Library Director – Mobile (AL) Public Library

Are you a leader committed to connecting people with the information and materials they need and seek?  The Mobile Public Library, (http://www.mplonline.org/) Board of Trustees seeks an energetic, enthusiastic and experienced library director to continue its commitment to public library service for this historic community—a community that is On the Water - On the Move.  The Mobile Public Library, functioning as a subscription library in the 1850’s, was officially established in 1902.  Today’s library system consists of the Ben May Main Library, eight branches, a local history and genealogy division, and bookmobile service—it strives to be a customer-driven, high quality, high performance  organization—loaning 1.9 million items annually to 193,711  registered borrowers.  With a $9.1 million annual budget, an active Friends organization, and the Mobile Public Library Foundation, the new director and staff (145.5 FTEs) will have the capacity to develop new opportunities for community involvement, programs and services.

Mobile, (http://www.cityofmobile.org/), the county seat of Mobile County, is located at the junction of the Mobile River and Mobile Bay on the northern Gulf of Mexico.  The city is the only seaport in Alabama and the port has played a key role in the economic health of the city from  being a key trading center in pre-colonial times down to its current role as the 12th-largest port in the United States. Area residents enjoy income levels at or above the state average, while Mobile’s cost of living is one of the 15 lowest out of the 80 mid-size metro areas in the U.S. Renowned for having the oldest organized carnival celebrations (Mardi Gras) in the United States, Mobile’s diversity is mirrored in its abundant recreational opportunities, entertainment venues, festivals and events.  As one of the Gulf Coast’s cultural centers, Mobile has several art museums, a symphony orchestra, a professional opera, a professional ballet company, and a large concentration of historic architecture—making it a great place to live and work.  For additional information on the Library, the Mobile community and Gulf Coast region, see Mobile Links at http://www.gossagesager.com/Mobilelinks.htm.   

Responsibilities: Reporting to a seven-member Board of Trustees, the Library Director has responsibility for planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating all activities of the library system in accordance with accepted professional library practices. The Library is a “component” department (indicating that the department operates under independent governance) of the City of Mobile and serves the 369,653 residents of the City, the unincorporated areas of Mobile County and the City of Saraland. The director must have the ability to create a shared vision for library service, be dedicated to library technological innovations and efficiencies and have proven success working within a municipal or county funding structure.  Additional information, including “Examples of Work” and “Essential Requirements of the Work” can be found at  http://www.gossagesager.com/Mobilejobdesc.pdf.

Minimum qualifications include an MLS from an ALA accredited library school and at least five years of progressively responsible public library experience as a director, assistant director, or senior manager in a public library system, including the management and oversight of budgets, personnel, and major capital construction projects.  Experience working in a multi-branch system and successful experience working with and reporting to a governing board are highly desirable.

Compensation.  The position offers a hiring salary range of $82,828-103,441 (dependent upon experience and qualifications) and an attractive benefits package.

For further information, contact Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates via email or phone.  To start the application process, send a meaningful cover letter and your resume as Word or pdf attachments to danbradbury@gossagesager.com.  The position closes January 28, 2013.