community)
• Strong communication skills (oral and written) and a high level of organization and self-initiative
• Is invested in continued professional growth
• A warm and welcoming demeanor towards children, parents, and colleagues
• Respect for the life of the child
• Collegiality, approachability, integrity, and adaptability in all interactions
• The desire and ability to nurture a library program in the Middle School and Upper School Learning Communities that is aligned with Brooklyn Friends School’s Quaker mission and values and our pillars of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, Global Social Impact, and Wholeness and Wellbeing

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• Must be able to ambulate through a classroom setting, including walking up stairs.
• Must be able to work in an office environment including prolonged periods of sitting and standing.

• Must be able to stand, bend over, twist and reach to access file cabinets, navigate instrument storage spaces, bookshelves, and office and workstation spaces.

• Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 40lbs in the case of emergency.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Union Status: Union

Salary Range: $82,418 - $94,758

This salary range represents the expected annual salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your education level, experience, and other job-related factors.

• Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. Benefits are subject to change at any time and are subject to applicable plan documents

To apply, please provide the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to Nayantara Mhatre, Head of Middle School. Along with punctuating your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, Global Social Impact, and Wholeness and Wellbeing.
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (with emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you).
4. Letters of recommendation are highly encouraged. 
5. Completed online application.

Please email the above attachments as a single PDF to hiring@brooklynfriends.org and put MS/US Librarian in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed. 

About Brooklyn Friends School

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn with a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.

Connections working at Brooklyn Friends School