Library Director, Abbot Library, Marblehead, MA [CLOSED]
Posted January 25, 2021
The Opportunity:
Our 17th century town deserves a 21st century library, and our new Abbot Library Director will be the face and the voice of our mission. This 360-degree leadership opportunity in Marblehead, Massachusetts will tap talents, acumen, flexibility, and resourcefulness. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Board of Trustees and Town agencies, you will create new avenues of collaboration and outreach. You’ll champion a welcoming vibe in our library, empower your staff, demonstrate the library’s value to the community, and bring innovative best practices to library management.
We are an involved and vested community, proud of our history and historical town treasures. In Marblehead, you will find encouraging support as the library continues to strengthen its role as the “go-to” center for lifelong learning, exploration, and connection. With your guidance and direction, “Let’s meet at the library” will become the phrase of the day, in every neighborhood and at every street corner.
The wheels are in motion. Our proposed $9.5 million renovation will transform the library’s space with, for example, robust technology, learning nooks and gathering places, a maker space, and improved access to community program and meeting resources. These planned renovations will require a carefully orchestrated move to an interim location, so bring your organizational savvy and be ready to roll up your sleeves.
Sounds interesting? We encourage accomplished “librarian managers,” those who lead by example, to consider this opportunity. What we know for sure? No two days will ever be the same, you will drive progress — and you will make a difference.
Primary Areas of Responsibility and Contribution:
The Library Director is responsible for implementing and promoting the vision of the Abbot Public Library and for providing leadership, knowledge, and judgment across these areas: 1) Planning and vision setting, 2) Leadership and governance, 3) Library culture and values, 4) Community involvement, 5) Staff management, 6) Fiscal planning and management, and 7) Resource and facilities management. Please see the full job description on the Town of Marblehead’s website.
Attributes and Qualifications:
- An inspiring sense of excitement and spirit that fuels the approach to library management and organizational leadership
- Passionate commitment to community and unwavering belief in the role that public libraries play in our communities
- Hands-on knowledge of the principles and practices of 21st-century library management
- Proactive, problem-solving mindset; a collaborative, flexible style; and a drive to innovate
- Demonstrated skill in communication, team-building, organization, financial management, and resource and collection development
- Appreciation for and understanding of the union’s role in library staffing
- Knowledge of compliance and state statutes relating to the operation of a municipal library
- At least three years of relevant experience, including administrative, management, and supervisory roles
- MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited college or university
- Certification by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, within an agreed-to timeline with the Library Board of Trustees
Salary Range:
$85,000 – $100,000, commensurate with qualifications
How to Apply:
This position has been filled.
Our Community:
Welcome to Marblehead, Massachusetts — a coastal community just 18 miles north of Boston, rich in history, arts and culture, and glorious waterfront vistas.
Settled in 1629 and claiming the title of “Birthplace of the American Navy,’” our close-knit community traces its roots back to the American Revolution when America’s first naval ship, the Hannah, was owned and manned by Marbleheaders. In 1814 we once again put our mark on history when the USS Constitution sought shelter from British warships in Marblehead’s harbor. “Old Ironsides” has since returned to Marblehead Harbor, in 1931 and again in 1997, to say “thank you.”
Today, Marblehead is proud of its centuries-old landmarks, active fishing ports, quaint twisting streets, and spectacular harbor. Residents and visitors alike enjoy our beaches, parks, conservation areas, and walking trails. From annual art festivals, holiday fireworks, and international sailing competitions to Glover’s Regiment summer encampment at Fort Sewall — we have much to celebrate. Grounded in our history, we appreciate every day, and we are confidently charting our future.
Our Library:
With an operating budget of $1.2 million and staff of 23, Abbot Public Library serves our diverse community of 20,500 residents and is, indeed, a Marblehead town treasure.
The library’s history dates back to 1877, when money from the Abbot Fund (donated by Benjamin Abbot, one of the Town’s original benefactors) was approved “to establish and maintain a free public library and reading room.” The Reading Room in Marblehead’s town offices opened that December, and by April, 1878, the first books were issued from a collection of 3,320 volumes.
Popular since the day it opened, the library steadily grew in its reach and size. Tenacious library advocates, seeking additional space, set up a temporary branch library in the 1930s, and they didn’t stop there. In 1954, construction of our current, centrally located library was completed, and library users were welcomed to new space, under one roof.
A new and exciting milestone now awaits Abbot Library — and our new Library Director — as we embark on a major renovation campaign to fund facility improvements and space transformation. With this initiative, we continue the library’s legacy and rally our community’s engagement and enthusiasm. As we ready for our next chapter, we drive forward our proud tradition of literacy and learning, connection, and historical preservation.