Director - North Country Library System,
Watertown, NY. Take a leadership role and assist public libraries in
northern New York State to achieve new levels of innovative service and
resource sharing. The North Country Library System seeks a visionary
leader responsive to member library and community needs, and skilled in
focusing the efforts of a talented staff to be its next Director. NCLS
is a cooperative of 65 public libraries covering Jefferson, Lewis,
Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties in New York State. With a $2.2 million
budget and 20 FTE staff, NCLS is a member focused organization with a
mission to provide collaborative services that strengthen our libraries.
NCLS’s recently renovated 14,000 square-foot, solar powered
headquarters is situated on a beautiful eleven-acre wooded lot bordering
the Black River in Watertown, NY.
The North Country region offers a vibrant blend of
outdoor activities, safe, affordable communities and easy access to the
advantages of larger cities. Watertown is a growing small city that is a
few miles from Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands region. The
Adirondacks, Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario, and Syracuse are all nearby.
The area is a recreational playground with numerous opportunities for
boating, kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, fishing, skiing and much
more. The blend of recreation, cultural opportunities, education with
six colleges in the area, good schools and one of the lowest costs of
living in the state make this a great place to live.
Responsibilities. The System Director, under the
general direction of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for the
administration of System operations. The Director supervises the
department managers and works with the Board, staff and library
Directors to align System services with the member libraries’ needs and
priorities. For the complete position description, see NCLS Director Responsibilities.
Qualifications. An ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in
Library Science; the ability to obtain a NY State Public Librarian
Certificate; a minimum of eight years post MLS experience, three years
in an administrative capacity. Essential abilities and experience
include creativity, enthusiasm, superior written and oral communications
skills; political acumen; consensus-building skills; experience in
recruiting, evaluating and mentoring staff; a thorough knowledge of
library trends and best practices; an understanding of innovative
library technology; proven success working with and reporting to a
governing board.
Salary. The hiring salary range is $85,000 - $100,000
(with placement being dependent on experience and qualifications) and an
attractive benefits package.
For further information go to www.nclsweb.org.
To start the application process, submit a cover letter, resume and references to NCLSDIRECTORSEARCH@ncls.org on or before the closing date of October 13, 2017.
