Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), Boston, MA
Posted January 14, 2017
From launching an eBook program that serves public, school, and academic libraries, to opening five new libraries in the past eight months, to groundbreaking digitization projects and an exemplary Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) direct grant program, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is at the center of innovative library services. The MBLC is currently seeking a Director with the vision and the practical expertise to keep us moving forward.
As Director, you will enjoy working with a motivated nine-member, Governor-appointed Commission and an award-winning staff in a creative environment that focuses on improving and developing library services for all residents in the Commonwealth. You will bring together political leaders, library agencies, the library community and others around important library issues and will be responsible for planning, initiating, promoting and evaluating statewide library service programs. The MBLC also administers funding to provide services for residents with vision loss or physical disabilities through the Worcester Talking Book Library and the nationally-recognized Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library.
Responsibilities
A comprehensive statement of responsibilities can be found here. The most immediate include:
- Understand the full scope of the MBLC’s programs, services, and funding.
- Refine and implement the strategic plan.
- Work with the Public Library Construction Team to award provisional grants to successful applicants from $150 million capital bond bill.
- Initiate relationships with members of the Board of Library Commissioners, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Public Library, Library Network Directors, Directors of the Talking Book Libraries, Center for the Book, cabinet secretaries, legislators, and the Massachusetts library community.
About The MBLC
The first state library agency in the nation, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners was founded in 1890 on the democratic principle that all Massachusetts residents should have free, equal access to public library services. Today that mission continues through programs such as the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, direct LSTA grants to libraries, electronic resources, continuing education and resource sharing through the Massachusetts Library System and nine automated networks, trustee and friend advisory and training, and the Library for the Commonwealth at Boston Public Library.
The MBLC has an annual budget of over $25 million in state funds, over $3 million in federal funds and approximately $10-20 million in capital public library construction funds.
Key to the success of our programs are partnerships that include the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Massachusetts Department of Correction, Northeast Document Conservation Center,the Boston Bruins, Boston Children’s Museum, USS Constitution Museum, Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, Massachusetts Office for Refugees & Immigrants, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (Federal) and recently the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
About Massachusetts
CNBC ranked Massachusetts the smartest state in the country. At the MBLC, we like to think that our amazing libraries have a lot to do with that. In fact, our libraries are busier than many international tourist destinations.
When people are not visiting their library they are able to enjoy the rich history that abounds in Massachusetts. The first settlements in Massachusetts are nearly 400 years old and our streets are filled with history that helped shape our nation.
Massachusetts’ educational system continues to be among the best in the nation and the world. Massachusetts students recently scored top among world leaders on reading, science and math tests. World class educational institutions include Harvard, MIT, Wellesley, Smith, Amherst, Tufts and many more.
Massachusetts is also home to Cape Cod, surrounded on nearly all sides by beaches, and the Berkshire Mountains with great hiking and camping. The Commonwealth boasts a vibrant arts and culture community, championship major sports teams and our progressive state was the first in the nation to approve marriage equality in 2004.
Review of applicants begins on February 17, 2017. Please submit a letter of application, résumé online at : https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/joblist.ftl.
- Click on blue Job Search tab
- Scroll down to the Agency search and select Board of Library Commissioners from the dropdown list
- Click Search for Jobs
- Choose Administrator IX
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.