Library Director, Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, MA
Posted June 29, 2017
The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers seeks a director who will promote lifelong learning throughout our community of 27,000 residents. Key to the success of our director will be the ability to anticipate the needs of the community and encourage the staff to do likewise.
We are an economically diverse town located twenty miles north of Boston. The historic building sits in Peabody Park, overlooks picturesque Mill Pond and received a $2.1 million HVAC renovation in 2015. The library serves as a gathering place for the entire community and enjoys good relations with the business community, schools, civic groups and local government. The municipally funded $1.375 million annual budget includes staff costs for thirteen full-time employees, twenty-six part-time employees, and a collection of more than 150,000 items. Additionally, our Archival Center houses the diverse and nationally recognized collection on the Town’s history, from 17th century Salem Village (site of the Witch Trials) to present day Danvers. An active Friends of the Library group augments the operating budget, as do gifts and fundraisers. The library is a member of the North of Boston Library Exchange, an excellent and supportive library consortium that provides technology and resource sharing capabilities.
The Peabody Institute Library is valued for its warm, compassionate and professional service. The ideal candidate must be versatile enough to develop innovative approaches to raising funds, participate at library service desks, formulate and develop policy, and lead community outreach efforts.
Challenges include maximizing the use of our flexible space while bringing out the beauty of our historically significant building. The successful candidate will encourage staff to anticipate new needs and roles, while driving a culture of excellence, cooperation, accountability and continual learning.
Primary Duties:
- Responsible for the administration and operation of the library and its services to effectively meet the diverse cultural, recreational, historical and educational needs of the community.
- Conducts an ongoing planning process that assesses community needs and implements library service programs to meet those needs in the most efficient and effective way.
- Initiates and develops programs in anticipation and/or in response to community needs.
- Directs, prepares and administers the annual budgets of the Town and Trustees based on established goals and other related data.
- Collaborates with Town Manager, School Department and Trustees to develop and effectively manage budgets controlled by independently-elected bodies and organization-wide cost drivers.
- Manages staff and coordinates staff function in accordance with established philosophy of library service, empowering staff to deliver excellent customer service.
- Provides leadership in establishing effective working relationships and communications, ensuring high productivity and quality public service; encourages initiative and creativity.
- Directs the daily operations of the Library to ensure highest quality services and resource utilization and to maximize the effectiveness of budget allocation.
- Coordinates and analyzes library operations and functions to ensure accuracy, efficiency and quality.
- Establishes comprehensive public relations programs to emphasize good will and promote the library and its services to the community.
- Establishes and acts as a technology innovator and understands trends as they apply to libraries, patrons and the community.
Qualifications:
- MLS from an accredited university by the American Library Association
- Ten years of progressively responsible experience and managerial expertise, including a well-developed approach to supervision that is grounded in leadership.
- Budget development and administration, public purchasing, facility maintenance, board and municipal government relations experience required.
- Solid written and oral communication skills, and technology skills with an understanding of trends as they apply to libraries.
- MBLC certification preferred; required to obtain within one year of employment
Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Michelle Carroll, HR Assistant at mcarroll@danversma.gov
Position to remain open until filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply by 7/15.
Salary range: $75,785 – $95,734, commensurate on experience