Position Announcement - Director

Posted January 17, 2012

The Branch District Library, headquartered in Coldwater, Michigan, seeks a new Director for a six-branch library system, serving the entire county. The Director will manage a staff of 19 FTE and $1,000,000 budget to provide outstanding library service and to set the course for future growth and development. BDL serves a population of 47,000 and is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees.

MLS plus 4 years post-degree paid professional experience required. Salary range of $58,000 to $65,000 commensurate with experience, plus health, dental, vision insurance, retirement contribution, and two professional memberships.

See below for complete job description, all requirements, and application. In addition to application, submit cover letter and resume or CV with at least three professional references to Gina Horn at secretary@BranchDistrictLibrary.org by March 16, 2012, though the position will remain open until a qualified candidate is found.

Job Description - Director

The Director serves the Branch District Library Board of Trustees (BDL) and the Coldwater Public Library Board (CPL) as the executive officer, managing a six-library system serving all of Branch County. The Director supervises a professional staff of four to five, and approximately thirty part-time employees to provide our patrons with library collections and services to meet their educational, informational, and recreational needs. The Director makes policy recommendations to the Library Board and assures that approved policies are followed. The Director oversees the daily operations of the library to ensure the highest quality service and to maximize the effectiveness of budget allocations.

The Director must be organized, must communicate effectively orally and in writing, coordinate with county, city, and township governments, and promote the library throughout the county. The Board expects the Director to be flexible but meet deadlines and respond promptly to all Board requests. The Director must demonstrate sound interpersonal skills in relationships with staff, patrons, Board members, and the community.

Required Credentials

• Master's degree in Library Science/Information Science from an institution accredited by the American Library Association.
• At least four years of paid professional experience after receiving Master's degree.

Supervision Given

• All employees of Branch District Library.

Supervision Received

• The Director, an at-will employee, is the executive officer of the Board and shall be responsible for the administration of the Library and the implementation of the policies of the Branch District Library Board of Trustees.

Administrative Duties

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the Library in accordance with the BDL Plan of Service, and consult with the Library's attorney as needed to assure compliance with the Michigan District Library Establishment Act, Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act, and all other applicable laws.
• Observe operations and behaviors in public and staff areas.
• Schedule and attend monthly BDL and CPL Board meetings and committee meetings, as needed.
• Report monthly to the Boards on circulation, services, and other Library activities.
• Implement existing policies and suggest needed policy changes to the Board.
• Hire, discipline if needed, and evaluate yearly all salaried and hourly employees, retaining all personnel records. Professional staff are hired in consultation with the Personnel Committee, and branch managers are hired in consultation with the branch's city, village, or township.
• Hold regular staff meetings and training sessions.
• Coordinate activities and services systemwide.
• Maintain good communication with all local governmental representatives, including the County of Branch, City of Coldwater, and all other city, village, and township bodies.

Financial Duties

• Provide financial statements and current bills monthly for review by the Boards, assuring that bills are paid in accordance with Board policies.
• Submit to the Finance Committee by October 1 each year a preliminary budget based on past programming and future expectations.
• Monitor throughout the year the approved budget, financial reports, payroll, accounting, and bookkeeping records with the Library’s independent accounting firm.
• Monitor Library investments under Board-approved policies.
• Seek out, apply for, and administer grants, gifts, and donations.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE DUTIES

• Address building maintenance and preservation needs of the Edwin R. Clarke Building, the Coldwater headquarters of the Branch District Library, and monitor performance of contractors.
• Coordinate with owners of branch buildings any needed maintenance of those facilities.

Leadership Duties

• Develop a long-range plan of service.
• Supervise collection development and programming to meet the educational, informational, and recreational needs of patrons.
• Represent the Board and Library regularly to the media, branch advisory boards, community groups, government agencies, etc.
• Seek ways of increasing Library awareness and support from our community.

Required Skills

A successful candidate will demonstrate:

• The ability to take initiative and work independently without supervision.
• Personnel management skills.
• Oral and written communication skills, including experience as a public speaker.
• Interpersonal communication skills.
• Financial management skills.
• Customer-service orientation.

Required Knowledge and Experience

• Public library management, methods, and legal responsibilities.
• Informational and recreational library materials in all formats.
• Proficiency with computer software and applications.
• Online computer resources.
• Office equipment.
• Facility management and building operations, e.g. HVAC, plumbing, cleaning, etc.

Job Location

• The primary job location will be the main branch in Coldwater, with at least quarterly visits to each branch. The position will include limited evening or weekend hours, as required, to attend meetings or cover library operations.
• This position will include occasional out-of-town travel and possible overnight stays at conferences.

You may always fill out an application. We will keep it for 6 months and consider you for any application that opens up during that time. You may fill out the application below, or here is a printable application that you may fill out and bring in to the main branch in Coldwater.

The Branch District Library System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All personnel decisions will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, or veteran status.

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Contact Information

First and Last Name: *

Street Address: *

City: *

State/Province: *

ZIP/Postal Code: *

Country: *

Home Telephone Number: *

Secondary Number Where You Can Be Reached:

Email Address:

General Information

Are you Legally Eligible to Work in the U.S.?: *

Yes

No

Are you Under the Age of 18?: *

Yes

No

Position You're Applying For: *

Date Available to Start: *

Branches willing to work at: *

Algansee

Bronson

Coldwater

Quincy

Sherwood

Union Township

Working Conditions Desired

Check as many as are applicable. NOTE: Most positions require some evening and/or weekend hours

Full Time: *

Yes

No

Part Time: *

Yes

No

Day Shift: *

Yes

No

Evening Shift: *

Yes

No

Weekends: *

Yes

No

Have you ever applied to or been an employee of the Branch District Library?: *

Yes

No

If so, when?:

Have you ever been convicted of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation?: *

Yes

No

If so, please state the citation, date, and place where the offence occured:

Able to Perform Job?: *

Yes

No

Are you able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform and fulfill all of the essential duties and requirements of the job for which you are applying?

Do you have any relatives employed at the Branch District Library?: *

Yes

No

If so, please state their names, relationship to you, and at which branch they are employed:

Education

High School

Name and Location:

Highest Year Attended:

Graduated?:

Yes

No

Technical/Trade School

Name/Location:

Field of Study:

Diploma or Degree?:

Graduated?:

Yes

No

College/University

Name/Location:

Field of Study:

Level Completed:

Some College

Associate's Degree

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Degree or greater

Work Experience

Present/Most Recent Employer

Employer:

Address:

Supervisor's Name:

Work Performed:

Date Hired:

Date Left:

Reason for Leaving:

Starting Salary:

Ending Salary:

2nd Most Recent Employer

Employer:

Address:

Supervisor's Name:

Work Performed:

Date Hired:

Date Left:

Reason for Leaving:

Starting Salary:

Ending Salary:

3rd Most Recent Employer

Employer:

Address:

Supervisor's Name:

Work Performed:

Date Hired:

Date Left:

Reason for Leaving:

Starting Salary:

Ending Salary:

Personal References

Please Provide Three Personal References Below.

Reference 3

Name:

Address:

Telephone Number:

Relationship:

Years Acquainted:

Reference 2

Name:

Address:

Telephone Number:

Relationship:

Years Acquainted:

Reference 1

Name:

Address:

Telephone Number:

Relationship:

Years Acquainted:

Certification

By Submitting this application, I certify that the facts contained in this application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge, and understand that, if employed, falsified statements, as well as misrepresentation or omissions, on this application may result in termination.

I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for any employment-related purpose. I release the listed references and all employers, except those specifically excepted below, to provide you with any and all applicable information they may have. I hereby release these references and former employers from all liability for any information they may give to you.

Employers specifically excepted:

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