Library Director, Canton, CT
Posted November 3, 2014
The Town of Canton, Connecticut is accepting applications for the position of Library Director from professionals who have the skills to be an energetic and visionary leader.
The Community
The Town of Canton is a small suburban Hartford community with a Town Meeting/Board of Selectmen/Chief Administrative Officer form of government. As a beautiful traditional New England community, Canton offers a wide variety of attractive housing, good schools, a first class Public Library facility, and fine parks and recreation facilities including the Farmington River and the popular Rails to Trails.
The Facility
The Canton Public Library provides services to a community with a population of approximately 10,300 residents with additional patronage from neighboring communities in the Farmington Valley. The Library, which occupies 16,200 square feet of comfortable space within the Town’s Community Center complex, is a focal point within the community. The Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget is $587,298. A talented and dedicated staff of 25 (11.6 FTE) provides exceptional customer service. Circulation in 2014 was 160,233 from a collection of 81,968 cataloged items. The Library enjoys strong local support and includes an active “Friends of the Library” organization.
The Position
The Town of Canton is seeking a dynamic, visionary leader to fill the position of Library Director. The Town seeks a progressive, collaborative team-builder who is an experienced and committed professional with proven management and administrative skills. The successful candidate will also be knowledgeable about current and emerging trends and best practices in public library services and embrace the rapid technology changes occurring in today’s public libraries. Under the functional direction of the Chief Administrative Officer and general policy advice from the Library Board of Trustees, the Library Director performs professional and administrative duties in the planning, development, implementation and direction of public library services for the Canton Public Library. The Director will be committed to maintaining and improving the existing high level of customer service, community outreach, and programs and services as well as ensuring the future of the Library as a vibrant center for the community. Information regarding specific duties and skill sets for the position are available in the job description.
Minimum Qualifications and Benefits
Applicants for the position will have the skills and knowledge which would generally be acquired with a Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited College or University and seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience as a Librarian in a municipal or public library including five (5) years of supervisory experience. Relevant work experience must have been completed or current within the five (5) years prior to application.
Annual salary range is $76,000 to $84,500 depending on experience and qualifications.
The Town provides a very comprehensive benefits package.
The Process
Interested and qualified individuals must submit a fully completed application, cover letter and resume by 4:30PM on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 to:
Robert H. Skinner, Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Canton
4 Market Street, P.O. Box 168
Collinsville, Connecticut 06022-0168
In addition to introductory information, the cover letter shall include responses to the following three questions:
- Where do you see the future of libraries in the next ten years and what role will technology play?
- What challenges face smaller community libraries (serving populations under 12,000) and how do they differ from larger libraries?
- What would be your priorities if you were given the opportunity to be the Director of the Canton Public Library?
Each response shall be limited to 500 words or less.