Job Description
As the director of a small town library, you have a lot of roles. You are responsible for making sure that the parts of the library are running well, both literally - the HVAC unit - and figuratively - managing the staff and volunteers. You connect patrons with resources – be it books (collection development) or ideas (programming). You manage day to day expenses while keeping the annual budget in mind. And you do this within the context of the library’s policies, procedures, and long term goals.
As you get to know people in a small town and learn how their stories fit together, your understanding of the community deepens. We recently completed a new strategic plan, after doing a community survey. You will have a lot of flexibility and the resources to support you: wonderful staff and volunteers, an engaged Board of Trustees, a great facility and stable funding.
An effective Library Director will have the knowledge, ability, and inclination to supervise all aspects of the library and to step into any role when necessary. And they will be familiar with both the work required and the resulting joy that comes from creating community through outreach and relationship building.
Additional Info & Requirements
Minimum qualifications
An MLS from an ALA-accredited institution and three years of progressively responsible public library experience, including management and administration. Knowledge of public library services and operation and of library collections. Demonstrated experience with library facilities management, recruiting and training staff, and library budgeting and financial reporting.
Preferred qualifications
- Demonstrated experience carrying out long-term goals – e.g. elements of a strategic plan
- Successful marketing experience
- Cataloging experience
- Knowledge of QuickBooks accounting software
- Experience partnering with community organizations on shared goals
- Experience working with a Library Friends/Foundation Group on social outreach programming
The Community
Nederland, Colorado is perched in the Rocky Mountains at 8,200 feet with a community of about 3,500 people (1,500 town population, 2,000 in the surrounding area). It has a history rich in mining and music. It is home to a diverse group of people, from scientists to artists, outdoor enthusiasts to retirees. It is surrounded by National Forests and wilderness areas, so whatever your outdoor passions are, you can find them here. Yet it is close enough to “civilization” that it is possible to ski fresh tracks in the morning, have lunch in Boulder and then visit a museum or catch a symphony in Denver. The library has a stable funding base and had over 50,000 visits last year.
HR Info
Please email any questions to nederlandcommunitylibraryboard@gmail.com
Check out the formal position description (link below) for the complete required and preferred specifics.
Email a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names of three professional references to nederlandcommunitylibraryboard@gmail.com
In your letter, include an answer to the following question: “What does the word community mean to you?”