LibraryJobline

Job Description

Lead a dynamic and thriving public library and regional library system in Southeast Kansas. Capable and experienced librarians are invited to pursue this unusual opportunity to serve as the new director of both the Iola Public Library and the fifteen-county multitype Southeast Kansas Library System. The director will continue and enhance existing services, and partner with the community and with member libraries to explore new and innovative directions. The successful candidate will develop relationships, foster strong service oriented teams, and demonstrate effective management and interpersonal skills at the local and regional levels. A strong commitment to service and the ability to build strong relationships in forming a vision for the future are essential. Active legislative advocacy and participation in statewide library programs and organizations are required.

Responsibilities: The Director will serve as chief executive of both the Iola Public Library and the Southeast Kansas Library System (SEKLS), reporting to the Iola Public Library Board and the SEKLS System Board and a nine member executive board. In addition the Director is responsible to the State Library of Kansas Board for approval of annual budgets and service plans. The Director will develop and manage annual budgets, lead planning and implementation of programs and services to meet goals, supervise and motivate library and system staff to deliver services that meet the needs of library users and member libraries.

Qualifications: Minimum requirements include a Masters Degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited program, and a minimum of five years relevant experience, including at least two years experience in an administrative position. Essential personal qualities are leadership initiative, ability to work in a constructive and cooperative manner with a diverse range of personnel, governing bodies, colleagues and member institutions and government officials. The Library Director, through responsiveness, understanding, and energy will motivate an outstanding team of board, staff and member libraries to position the library and system at the forefront of library service. Experience with both public libraries and library cooperatives, and working with a board or boards, is preferred.

Additional Info & Requirements

This is a joint position directing both the Iola community public library and the regional multitype cooperative system with headquarters in the Iola Public library. The position is allocated to approximately 1/3 time public library director and 2/3 time regional system director. This is a very well established organization whose director is retiring after 25 years of successful service.

The Community

The Library and Regional System: The Iola Public Library is a thriving and progressive community library with a budget of $300,000 offering strong collections, excellent Internet access, a commitment to customer service and strong community partnerships. The Southeast Kansas Library System (SEKLS), with headquarters in the Iola Public Library, is one of the seven Kansas regional library systems. Serving over 100 member libraries with a budget of $1.9 million (primarily from local property taxes), SEKLS provides a broad range of innovative services to its member libraries, including financial grant programs, a shared open source library catalog with 47 participating libraries, participation in the statewide materials delivery service, and consulting and training support.

The Community and Region: Iola is a community of 5,300 providing quality rural living just 95 miles south of Kansas City, and within two hours of five metropolitan areas and the Ozark Mountain scenic region. Iola has well developed recreation, education, arts and health resources, including a community college, an excellent school system, a community theater and a fine arts center, a new regional hospital, parks and extensive trail systems. Southeast Kansas is a rural fifteen-county area with a state university, six community colleges, and a diverse range of small and medium size public libraries.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Compensation: $80,000 – 85,000 annually, dependent upon qualifications, with an attractive benefits package.            

Further Information: contact Jim Minges at Minges & Associates. Apply via email with a cover letter and resume as Word or PDF attachments to sekls.search@gmail.com . This Position will close February 21, 2021.

Minges & Associates, (913) 948-0615, sekls.search@gmail.com

HR Info

Further Information: contact Jim Minges at Minges & Associates. Apply via email with a cover letter and resume as Word or PDF attachments to sekls.search@gmail.com . This Position will close February 21, 2021.

Minges & Associates, (913) 948-0615, sekls.search@gmail.com