Job Summary:
The Middle School Library Director oversees all operations and programming in the Middle School (Grades 7 and 8) Library Learning Commons and is a key student-centered community team member who works collaboratively on curriculum and programming with MS faculty and students. This role serves as an Information Specialist and Instructional partner in building and strengthening connections among information resources, curricular content, and learning outcomes. Through collaborative and engaged leadership, the Middle School Library Director ensures the middle school library program is aligned with the school’s mission, values, and goals.
Essential functions of the Middle School Library Director include but are not limited to:
Leads all library functions, including:
Develops and curates library collections of digital and print resources that reflect the community and support and enhance curriculum goals and learning objectives.
Oversees library budget and strategic purchasing decisions.
Coordinates and manage relationships with library vendors.
Manages the library website, creating web-based user friendly resource guides and research pathways, and designing and implementing information literacy curricula aligned with classroom curriculum.
Actively participates in curriculum development and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
With other Middle School professionals, collaboratively develops student-centered developmentally appropriate policies addressing academic honesty, responsible technology use and integration, generative AI guidelines, library services, collection challenges, material selection, copyright understanding, privacy protection, and digital citizenship.
Encourages the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning, and providing 24/7 access to digital information resources for the entire learning community.
Participates in faculty meetings, educational conferences, professional days, workshops, and other training seminars
Designs and develops programs that foster a school-wide culture of reading through author collaborations, student book discussions, literary celebrations, and interactive events that connect readers with books and each other, celebrating diverse voices and stories.
Maintains knowledge of research, developments, and best practices in secondary education and the library profession
Skills and Competencies:
A Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required. An ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or Library Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association (or from a master’s-level program in library and information studies accredited or recognized by the appropriate national body of another country). While a master’s degree in the field of library science and at least four years of experience teaching or working in grades 7-9 is preferred, we understand that not every great teacher’s path to teaching is linear.
About Buckingham Browne & Nichols:
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Buckingham Browne & Nichols is a day school that engages students in grades Pre-K through 12 in a rich and invigorating educational experience of the highest quality. The school excels at helping students discover their unique talents and passions and develop those strengths to the fullest. The curriculum is challenging, forward-thinking, innovative, and flexible, designed to help qualified students, from a range of backgrounds and with a wide spectrum of talents and interests, reach new levels of accomplishment. Co-curricular opportunities in athletics, the arts, community service, and other areas add important dimensions to students’ learning. Students learn on three age and developmentally-appropriate campuses. At every grade, BB&N takes full advantage of the range of opportunities its locations afford.
BB&N is committed to becoming an anti-racist institution. This commitment is integral to the mission and vision of the School. BB&N is an academically excellent, diverse, and inclusive community where students develop into lifelong learners who lead with kindness, curiosity, and integrity. We prepare students to be responsible and open-minded as they engage with the world around them. Our school is guided by the core values of:
Inquiry, in which we promote curiosity and critical thinking to inspire a lifelong love of learning. Integrity, in which we strive to be honest, conscientious, and accountable in our actions even when no one is watching.
Belonging, in which we foster a culture of respect, well-being, and connection that values all individuals and empowers them to discover and be their authentic selves, and
Kindness, in which we strengthen our communities by recognizing our common humanity and treating ourselves and others with respect and compassion.
The vibrancy and vitality we feel in the classrooms, hallways, stages, and playing fields of BB&N derive from the people who are here. At its root are the varied interests and experiences, the different backgrounds, cultures, religions, views, and perspectives that our students and faculty bring to their classes and families bring to myriad activities. Each of us adds to the richness of another’s experience. Working and playing together teaches us lifelong lessons about appreciating, knowing and understanding, and learning from each other.