City Librarian

The purpose of this position is to provide strategic vision and operations management for all public library services. The position will lead and facilitate all library work, ranging from strategic planning and budgeting to patron-facing services, including programming, outreach, collection development, and reference and instructional services. The City Librarian sets the library’s fiscal priorities and direction, in alignment with the City's mission. The City Librarian fosters a collaborative approach to managing the library and its personnel, supports the professional development of library staff, and participates in fundraising, grant writing, and developing donor relations to benefit the library. 

• Prepare annual library operating and capital budgets. 
• Write and submit various reports to the City Manager and City Council, as well as regional, national, and programmatic accreditations as required. 
• Collaborate with the library board, stakeholders, and the community to ensure that library services and collections meet user needs. 
• Develop, supervise, and provide library services that include circulation, interlibrary loan, reference, information literacy activities, and community outreach. 
• Identify and recommend library policy updates for library board review and approval. 
• Select, train, supervise, develop, and evaluate library service personnel. 
• Attend meetings and workshops and seek additional opportunities for professional development. 
• Coordinate and supervise preparation of the department’s annual operating and capital budgets
• Coordinate and supervise preparation of the department’s monthly, annual, and multiyear expenditure forecasts
• Coordinate department planning activities, including preparation and implementation of departmental strategic plan
• Coordinate, review, and approve the development of all department procedures
• Administer, interpret, and implement all department procedures
• Oversee the collection development process for adults, children, reference, and local history and rare book collections
• Review and approve all department purchase orders and expenditures
• Oversee and monitor department cash handling responsibilities
• Oversee selection and training of all department employees
• Review and approve the performance evaluations of all department employees
• Directly evaluate and document the performance of immediately reporting departmental personnel
• Monitor building and equipment maintenance
• Oversee department safety and security
• Represent department interests to city management 
• Represent the department with counterpart departments and agencies in the community
• Represent the department to the general public, specific community groups, and individuals
• Represent the library on regional and state committees and serve as the authority on library issues. 
• Address staff and public comments and complaints
• In conjunction with the City’s Managing Director for External Relations, coordinate and supervise department public relations activities
• Coordinate department grant writing and auxiliary fundraising activities
• Serve as liaison to Library Advisory Board and manage board relations process
• Coordinate the preparation of narrative and statistical reports of department activities 
• Participate in appropriate professional associations on local, state, and national levels to maintain knowledge in current trends in public library operations and technology.
• Undertake continuing professional education formally and informally
• Assist with City–organization-wide task forces and committees
• Work closely with Friends of the Tyler Public Library to support and advise Friends' activities
• Other related duties as assigned.

• SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

  • Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of librarianship and public library functions
  • Knowledge of public library organizational theory and practice
  • Knowledge of current trends and developments in the library field
  • Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration as applied to a public library
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally in oral and written communications
  • Demonstrated ability to administer the activities of a public library and to supervise the work of others
  • Demonstrated ability to make decisions in an environment of limited resources and competing claims
  • Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, associates, officials of other agencies, and the general public
  • Knowledge of the federal, state, and local legal environment for libraries, including First Amendment issues
  • Ability to assess community needs relative to library-based resources and solutions
  • Ability to articulate a statement of professional values
  • Ability to analyze and solve problems relative to organizational operations
  • Ability to project an image of concern and care to staff and public
  • Demonstrated experience in effective leadership in the management of library staff; experience working with and serving diverse populations; proven success in developing and implementing creative library innovations; experience working collaboratively. 

Education and Experience: Master’s degree in library or information science accredited by the American Library Association. A minimum of five (5) years of related work experience, including directing a complex public library operation and significant managerial experience. Must have a valid Texas driver’s license with a good driving record.

It is the policy of the City to recruit, employ and to provide compensation, promotion, and other conditions of employment without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information or status as a Vietnam era or special disabled veteran, recently
separated veteran, and other protected veteran. The City affirms that employment decisions shall be made only on the basis of a person's ability
to perform the essential functions of the job. This position does require presence in the office to perform the essential functions of the job. The
City shall continually review its employment practices and personnel procedures and take positive steps to assure that equality of employment
opportunity in the City of Tyler, Texas is a fact as well as an ideal.

The City of Tyler will accept two years of relevant experience in place of each year of college required in the job description. Four years of relevant
experience will be considered in place of an Associate's Degree, and eight years of relevant experience will be considered in place of a Bachelor's
Degree. Any experience required in the Minimum qualifications is in addition to years of experience substituted for a degree.

The City of Tyler supports a policy of a drug and alcohol free workplace. All candidates are subject to pre-employment testing, which may include,
but is not limited to, Drug and Alcohol Screenings, Work Fitness Evaluation, Criminal Background Check, and Consumer Report/Credit Check.
No person under eighteen (18) years of age will be employed in any regular full-time position.