City Librarian

The Library

The San Mateo City Libraries are vibrant community destinations providing comprehensive resources and activities served by a friendly professional staff. The Main Library is the cultural City center, while the Hillsdale and Marina branches provide ease of access and additional resources for library patrons. The Library offers a diverse catalog with an annual circulation of over 800,000 physical items and 200,000 digital items.

Unique collections and programs include the Business Resource Center and the Biotechnology Learning Center. Each year, over 555,000 individuals use the Library, and more than 40,000 attend over 1,000 diverse programs.

The Library has an annual budget of $9.8M and 36 FTE positions. Additional funding comes from the San Mateo Public Library Foundation, which helps support collections, literacy programs, cultural programs, resource centers and library hours. Further assistance is provided by Friends of the Library and other volunteers.

The Position

The City Librarian provides leadership and guidance to the four divisions that collaborate to meet community needs: Children’s/Literacy Services, Adult/Teen/Information Services, Circulation/Technical Services, and Administrative Services. As a department head, the City Librarian is also responsible for ensuring the library seamlessly works together with all other departments in the City organization. The City Librarian is a key member of the City’s executive leadership team, and will help to define the City’s vision and strategy.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a high-energy library professional with the ability to represent the library in all capacities, respond to and anticipate customer service issues, fully engage in participative management and interest-based approaches, and apply effective interpersonal, cross-cultural communication skills both orally and in writing.

A creative and resourceful leader, this impressive professional will proactively introduce and support new ideas, creatively solve problems, and balance competing priorities and interests.

The ideal candidate will continue to strengthen relationships with community stakeholders, and both envision and implement the future of the Library. Previous experience with leading change efforts will be welcomed.

Minimum Qualifications

At least five years of increasingly responsible experience in professional public library administration.

Possession of a Master of Library Science degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited college or university.

Knowledge of:

Professional and modern library principles, practices, and procedures

Library services to multiple generations and diverse communities

Information technology applications in library operations

Technical processes including the acquisitions and circulation of library materials

Techniques for effectively interacting with City staff, other agencies, organizations, and the public

Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and reporting requirements

Trends in library and information science as they apply to a mid-size library

Ability to:

Provide participatory leadership, capitalizing on the creativity and resourcefulness of staff, in support of effective library service

Develop and implement improvements to systems, organization, and operations by using analytics to inform decisions

Be an active community liaison representing all members of the community and lead outreach and marketing demonstrating specific results from outcome-oriented projects and programs

Analyze, interpret, and apply information, choosing among alternative courses of action

Understand and implement laws, regulations, policies, and procedures

Work with library management team to plan and oversee daily operations and programs, including the direction, evaluation and supervision of staff

Prepare clear and concise written reports

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Take proactive approach to customer service issues

Apply best practices and innovations from outside the library sphere to the running of a mid-size library

Compensation and Benefits

Annual salary is $226,884 - $250,140. Placement within the range depends on qualifications and experience.

• CalPERS retirement: Classic members 2% @ 55 – with 3-year average final compensation. Employees pay half of the normal cost (currently 8.34%). PEPRA members 2% @ 62 – with 3-year average final compensation. Employees pay half of the normal cost (currently 7.5%).
• Deferred compensation 457 Plan: The City will contribute 0.5% of base salary on the employee’s behalf and employees may contribute to the maximum allowable under law.
• The City participates in Social Security System and the employee contribution is 6.2%. The employee portion for Medicare is 1.45%.
• CalPERS Health Plan: 10 medical plans are offered and the City will pay 100% of the Kaiser single party coverage and 90% of two-party or full-family coverage. Employees will make up any difference through payroll deductions.
• Dental Insurance: City pays for a 100/80/80 plan with a $15 deductible, $3,000 annual max per person, and a $3,500 lifetime orthodontic benefit.
• Vision benefits include an annual exam, lenses, and frames (up to $120) with an annual deductible of $25.
• Up to 25 days’ vacation based on longevity; 12 days sick leave; 11 holidays; 3 floating holidays; and 80 hours of executive leave.
• Automobile allowance $375 per month
• $50,000 life insurance and $10,000 AD&D paid for by the City. Employees have the option to purchase supplemental life insurance.
• Long Term Disability coverage of 66 2/3% of monthly base salary is paid by the City.
• Retiree Health Savings Account (RHS): The City will match a 2% employee contribution.
• Housing Assistance: Subject to limitations outlined in the Resolution No. 32 (2024), the City will assist newly appointed Department Heads with a secured loan of City funds to secure housing within the City of San Mateo.
• Flexible Benefits: The Medical Reimbursement Plan, Dependent Care Plan, and Commuter Benefits Plan are available at the employee’s option.
• Credit for years of public sector service for determining advanced vacation accrual may be considered.

For more information, please refer to the City of San Mateo Resolution No. 108 Compensation Plan.

ADA Special Requirements

Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, twist and lift. Work in a standard library environment, with irregular hours. Travel to different site locations, attend lengthy meetings, and work extended or irregular hours.

Are You Ready? Apply.

Submit an online application, résumé, and supplemental questionnaire at www.calopps.org or to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, (650) 522-7260.

Application Deadline:

Recruitment will close by Monday, March 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Application and Examination Process

All applications, résumés (required) and responses to the supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process which may consist of oral board panel interviews and a department interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of March 24, 2025.

Date Posted

February 11, 2025

Note: The City of San Mateo reserves the right, at its discretion, to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDEDIN YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION. Therefore, it is imperative that you provide an email address to which you have access, and it is recommended that you frequently check your email for notices from: sanmateo@CalOpps.org.