Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st-century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. BPL provides nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.

Brooklyn Public Library’s Welcome Home program provides support to justice-involved community members. This patron-centered program offers one-to-one peer navigation, referrals to library and community services, community events such as Welcome Home dinners, and more. Welcome Home is part of BPL’s Justice Initiatives, which also includes Jail and Prison Services and the TeleStory video calling program in select New York prisons.

Welcome Home is seeking applications for an 8-week paid internship position to begin May 5. This is an exciting learning opportunity for individuals with lived experience with the criminal legal system, to gain valuable work skills.  Welcome Home Interns will receive direct mentorship from Justice Initiatives staff in a variety of tasks in a supportive and collaborative environment. Interns will be exposed to work skills in the areas of customer service, event planning and office support include, but are not limited to, scheduling, record keeping, data entry with Excel, email communication, marketing, and outreach as well as competencies in interpersonal communication and peer support.

• Provide support to reentry navigators by shadowing in their one-on-one work with patrons (this may include assisting with benefits or housing applications, accompanying patrons to relevant appointments, and more)
• Provide support to Reentry Navigators and Reentry Associate with researching resources for patrons
• Provide support to coordinator of Justice Initiatives and Reentry Associate in organizing monthly support dinners
• Attend monthly support dinners, if allowed under conditions of supervision
• In conjunction with Reentry Navigators, promote the Welcome Home program in the community, such as at outreach events
• Perform data entry using Microsoft Excel and AirTable (training will be provided)
• Engage with library branch staff to promote Welcome Home
• Other duties as required

• Must have had involvement with the criminal legal system. Lived experience with incarceration is desired but not necessary
• Desire to work with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system
• Ability to be empathetic when working with individuals
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Readiness and willingness to learn
• Must be willing to travel to branches throughout Brooklyn (Metrocards will be provided)
• Spanish proficiency is a plus but not a requirement

The schedule is 14 hours per week at $19 per hour.  Welcome Home understands the scheduling constraints placed on individuals under supervision. The schedule for this position is between 9:45 am and 5:30 pm Mondays through Friday with some opportunities on weekday evenings and Saturdays. We can be flexible to meet a candidate’s scheduling constraints. We welcome a diverse pool of applicants for this role.