POSITION: LIBRARY DIRECTOR
The Fairlee Public Library, located in Fairlee, VT, is a community hub: we provide a welcoming, supportive, and pleasant place for staff, volunteers and our patrons to work, connect, learn, browse and meet. The Library is overseen by a Board of five elected Trustees, and is a department within the Town of Fairlee municipal government. Fairlee Public Library has an active Friends group, loyal volunteers, an engaged board, and a supportive community.
The Library Director is responsible for the administration, supervision, and coordination of all activities and services of the library and for carrying out the policies adopted by the Library Board of Trustees. The Library Director is the library spokesperson, promoting the use of the library to all members of the community and fostering good working relationships with town government and organizations. The Library Director is hired by and responsible to the Library Board of Trustees.
QUALIFICATIONS
● ALA-accredited degree in Library and/or Information Science OR Vermont Library Certification is preferred.
●Management and supervisory experience required.
●Three to five years’ experience working in a library required.
●Successful grant-writing experience preferred
● Working knowledge of the KOHA operating system and Ingram Service for ordering materials
● The skills and enthusiasm to engage with community members of all ages with warmth and good humor
● The ability to welcome all patrons in a non-judgmental and respectful manner
● Able to multi-task and juggle several deadlines, with the chance of being interrupted.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Service to the community -- Develop and maintain services that reflect and respond to the interests and needs of the town including:
Support and implementation of library policy--Follow policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, making suggestions for changes as needed:
Fiscal responsibilities--Spend and monitor budgeted funds in a responsible manner as sanctioned by the Board of Trustees
Hiring, supervision, and training staff and volunteers
Formal Reporting
Continuing Education
Technology
Perform other duties the Board of Trustees deems necessary for the efficient operation of the library
The Fairlee Public Library, located in Fairlee, VT, is a community hub: we provide a welcoming, supportive, and pleasant place for staff, volunteers and our patrons to work, connect, learn, browse and meet. The Library is overseen by a Board of five elected Trustees, and is a department within the Town of Fairlee municipal government. Fairlee Public Library has an active Friends group, loyal volunteers, an engaged board, and a supportive community.
The Library Director is responsible for the administration, supervision, and coordination of all activities and services of the library and for carrying out the policies adopted by the Library Board of Trustees. The Library Director is the library spokesperson, promoting the use of the library to all members of the community and fostering good working relationships with town government and organizations. The Library Director is hired by and responsible to the Library Board of Trustees.
QUALIFICATIONS
● ALA-accredited degree in Library and/or Information Science OR Vermont Library Certification is preferred.
●Management and supervisory experience required.
●Three to five years’ experience working in a library required.
●Successful grant-writing experience preferred
● Working knowledge of the KOHA operating system and Ingram Service for ordering materials
● The skills and enthusiasm to engage with community members of all ages with warmth and good humor
● The ability to welcome all patrons in a non-judgmental and respectful manner
● Able to multi-task and juggle several deadlines, with the chance of being interrupted.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Service to the community -- Develop and maintain services that reflect and respond to the interests and needs of the town including:
- Participate in long range planning in conjunction with the Board of Trustees
- Collaborate with community groups, local schools, Friends of the Library
- Develop procedures for the operation of the library
- Develop a collection of diverse, thoughtfully chosen materials in various formats: print, audio-visual, electronic
- Maintain the collection, weeding when needed with input from the Trustees
- Provide reference, interlibrary loan, readers’ advisory and referral services
- Assist patrons in the use of library materials and technology
- Develop programs that appeal to a variety of ages and interests
- Develop outreach and other services that extend the library’s reach into the community
- Develop and organize displays and exhibits for both adults and children
- Promote and publicize the library’s services, activities, and resources through a monthly newsletter, listserv, social media, and the website
- Initiating communication about needed facility care and maintenance
Support and implementation of library policy--Follow policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, making suggestions for changes as needed:
- Participate in monthly Board of Trustees meetings
- Maintain the policy file, passing policy information to staff and volunteers as appropriate, answer the public’s questions about policies
- Serve as a liaison to the Friends of the Library group
- Maintain a working relationship with the town government
Fiscal responsibilities--Spend and monitor budgeted funds in a responsible manner as sanctioned by the Board of Trustees
- Collaborate with the trustees to develop an annual budget for Board of Trustee approval
- Assist the trustees to present an annual budget request to the town, answering questions about library expenses as needed
- Track expenses throughout the year in order to maintain the budget
- Review and approve invoices before forwarding them to the trustees to sign and then to the Town Treasurer Assistant for payment
- Receive and record cash donations, fees, and other income
- Maintain petty cash account and provide the Town Treasurer Assistant with monthly accounting
- Arrange for the use of the most cost-effective vendors
- Assist and promote library fund-raising activities with Trustees or Friends of the Library
Hiring, supervision, and training staff and volunteers
- Recruit staff and volunteers as needed
- Schedule and supervise staff and volunteers
- Maintain a procedure manual for staff and volunteers and up-date as needed
- Review and revise existing job descriptions and update for Trustee approval
- Train all staff and volunteers in appropriate library policy and procedures
- Evaluate staff performance at least annually
Formal Reporting
- Prepare written monthly reports for the Board of Trustees
- Collect and analyze library statistics
- Complete reports, surveys and requests for information from state and federal library agencies and associations
Continuing Education
- Stay up-to-date on professional developments through participation in professional
organizations, system meetings, workshops, continuing education opportunities, and local librarian meetings. - Affiliate with the Vermont Library Association and/or the American Library Association
- Inform staff and Board of Trustees of any workshops or meetings that might be of interest to them
Technology
- Ensure the library website and social media pages contains relevant and current information
- Work with All Access to maintain library computers with basic hardware and software
- Work with the KOHA/VOLAL group to maintain automated circulation system
- Watch the required security videos as designated by All Access
- Be familiar with the library’s streaming databases to offer patron assistance
Perform other duties the Board of Trustees deems necessary for the efficient operation of the library