Library Director – Rock Island (IL) Public Library

Rock Island Public Library (http://rockislandlibrary.org/) Board of Trustees seeks a visionary leader as their new Director—someone capable of working strategically with community organizations and agencies to develop and enhance library services—and effectively provide and promote those services to the community.  The successful candidate will blend creativity and innovation with the heritage and legacy of the Library—the oldest public library in Illinois (1872)—and honor the Library’s commitment to provide each resident “more for your life.”  The Library serves this historic Mississippi River community of nearly 40,000 (plus an additional 10,000 served through a contract with the Milan-Blackhawk Area Library District) with three locations—the Main Library downtown and two branches (30/31 and Southwest) and has staff of 31.2 FTEs, a $2.4 million annual budget, a dedicated Friends of the Library, and an active Library Foundation.

The City of Rock Island (http://www.rigov.org/), 175 miles west of Chicago, is a major city in what is known as the Quad Cities (population:400,000) that includes Rock Island (IL), Moline (IL), East Moline (IL), Davenport (IA) and Bettendorf (IA). Rock Island is a city of neighborhoods where “residents feel at home” and blend their love of history and preservation with new development, restaurants, galleries and theatres. Outdoor recreation flourishes with parks, bike paths, river activities and festivals. The Quad Cities region is the home of two community colleges (Blackhawk College and Scott Community College), two private colleges (Augustana College and Saint Ambrose University), in addition to Western Illinois University and the Quad Cities Graduate Studies Center.  Additional information about the library and the community can be found at http://www.gossagesager.com/RockILlinks.htm.  

Responsibilities. The Director reports to a nine member Library Board—appointed by the Mayor—and working with the City Manager serves as a City Department Head.  Under the general direction of and within the policies set by the Library Board, the Director is responsible for developing and presenting an operating plan, budget, and policies necessary to provide optimal library service to community residents. The Director will also work with the Milan-Blackhawk Area District Library Board as well as the newly formed 20-member RiverShare Library Consortium. Opportunities and challenges include: strategic and facilities planning, expanding the Library’s visibility in the community; expanding collaborative partnerships; promoting the Library’s mission and goals; introducing new technology for staff and patrons; and developing alternative strategies for enhancing the library’s $2.4 million annual budget.

See the Position Profile, http://www.rigov.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2302, for additional details.

Qualifications.  A master’s degree in library science from an ALA accredited program and comprehensive experience in library administration including a minimum six years of senior‑level supervisory experience.  Essential attributes include a strong understanding and ability to articulate the public library’s vision, mission and values to the community; collaboration and consensus-building skills; facilities maintenance and space planning experience; excellent interpersonal and team-building skills; a history of responsiveness to staff, customer and community needs and concerns; and sound fiscal management skills. Complete qualifications are available at http://www.gossagesager.com/RIjobdesc.pdf. Successful experience working with a policy-making board and collaborating with elected officials is highly desirable. The successful candidate must meet a residency requirement which includes establishing residence in the City of Rock Island within one year of the hire date.

Compensation. The salary range for the position is $63,522-$98,542 (with placement within the range dependent on experience and qualifications). In addition, the Library offers an excellent benefits package.

If you are interested in career growth, we look forward to discussing this opportunity with you.  Contact Dan or Jobeth Bradbury, danbradbury@gossagesager.com or jobethbradbury@gossagesager.com  at Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates. Apply via email to either of the above and attach a meaningful cover letter and current resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format.  The position will close October 7, 2012.