State Librarian, State Library of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources seeks a visionary, energetic leader to serve as State Librarian at the State Library of North Carolina.

This position is located at the State Library of North Carolina, in the Archives and History/State Library Building at 109 East Jones Street in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

Agency and Division Information:
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ (DNCR) vision is to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational, and economic future of North Carolina. Our mission is to improve quality of life by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries, and nature throughout North Carolina. The Department works to stimulate learning, inspire creativity, preserve the state’s history, conserve the state’s natural heritage, encourage recreation and cultural tourism, and promote economic development. Our goal is to promote equity and inclusion among our employees and our programming to reflect and celebrate our state’s diverse population, culture, and history by expanding engagement with diverse individuals and communities. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

The State Library of North Carolina (SLNC) is the principal library of state government, with a mission to build the capacity of all libraries in North Carolina and to provide access to specialized collections for its residents. The State Library is comprised of three major programs: the Government and Heritage Library (GHL), the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH), and Library Development (LD).

The GHL provides services and information related to North Carolina government, history, demographics, statistics, and cultural heritage. It is the permanent repository for state agency publications and collects, preserves, and provides public access to current and historical state publications in print and digital formats. The GHL consists of two units, Content and Information Delivery (reference, access, education and outreach, and digital information management services), and Content Management and Access (cataloging, collection development, State Publications Clearinghouse, and acquisitions). The GHL is a member of NC Cardinal, a consortium of North Carolina public libraries that share an online catalog and integrated library system (ILS), and share resources with member libraries.

The North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NCLBPH) provides library programs and services to North Carolinians who cannot read standard print due to a visual or physical disability. The NCLBPH is a part of the network of regional libraries operated by the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) that performs the functions of a public library. The library circulates 500,000 volumes annually to over 12,000+ eligible patrons through special deposit collections in libraries, hospitals, rest homes, and other institutions and the direct delivery of specially designed playback equipment and books and magazines in large print, Braille, and audio formats to individuals directly free of charge via U.S. Mail. The library manages a volunteer services program, records local North Carolina publications and magazines for circulation, publishes and distributes quarterly library newsletters, and sponsors reading and other library programs and a descriptive video service with support from the Friends of the NCLBPH.

The Library Development section provides statewide programs, services and resources for the entire library community in North Carolina. Library Development works to fulfill the vision of the State Library of North Carolina in which all North Carolinians have access to exceptional services and to the information resources they need to achieve their personal, educational and professional goals by thoughtful and well researched administration of statewide projects, programs, special grant programs, library networks, and public library support.

The Role:
The State Librarian serves as the primary representative of the State Library of North Carolina and as a representative for libraries across the state. As such, this position works and collaborates with different library types across North Carolina, including public, academic (public and independent), community college, and special. The position also represents North Carolina with the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies and is an ex officio member of the NC LIVE Governance Committee and North Carolina Library Association Executive Board. The State Librarian is DNCR’s principal representative to the State Library Commission, serves as the primary liaison to public library directors and other members of the North Carolina library community and collaborates with state and local government officials and their staff. The State Librarian works closely with other Divisions within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, as well as with other state agencies, including the Department of Public Instruction, Department of Commerce, and Department of Information Technology. As such, this position regularly attends local, state, regional and national meetings to represent the State Library and North Carolina libraries. Specific duties include:

State Library Director:

• Initiating and carrying out strategic planning for the State Library, including the establishment of a long-term vision for the State Library and its programs within the context of the rapidly changing environment of digital media.
• Establishing goals and objectives for the State Library to efficiently carry out its mission, meeting its mandated functions, and effectively serving state government and the people of North Carolina.
• Contributing to the departmental strategic plan to ensure that the role of the State Library is incorporated into the overall mission of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
• Establishing, interpreting and communicating State Library policies and procedures.
• Directing the organizational development of the State Library in times of varying funding levels, ensuring a balanced and effective organizational structure with trained staff to support its mission.
• Ensuring that library programs and staffing reflect established and newly evolving library technologies, programs and procedures, and leads change to ensure that the State Library continues to provide innovative, user-driven library resources and services over time.
• Establishing and carrying out a statewide communication program to promote State Library programs, resources, and services through appearances, written reports, webinars and use of social media as needed.

Strategic Leadership for North Carolina Libraries

• Providing strategic leadership of collaborative and statewide programs for the various types of libraries within the State.
• Determining eligibility requirements for State Aid and State Library services through the rulemaking process; updates NC Administrative Code governing State Library programs as necessary.
• Serving as ex-officio member and Secretary of the State Library Commission; guiding the development of statewide library policy and public library standards through the Commission and its various committees.
• Ensuring that the State’s public libraries are directed by fully qualified professional librarians through support of the North Carolina Public Librarian Certification Commission.
• Working with local government at the county and municipal level to ensure the effective establishment and development of public libraries in North Carolina.
• Informing and advising the Secretary of Cultural Resources on library issues of statewide importance.
• Establishing partnerships and effective working relationships with national organizations (American Library Association, Institute of Museum & Library Services, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, Lyrasis); with state organizations (North Carolina Library Association, North Carolina Public Library Directors Association, Friends of North Carolina Public Libraries, NC LIVE); and with other library support organizations including public library trustees and friends groups at the local level.
• Preparing and delivering speeches and other presentations regarding issues of importance to North Carolina libraries at international, national, regional, state and local conferences and programs.
• Advocating for public library funding and the development of libraries in North Carolina in conjunction with the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Legislative Liaison.
• Advocating for federal funding for libraries through National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C.

Human Resources and Fiscal Management

• Supervising the Government and Heritage Library Director, the Library Development Director, the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Director, and the Assistant State Librarian; monitors work performance and administers performance management system according to procedures and schedules.
• Overseeing the supervision of over 60 State Library employees located in two facilities in Raleigh; leading planning and implementation of organizational development, including organizational structure; staffing level requirements; reduction in force, and other aspects of human resource management;
• Overseeing the management of fiscal resources to ensure program funds are used effectively and neither over nor under expended; leading planning for the State Library’s budget and the federal Grants to States allotment.
• Administering State Aid to Public Libraries, including the development of eligibility requirements to ensure public libraries meet basic standards and the implementation of a distribution formula that meets the mandate to equalize library services across North Carolina.
• Administering the allocation and distribution of State Aid allotments to regional, county and municipal public libraries in North Carolina; ensuring that all reporting and audit requirements are met.
• Administering the federal Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) Grants to States Program annual allotment under the auspices of the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA); ensures that North Carolina meets all eligibility requirements, determines the uses of federal library funds through the preparation of the required Five-Year Plan, and conducts the required Five-Year Evaluation.
• Overseeing statewide LSTA-funded programs carried out by the State Library as well as the administration of the State Library’s annual competitive grant program available to all eligible public, academic and school libraries in North Carolina.
• Applying for and overseeing the administration of grant funds from other organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and federal agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities. Supervising the Assistant State Librarian who serves as the State Library’s Chief Operating Officer.

Candidate Profile:
The State Librarian is a visionary leader who is dynamic, collaborative, innovative, and knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities that exist within diverse library communities and the different roles libraries play in the solutions, especially as they pertain to rural communities. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator who can provide leadership and strategic thinking for the SLNC and its three sections. He or she values and regards diversity and will represent the needs and interests of a variety of people and backgrounds for libraries and communities in North Carolina. The successful candidate will have knowledge and understanding of:

• Practices and trends in library and information science and in management and administration, issues experienced by public, academic, community college, and special libraries, issues facing urban, suburban, and rural communities within North Carolina.
• Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with local, state, and national organizations to facilitate the accomplishment of project or institutional goals. 
• The role the State Library plays in assisting and advising regional, county, municipal public library systems across the state and the local governments that support them.
• Implications and impact of decisions made by the State Library on libraries in North Carolina and their local communities.
• Promoting library services for all citizens of North Carolina at the local, state and national levels.

The successful candidate will also have skills and abilities with:

• Creating strategic and long-range plans for a library, library consortium, or related organization, planning and implementing short and long-term change initiatives in the context of rapidly evolving technologies, complex library services, or challenges such as reorganization or funding changes.
• Project planning, management, and evaluation to develop innovative, user-oriented library services.
• Extensive leadership experience working with small rural libraries to large organizations.
• Writing documents such as white papers and reports on complex issues unique to library and information science that effectively articulate issues, describe alternative actions, and provide recommendations.
• Delivering speeches and presentations that clearly and concisely present complex and technical information regarding library and information science to audiences with varying levels of technical knowledge.
• Managing a highly educated workforce of professional and technical experts, and lead initiatives that create a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
• Overseeing supervisors to ensure compliance with human resources regulations, policies and procedures.
• Directing budget development, implementation, and management; and ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Required for the position:
Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, Library Science, and/or Information Resources and Library Science from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of experience as a professional librarian, three of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree must be received from appropriately accredited (ALA) institutions or regionally accredited programs in North Carolina.

Management prefers ten years of experience as a professional librarian, with at least five in a leadership, managerial, or administrative capacity, experience working in more than one library type, and at least two years of involvement in a professional organization.

Applications may be submitted at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/northcarolina/jobs/2085552/state-librarian?keywords=state%20librarian&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs or emailed directly to kim.campbell@ncdcr.gov.

Selected candidate must complete a North Carolina state job application prior to hire. Applications must include a cover letter, three professional references, and a curriculum vitae that includes all relevant professional experience, professional organizations, committees, and other community involvement.

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