Library Director

The North Shore Library is a vibrant community destination serving the four communities of Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, and River Hills, Wisconsin. Located in a new, 25,000 square foot state of the art facility in Bayside, the North Shore Library is rooted in a commitment to lifelong learning, intellectual freedom, and equitable access. The library connects people with ideas, resources, and one another. Through innovative programming, strong community partnerships, and responsive public service, the North Shore Library continues to shape an inclusive and forward-looking future for its communities. The Village of Bayside serves as the fiscal agent for the North Shore Library.

The North Shore Library is seeking an experienced, visionary, and community-focused professional to serve as its next Library Director. Reporting directly to the North Shore Library Board of Directors, the Library Director serves as the Library's chief executive officer and oversees all aspects of library operations and administration. The Director provides strategic leadership in areas including personnel management, budgeting and financial oversight, strategic planning, technology and automation, collection development, facilities management, and community relations. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future of the Library and finding ways to maximize the new library building for general use, programming, and public spaces.  The Director will ensure excellent daily service to patrons and strong partnerships throughout the community. 

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as the Library Board may deem necessary.  

Chief Executive Officer of the Library 

• Propose and implement Library policies as adopted by the Library Board 
• Administer, implement, and provide a regular report on the Library Strategic Plan 
• Administer Member Community Library Services Agreement 
• Provide a monthly activity report to the Library Board, including Director activities, Library activities, issues, and any changes in finance, operation, staff and facility 
• Provide monthly usage reports to the four Communities 
• Provide professional expertise and guidance to the Board regarding library and technology trends  
• Maintain records and documents necessary for the administration and accountability of the Library 
• Prepare the State Department of Public Instruction annual report for review and approval by the Board 
• Represent the Library at the Milwaukee County Federated Library System level, governmental meetings, professional library organizations, community organization meetings, and other strategic partnerships and relationships to fulfill the mission of the Library 
• Maintain relationships and provide reports to the Villages of Bayside, Fox Point, River Hills, and the City of Glendale, the Friends of the North Shore Library, the North Shore Library Foundation, the Milwaukee County Federated Library System, staff, Library Board, and other strategic partnerships and relationships to fulfill the mission of the Library 
• Regularly attend Village/City Trustee/Council Meetings to provide library reports and build support for library funding 
• Build strong relationships and coordinate the quarterly Community Coordination Council with Village Managers/City Administrator 
• Build strong relationships with the library’s fiscal agent and meet regularly to ensure financial and human resource policies are being met 
• Prepare Library Board meeting agendas and needed reports in cooperation with the Board President, and issue proper notice of public meetings 

• Develop procedures for implementing public use policy 
• Recommend and purchase equipment and materials 
• Work with staff to provide a variety of programs that meet the needs and interests of the community 
• Encourage the participation of area businesses in the support of library services and programming for the community 
• Assure a pleasant environment and a professional staff that is responsive to the community’s needs 

• Determine staffing requirements in accordance with adopted policies and annual budget appropriations 
• Recruit, hire, supervise, evaluate, and terminate library staff 
• Communicate library policy to the staff and develop procedures as needed 
• Counsel and advise staff on personnel and patron issues 
• Encourage staff development by promoting job-related workshops and conferences, and arranging for annual in-service training 
• Encourage staff investigation of library trends 
• Communicate staff concerns to the Board

• Oversee the selection, purchase, and weeding of library material 
• Assure that the library materials are properly cataloged, labeled, circulated, shelved, and available for ease of patron use 
• Merchandise collection to maximize patron exposure  

• Prepare and administer the Library’s annual Operating and Capital budgets in coordination with the Board and fiscal agent 
• Prepare and maintain the Library’s long-term financial plan as well as five (5) year capital and facility improvement program 
• Work with the Board, developer, architects, and staff on building projects, including raising capital donations and grants to achieve goals 
• In conjunction with the fiscal agent and the Library Board, develop and implement financial, human resource, safety, and other administrative policies and procedures to ensure the efficient and effective administration and implementation of the components of the Fiscal Agent agreement 

• Develop and implement a maintenance and improvement plan for the library’s property and facilities 
• Plan for improvement and maximum utilization of the facility 
• Maintain an inventory of all library furniture, equipment (hardware and software) 
• Develop and maintain a program for the maintenance and daily administration of Library technology, including computer network, desktop replacement program, server, and network infrastructure in compliance with cybersecurity standards 

• Represent the Library and the Board at activities of community organizations and committees 
• Work closely with the local newspaper and community organizations to promote Library services 
• Serve as the liaison with the Friends of the Library, the North Shore Library Foundation, and the Condominium HOA for the OneNorth Building C 
• Develop and implement plans and programs to solicit and secure grant funding, donations, and additional non-Member Community funding sources 

• Reports to the North Shore Library Board 
• Directly oversees the Assistant Library Director, Head of Circulation, and all other Department Head positions at the Library 
• Oversees all staff and operations through the Library Department Heads 

Qualifications 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Eligible for Wisconsin Grade 1 Certification with a Master of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited institution 
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible library, leadership and/or supervisory experience  
• Proficiency with Sierra by Innovative is a plus  

• Ability to negotiate with a variety of people with differing interests 
• Ability to relate to and communicate effectively with others 
• Ability to establish good working relationships with all levels of staff and citizenry, and provide facilitation skills in sensitive, emotional, or hostile situations 
• Ability to effectively communicate and promote both verbally and in writing. Well-developed communication skills to gain the trust and cooperation of others when it may be difficult to achieve, and the ability to communicate technical concepts and abstract ideas 
• Ability to gather, analyze, interpret, and present data in clear and concise reports, and make recommendations 
• Ability to speak before an audience with poise, voice control, and confidence, using correct English 

• Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, present values, and spatial relationships. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports 
• Reasoning Ability 
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental criteria 
• Ability to work well under pressure and handle stressful situations, to organize work and set priorities, manage time and resources to meet deadlines and changing demands within the entire operation of administrative service, and perform duties with a minimum of supervision 

• Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office software and its applications 
• Ability to effectively meet and deal with the public 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information 
• Have, or can obtain, a valid Wisconsin Driver’s License 
• Knowledge of municipal organizations and their services and operations 
• Ability to organize and prioritize many projects at one time 
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment  
• Knowledge of organizational development and customer service principles, including continuous quality improvement 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, the ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration 
• Requires the ability to operate, maneuver, and/or provide simple but continuous adjustments on equipment, machinery, and tools such as computers and other office machines, and/or materials used in performing essential functions 
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing slightly skilled movements such as typing and to operate various pieces of office equipment 
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities and differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, and textures associated with job-related objects, materials, and tasks 
• The employee must exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, occasionally involving lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, crouching, crawling, kneeling, stooping, and/or moving up to 40 pounds 

• The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet. Work is typically performed in an office
• Listens to emotional, sometimes angry, citizens and the public
• From time to time, exposure to outdoor conditions, including rain, heat, sleet, snow, and sub-zero temperatures may be necessary
• Exposed to a variety of business conditions/surroundings other than the regular working environment