Library Director
The Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library is seeking an outgoing, community-focused, and collaborative leader with management skills and experience to be our new Library Director. This is an administrative position that requires a variety of skills and experience in project management, budgeting, library operations, and policy creation. A Master’s degree in Library Science is required. In addition to an MLS, progressively responsible experience in library operations including supervisory experience is preferred. This is a full-time, 40+ hours/week position which may require a variable schedule including evenings and weekends depending on the needs of the library. The work requires a flexible and organized approach to handle a significant amount of detail over a wide variety of topics. The person selected for this position will be working with board of trustees including the CHPL Foundation Board of Directors and the Friends of the Library Board.
The Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library is one of five independent libraries in Harrison County, WV, and serves 52,405 people located throughout the county with an annual budget of $995,000. The library emphasizes STEM instruction and provides tech assistance and experiences through in-house and outreach programs including coding, virtual reality, 3-D creation, robotics and more. The library campus consists of two buildings in downtown Clarksburg, one dating from the 1840s and another built in the 1970s. Clarksburg is located in north-central West Virginia with beautiful scenery and outdoor activities, low cost of living and within easy driving distance of Pittsburgh, Columbus and Washington, DC. CHPL’s Board of Trustees is very active and engaged and the library receives great support from its Friends and Foundation.
The incumbent will perform administrative tasks including planning, budgeting, and directing library operations to support the library’s mission and strategic goals and will work closely with library departments to evaluate and improve services.
Essential Job Functions
- Provide leadership to set and achieve patron-centered goals consistent with the library’s mission and strategic plan.
- Guide and empower library staff in the development and delivery of services that actively engage the community and exceed patron expectations.
- Learn and become proficient at all staff assignments; serve as backup to replace staff when necessary.
- Conduct staff meetings and coordinate training to ensure all library staff have knowledge and proficiency needed to perform all aspects of their work assignment.
- Model and promote behavior and standards of performance that promote a work environment that emphasizes professionalism, accountability, service, and respect for and kindness toward others.
- Exercise initiative and good judgement in completing tasks, including in situations not clearly defined by precedent or established procedures.
- Respond to patron, personnel, and facilities issues as needed.
- Attend monthly meetings of the CHPL Board of Trustees and quarterly meetings of the CHPL Foundation; preparation for meetings.
- Attend monthly meetings of the Friends of the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library and provide information about library activities; work with staff to formulate and present an annual budget request to the Friends for funding of library programs and projects.
- Attend community meetings both to represent or speak on behalf of the library and to gain knowledge of community needs; in these contexts, provide realistic and manageable goals for library participation in community projects.
- Gather the library’s monthly departmental activity and statistical reports, compile reports for the CHPL Board of Trustees.
- Analyze statistical data to inform decisions related to planning of library services and programs; identify needs for additional data/information and create strategies to obtain it.
- Plan and participate in community needs assessment to inform planning and goal setting.
- Meet regularly with departments to consult, assist with planning, assess quality of services and provide guidance to set and achieve departmental goals.
- Work with departments to obtain information related to annual and ongoing budgetary needs for both general operations and special projects.
- Annual budget planning and regular budget monitoring.
- Assist with or lead grant writing efforts to obtain funding for special projects. Be aware of both local and national grant opportunities and consult with staff to select grants that fit the library’s mission and goals.
- Manage and complete projects. For grant-funded projects complete all necessary grant reporting to the highest standards and in a timely manner.
- Represent the library at community events and in media interviews.
- Regularly communicate with staff, patrons, and board members honestly and openly and in a way that promotes understanding and collaboration through active listening and interest.
- Use and evaluate the library’s current communication channels and make recommendations for improvements.
- Take initiative in identifying and addressing needs of library patrons, staff, volunteers, and support organizations.
- Evaluate the library’s buildings for ease of use including signage and way finding; make recommendations to improve/enhance patron ability to easily navigate through buildings and across the library campus.
- Assist with updating information on the library’s website or redesigning content areas as needed.
- Prioritizing existing projects; manage selected projects.
- Continually review current library policies and assist with needed policy revisions.
- Review and revise job descriptions, interview, and make candidate selection.
- Complete continuing education annually that adds to comprehensive knowledge of library operations and current library trends and skills relevant to current work assignments or related to future library goals.
- Participate actively in local and state consortium meetings.
- Maintain membership and involvement in state and national library associations relevant to public libraries.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Library Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association
- Must pass a background check
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Understanding of library operations, departmental functions, and interdepartmental relationships
- Thorough knowledge and expertise in at least one area of library operations
- Basic knowledge of laws impacting libraries including open meeting laws
- Knowledge of current trends in public libraries
- Knowledge of grant writing basics
- Knowledge of basic budgeting and budget reporting
- Current computer and technical knowledge sufficient to provide patron instruction, trouble-shooting assistance, and staff training; ability to work with hardware and software vendors to describe needs and collaborate in product selection and problem resolution
- Skills in using a variety of software including mobile apps, communication tools, videoconferencing, and content management systems common to libraries
- Organizational skills that allow for effective storage and retrieval of large amounts of information needed to operate the library
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both within the library and externally
- Ability to lead, motivate, and provide feedback to staff even in challenging situations
- Ability to solve problems creatively by developing feasible, realistic solutions that take into account future impacts
- Ability to speak effectively and comfortably, particularly with large groups
- Ability to write effectively and persuasively and express complex concepts in ways that are easy to understand
- Ability to manage change effectively and provide leadership to assist staff with adjusting to change
- Ability to apply intellectual freedom principles to library services; ability to explain, defend, and promote those principles
Preferred Qualifications
- Three or more years of public library experience (pre- or post-MLS) with increasing responsibility
- Experience leading a department or supervisory experience
- Experience with using staff-side ILS functions, TLC LS2 preferred
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel
Salary and Benefits
Salary for this position will be based on qualifications and experience; starting salary range is $60,000- $65,000 per year. Health benefits (individual coverage) are paid 100% by the library. Full-time employees participate in the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement System.
To Apply
Send the following documents as a single attachment isinghic@aol.com.
- Cover letter that discusses qualifications and your interest in this position
- Current resume
- Contact information for three references that can speak to your experience, skills, and work performance