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Library Director – Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (NJ)
The Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (NJ) is looking for its next innovative and forward-thinking Library Director. The Library Director reports directly to a seven-member Board of Library Commissioners. Somerset County Library System boasts 9 full-service branches and 15 member communities with a service population of 225,000. There are 191 FTE. Patrons enjoy collections of books, music, videos, and other media, online courses and live events, ESL assistance, home borrowing, gathering space, movies, free museum and cultural passes, access to community social services, passport processing, streaming access from home, and other programming.
The current Library leadership team is comprised of highly skilled professionals who consistently deliver superior library service. The new Library Director will require a nuanced approach to system strategy and stakeholder relationships to complement an already highly functional library system. The Library Director will engage with the community, cultivate partnerships, and enhance collaborative efforts to drive the vision and strategic priorities of the organization. While operating as 9 unique full-service branches in various communities, the library works as a cohesive system with an engaged and well-rounded staff supporting that aim. Key initiatives for this position include strategic planning, ensuring public support for the library by regularly communicating with local governing officials, and maintaining regular and positive communications with the SCLSNJ staff, Library Commission, and other stakeholder groups as needed.
Some upcoming system-wide projects over the next year include :
- Implementation of a new email marketing platform that integrates natively with our library customer data (ongoing)
- Reopening of two branch libraries after closures for renovation (anticipated May 2025 and January 2026)
- Participating in the creation of a new model for regional consortia library services (ongoing)
- Migration to a new integrated library system (ILS), our enterprise-level catalog and checkout system software (Q4 2025)
- Refreshing our current strategic planning framework after gathering community and customer feedback (Q1 2026)
Somerset County is at the hub of Central New Jersey. Its 21 municipalities, encompassing 305 square miles, contain a diversity of landscape, population, and development that reflects the varied lifestyles of its residents. Located in the heart of the nation’s largest metropolitan area, Somerset County contains a balance between urban and suburban neighborhoods and rural countryside. Fine residential communities, beautiful parks, excellent shopping and dining, extensive farmland, numerous historic sites, and outstanding businesses make Somerset County a desirable place to live, work, and play. Visit whysomersetnj.org to learn more.
Responsibilities : The Library Director collaborates with direct reports and proposes appropriate changes to the Library Commission, ensuring that operating procedures and policies align with state regulations and best practices. This individual will foster positive relationships with union representatives, address employee relations issues, and delegate responsibilities including human resources, customer service, collection development, programming, and facilities. The Library Director is responsible for the recruitment, development, and retention of a high-performing executive team, which includes the direct supervision of division directors with system-wide responsibilities including library services, operations, human resources, marketing, and finance. The Library Director oversees the preparation and implementation of the library’s $20,000,000 budget; and fosters a culture of innovation, accountability, and customer service excellence.
Qualifications : The minimum qualifications for this position include a master’s degree in library science (ALA accredited program preferred), five years of full-time progressively responsible management and professional librarian experience in a multi-branch system, and three to five years of experience in staff supervision and library administration. Five years of experience formulating and implementing a library budget is required. A valid driver’s license or reliable transportation is also required. The desired candidate must have or secure a New Jersey State Professional Librarian Certificate within one year of appointment and reside in the State of NJ within one year of hire.
Compensation : The hiring salary range is $167,583 – $180,000 with placement negotiable depending on experience and qualifications, and an excellent fringe benefits package.
For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates (). Apply with a meaningful cover letter and resume via our application portal () by clicking on the position followed by the apply button. This position closes on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
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Salary : $167,583 - $180,000
