Head of Reference, Bangor Public Library, Bangor, ME

Posted March 10, 2020

The Bangor Public Library seeks a librarian to serve as the Head of the Reference Department. The position is responsible for leading a dynamic team of five full-time staff and two part-time staff who provide reference services while also coordinating special collections, local history, adult programming, digital literacy classes, art gallery exhibits, art collections, and part of the Library’s interlibrary loan responsibilities. The Head of Reference is a member of a team of staff in leadership roles who work with the Director to provide vision and direction to the Library.

 

The new Head of Reference will lead a team:

…that successfully applied to host the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit developed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — the only such library in New England, and one of only 50 nationwide.

…that has successfully obtained more than $20,000 in grant funding for the library in the past year — for Maine Bicentennial programming, women’s suffrage programming, voting rights programming, and groundbreaking library programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

…that promotes and coordinates more than 900 adult programs per year on topics ranging from immigration to permaculture to visual arts to local history.

…that works with other departments to serve the research and resource needs of libraries and library users across the northern half of Maine.

…that maintains and develops a central hub for the research of genealogy and local history in northern and eastern Maine.

 

The Library seeks a candidate with a Master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association (or international equivalent) and a minimum of five years of experience working directly with the public. We are looking for someone with unparalleled leadership, listening, communication, and organizational skills; someone who can delegate, direct, and support; someone who can help to represent the Bangor Public Library to the greater Bangor community and statewide library community. Candidates with supervisory experience in a library environment and candidates with a subject specialization will receive additional consideration. 

 

Application Process:

Review of applications will begin on March 20th, 2020 and will continue until the search committee chooses to close the pool to new applicants. Please review the job description on the Bangor Public Library web site before applying (https://www.bangorpubliclibrary.org/employment).  Applicants should email a cover letter and resume to Tina Hustus ([email protected]) in a PDF or RTF format, with “Head of Reference Search” in the subject line. 

 

Though start-date is negotiable, the position will be available as of April 3, 2020. As a department head, the starting salary for this position begins at $45,981 with a cap that is currently nearly $62,000. Staff typically see cost-of-living adjustments at the start of each fiscal year, which has the effect of raising that cap. Newer staff are eligible for additional pay increases until they reach the salary cap for their pay rank. The Bangor Public Library offers health insurance, 403(b) plan contributions, disability insurance, and other employee benefits.