The Port Jervis Free Library
(NY) Board of Trustees is seeking a collaborative leader and expert
communicator to lead the library into the future as its next Director.
Port Jervis Free Library offers local history, community, reference, and
children’s rooms, and is the home of the Minisink Valley Historical
Society. Supported by a Friends of the Library group that operates the
Book Cellar, the library is a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library
System, which maximizes sharing, creativity, and innovation. Port Jervis
Free Library serves a diverse community of approximately 20,000 school
district residents in Western Orange County, NY. The next Director will
report to a five-member Board of Trustees, support and supervise a team
of 11.31 full-time equivalents, manage a $1.4 million budget, and
oversee a 13,000 square foot historic location in downtown Port Jervis.
The city of Port Jervis has a population of approximately 8,700
residents who enjoy the various public programming, technology resources
(The Hub), and, most recently, non-traditional lending collections,
facilitated by an engaged and dedicated staff.
The
library’s next Director will be a skilled manager and communicator,
capable of building consensus between stakeholder groups and clearly
executing priorities outlined in the organization’s strategic plan
(linked below). This leader will be a hands-on professional who will
bolster existing community partnerships in addition to discovering new
ways the library can deliver outreach of its services and collections
into the community. Key initiatives of this role are increasing
community engagement, fostering a positive organizational culture, and
updating or drafting policies and procedures that reflect the
overarching goals of the organization to best serve its users. The
incoming director will ideally possess deep comfort with technology,
change management skills, and the ability to identify creative revenue
streams through grants and partnerships.
Port
Jervis is a historic "river city" and is known as the gateway to the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Offering activities such as
kayaking and boating, or fishing, the city's unique geography provides
immediate access to the water. The landscape is defined by the Port
Jervis Watershed Trails, an extensive network of over 50 miles of hiking
and mountain biking trails that offer breathtaking vistas of the
tri-state area. It is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts
seeking year-round adventure. Beyond its natural beauty, Port Jervis is
highly accessible to major metropolitan hubs such as New York City (70
miles) via the NJ Transit Port Jervis line, which connects commuters and
day-trippers to Penn Station and Hoboken. Regional connectivity to
other cities such as Philadelphia and Scranton provides opportunities
for additional cultural activities as well.
Responsibilities: The
ideal candidate will provide strategic leadership & foster positive
board relations; execute the library’s multi-year Strategic Plan,
ensuring it aligns with modern community needs. The Director acts as the
primary liaison to the Board of Trustees, providing data-driven
recommendations and transparent reporting to facilitate informed
policymaking. A visible leader and spokesperson, the Director actively
builds and maintains community partnerships. The Director provides
fiscal oversight with the board to develop and maintain a sustainable
budget, proactively identify and pursue grant opportunities, and
alternative funding streams to support special projects and capital
needs. The Director oversees the maintenance and preservation of library
facilities, plans and manages facility upgrades or renovations,
ensuring modern functionality while respecting the architectural
integrity of the physical assets. The Director leads the staff through
organizational transitions, fostering a culture of adaptability and
innovation; cultivates a collaborative, high-performing work environment
through effective mentorship and professional development. The Director
will apply expert-level human resources skills tailored to civil
service environments, including performance evaluation, labor relations,
and adherence to regulatory standards.
Qualifications: The
minimum qualifications for this role are a Master's Degree in Library
or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution, and a minimum
of five (5) years of decision-making experience in public, academic, or
business library. Possession of an NYS public librarian’s professional
certificate or eligibility for certification at time of application, and
possession of certificate within three months of appointment is
required. Applicants must be eligible to be appointed from the civil
service list for Library Director I, held by the City of Port Jervis
Civil Service Commission. Experience working with a Board of Trustees,
library management and supervisory experience, financial administration,
and grant writing skills are desired.
Compensation: The hiring salary range is $85,000 – $110,000 (with placement negotiable, dependent on experience and qualifications) and an excellent benefits package.
Interested candidates should submit their resume through the application portal by selecting the position and then the “Apply” button. For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates. This position closes on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Visit our website to access the latest version of this announcement in full, along with all related links.