Job Description
Champaign Public Library - connecting our community with the power of knowledge, the world of culture and ideas, and the joy of reading. The Board of Trustees of the Champaign Public Library seeks a creative and innovative leader as its next Library Director—a leader working strategically with staff, residents and community organizations creating a shared vision for future library services and programs. The successful candidate oversees and manages the Library’s facilities which include the Main Library, the Douglass Branch and the Friendshop Bookstore. Serving as Champaign’s dynamic community hub, the Library hosts 1,675+ library and community meetings and events. Since 2011, the Library has been an annual Library Journal “four star” library. In 2014, the Library won the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award for the Library Foundation’s “Show Some Library Love” campaign. Fundraising efforts resulted in a 30% increase in gifts received and a 60% increase in dollars raised. With a $6.6 million annual budget and the support of the Friends of the Library and the Champaign Public Library Foundation, the new director and staff (69 FTEs) will analyze community needs and recommend policies, strategies, programs and services to provide new opportunities for community engagement. The Library is affiliated with the City of Champaign and the Director serves as a member of the City’s Executive Management Team. The Library is a member of the Illinois Heartland Library System, a consortium of 545 member libraries in central and southern Illinois, and maintains a separate Polaris ILS shared with the Urbana Free Library.
Additional Info & Requirements
An ALA-accredited Master’s Degree and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in library management and supervision are required; or any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements of the position. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of library practices, management techniques, collection development, and technology applications and experience working and communicating effectively in a culturally diverse community. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, advisory boards, City administration, all levels of employees, diverse community groups, and citizens is expected. Other desired characteristics include experience in successfully securing funding for programs and services and experience in planning and presenting the Library’s long-term equipment, facilities, and staffing needs. A strong commitment to public service and high quality customer service delivery is necessary. Successful experience working with a policy-making board and collaborating with elected officials is highly desirable. Complete qualifications are available in the formal Job Description.
The Community
Champaign offers an appealing combination of big city cultural and recreational amenities and a small friendly city atmosphere. Champaign serves a growing city population of 82,000 and county population of 200,000. At the intersection of education, innovation, and micro-urban living, Champaign residents are proud of the city's rich history, ethnic diversity, and strong sense of tradition; care deeply for their city; and participate actively in the issues which shape the community. Lying within the crossroads of three of the country’s largest cities—Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis—Champaign is distinctively placed in an ideal location. Champaign owes its vibrant college-town atmosphere to the presence of the University of Illinois, a top-ranking public university with a current enrollment over 40,000. Strong academic programs, including the #1 ranked Graduate School of Library and Information Science program in the nation, attract outstanding faculty from across the globe and one of the largest international student populations in the country. Additionally, Parkland College, the exceptional Unit 4 School District, and 15 private and parochial schools provide excellent educational opportunities. Champaign also gains financial stability from a diverse industrial, professional and economic base, with an emphasis on technology, government and business employment. The city’s neighborhoods offer numerous lifestyle choices including the urban character of downtown living, charming center-city neighborhoods, or new subdivisions with spacious homes. Extensive parks, bicycle-friendly roads, amateur sports, and a diverse array of artistic and cultural opportunities contribute to the outstanding quality of life in Champaign. For additional information on the Library, the City and the area see Champaign Links.
HR Info
For further information, contact Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates via email or phone. Apply via email with a meaningful cover letter and resume as Word or pdf attachments to Jobeth Bradbury. The closing date for this position is November 22.