Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Executive Director - The Institue Library, New Haven

Executive Director - The Institue Library, New Haven. Originally founded in 1826 as The Young Apprentices’ Literary Association, the Institute Library is today one of the nation’s oldest independent membership libraries. The New Haven Young Men's Institute, as the organization was named in its state charter of 1841, was long a democratic center of literary culture, adult education, and civil discourse in New Haven, offering classes, debates, and popular lectures for men and women of different social and economic backgrounds. A rare refuge in New Haven for advocates of women's suffrage and the abolition of slavery, the library attracted such notable progressive speakers as Henry Ward Beecher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Anna E. Dickinson, and Frederick Douglass. It has occupied its present home at 847 Chapel Street since 1878. The Institute Library is seeking an Executive Director to direct all operations commencing June 1, 2014. Some of the more important responsibilities of the Executive Director position are as follows: Planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating all activities of the Institute Library, which include finance, budget, and program activities. Leading the development and fund raising efforts of the Library. Promoting and developing the public identity of the Library and contributing to the culture of the community, while preserving the traditions for which the Library is recognized. Engagement with members and the community for program participation, fundraising and membership. The position requires the exercise of considerable judgment in interpreting professional library practices and procedures, and applying them to the Institute Library environment. Making recommendations and decisions concerning the adequacy of the Institute Library’s collections, services, and programs in meeting member and community needs, and engaging the Board of Directors on policy issues as appropriate. Responsibility for hiring, firing, and evaluating all staff. Plan, assign, and evaluate the work of staff members. Provide staff and volunteers with training. Oversee the planning and implementation of building maintenance, repair and renovation activities. Qualifications Desired: A master's degree in library science; at least five years of appropriate experience, two of which are in an administrative capacity; OR, any equivalent combination of experience and education that demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the work. Submit resume, salary needs and letter of interest to: institutelibraryedsearch@gmail.com; or by mail to: Institute Library, Executive Director Search, c/o 195 Church Street, 13th floor, New Haven, Connecticut 06510. For additional information about the Institute Library’s mission, the size of its staff, its budget and other pertinent information, please visit the Library’s website at: www.institutelibrary.org.