Director of Library Services – Plainville Public Library

Director of Library Services – Plainville Public Library. The Town of Plainville is seeking an experienced, community-oriented, visionary leader for the full time-position of Library Director. Candidates must be well-informed and experienced with current and emerging library trends and technologies, as well as current best practices in public library services. The Town of Plainville is home to 17,820 residents, covers an area of 9.8 square miles and is located in Hartford County, midway between New Britain and Bristol, and 14 miles southwest of Hartford. The town has a diverse business base, three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Plainville has a town manager-town council form of government. The Library Director will report to a library board of six, elected by voters for 6-year terms. The Director also reports to the Town Manager. The mission of the Plainville Public Library is to provide excellent service to meet the educational, informational, and cultural needs of Plainville’s citizens through its collections and programs. The library has seen expansion in recent years and the restored 1931 section of the library features marble fireplaces, oak bookcases and pillars, and comfortable seating. The Director will manage a $700,000+ budget, supervise 7 full-time staff and 12 part-time staff in a library facility with stack space for 128,000 books, over 90,000 volumes, a growing collection of downloadable materials, 26 online research databases, a digital collection, three meeting rooms, 24 computers available for public use, and a colorful, spacious Children’s Room located on a separate floor. Primary Responsibilities: Planning and Policy Making: Participates in an ongoing planning process with the Library Board; administers broad policies established by the Library Board; prepares monthly and annual reports for the Library Board; attends all meetings of the Library Board and other relevant town meetings; assures management responsibility for effective functioning of the library; plans and proposes changes in library information technology (IT) systems. Interaction with Town Manager and Town Manager Staff: Attends weekly director’s meetings to give reports concerning the library; maintains regular communication with the Town Manager to keep the Town Manager informed of the various activities at the library; works closely with Human Resources department regarding all personnel matters including the hiring of staff. Fiscal Management: Prepares and advocates the annual budget to Town Officials, including the Town Manager, to secure funds; administers the annual budget; cooperates with other town departments to ensure effective use of resources. Personnel Management: Manages staff and coordinates staff functions; coordinates and manages suppliers, including IT services, to ensure proper functioning of library; provides leadership in establishing working relationships and encourages creativity among library staff. Program Management: Directs daily operations of library; oversees the selection, ordering, and processing of library materials including online databases and services; evaluates the existing collection and supervises the turnover of materials; evaluates the effectiveness of library services in light of community needs and interests; represents the library in cooperative projects with the Board of Education and Town Hall departments, at local, national, and statewide organizations, and at speaking engagements with the general public and special groups; keeps current with library trends and operations; attends Friends’ meetings to request program funding and to coordinate events with library schedule and staff. Library Management: Manages the physical building and coordinates with town departments on the upkeep and maintenance of the library; manages IT suppliers and ensures operation of computer network; assumes responsibility for library space and furnishings; oversees the planning and scheduling of community room use; responds to building emergencies. Public Relations: Represents the library at community meetings, group meetings, and professional association meetings; promotes the use of the library and its services to the community. Our Ideal Candidate Will Possess: A Master’s Degree in Library Science. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in professional library work, including library management and direct supervision of others. Demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as effective verbal and written communication skills. Substantial experience with computers, technology, social media, MS Office Suite, the Internet, Integrated Library Systems Software, Library Connection Inc., and other software and applications as needed. Experience with researching and pursuing grant proposals to fund new or supplementary programs and services. Considerable ability to interact with the general public, elected and appointed officials, outside organizations, and professional associations. The ability to supervise and train library staff, to coordinate and plan workloads, and to carry out directions of the Library Board. Experience supervising unionized staff. Salary: The salary for this position will range between $67,500 and $76,000, depending on qualifications, education, and experience. The closing date for applications is August 3, 2015. The anticipated start date of the position is November 2, 2015. To Download and Print an Employment Application, click here. Applications should be mailed to Town of Plainville, Human Resources, One Central Square, Plainville, CT 06062. EOE M-F.