Collection Development Manager (Closes 4/27)

Description

HOURS & SALARY: Full-time, 38 hours per week, with a pay range of $67,594 – 101,392 annually. Hiring range of $67,594 – $92,943 annually, depending on experience.

Laramie County Library System (LCLS) serves a population of just over 100,000 through the main library in Cheyenne, two branches in Burns and Pine Bluffs, a bookmobile, and homebound services. We have a staff of 64 FTE, an annual budget of $10.2 million, circulation of 350,000, and a collection of 275,000 items.

As a county entity, we are governed by a citizens’ Board of Directors appointed by the Laramie County Commissioners. We receive strong support from the community. The commissioners provide us with 2 mills, corresponding auto license fees, and 10% of the county’s share of the 1% sales tax (aka the 5th penny tax).

LCLS celebrated 135 years of continuous service in 2021 making us the oldest continuously operating county library system in the nation. Our 103,000 sq. ft. Cheyenne facility is seventeen years old. The building has many notable features including Gold LEED certification, self-check stations over three floors, automated sortation for returned items, Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, study rooms, a computer center, a recording studio, computers with specialized software, special collections, a quiet reading room complete with fireplace, and our signature coffee shop, The Library Café.

There are eight divisions and units focused on providing exceptional service to the public: Adult Services, Circulation & Branch Services, Collection & Cataloging Services, Information Technology Services, Youth & Outreach Services, Marketing & Communications, Facilities and The Library Cafe. The division and unit managers, together with the Executive Director (County Librarian), Sr. Deputy Director of Operations and Deputy Director of Public Service make up the Leadership Team.

The Collection Development Manager envisions, develops and sets the strategic direction for system-wide collection development. The manager leads the strategic direction for the curation, acquisition, management, and maintenance of the library’s diverse collections, including physical and digital formats. It is an exciting time to be part of the LCLS team as we are in the heart of strategic planning and facilities master planning, which will guide us as we look with a critical and innovative eye at the community hub we want to be. This will include in-depth assessment of existing library collections and looking forward to emerging innovations in library collections.

LCLS is part of the Wyoming state-wide library consortium, The WYLD Network and utilizes SirsiDynix ILS and Aspen Discovery layer, currently. Currently, LCLS also uses collection support tools, Library IQ, BLUECloud Analytics and OCLC. The manager oversees the collection budget and is responsible for the smooth operation of the Collection & Cataloging Services Division. Laramie.

As a member of the library leadership team this position serves as a Manager on Duty during assigned shifts, including weekend rotations, responding to incidents and overseeing library operations.

Job Summary

The Collection Development Manager leads the strategic direction for the curation, acquisition, management, and maintenance of the library’s diverse collections, including physical and digital formats. This position manages the materials budget and ensures efficient use of resources through data-driven decisions and vendor relationships. The Collection Development Manager is responsible for maintaining a high-quality, up-to-date, innovative collection that meets the community’s evolving needs and promotes library accessibility. As part of the Library Leadership Team, this position is responsible for informing, reviewing, and updating library policies relating to library collections.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement strategies for the purchase, maintenance, and assessment of library collections across all formats and locally held databases. Develop collections based on emerging trends in libraries. This includes strategically informing, developing, reviewing, and updating the library system’s policies and procedures relating to collections. Collaborates with division managers to set collection goals and policies. (30%)
• Manage the acquisitions budget, and resource allocation to ensure equitable and effective use of funds. (20%)
• Oversee cataloging, weeding, collection maintenance, and space planning efforts across library facilities, utilizing current collection support tools. Serves as the liaison for LCLS with the Wyoming State Library consortium for catalog and records upkeep, innovation and usability. (10%)
• Provide leadership, direction, and training to selectors library wide. Supervise Cataloging Services Supervisor, one Collection Librarian, and one selector. (10%)
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts, including agreements with publishers, book vendors, and media providers. (10%)
• Collect and analyze data on collection performance, user engagement, and emerging trends to guide collection development strategies. Create statistical reports for stakeholders. (10%)
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Collaborate with library leadership on long-term planning to meet strategic goals and ensure the library’s collections support community needs.
• Provide guidance on collection development policies and maintain awareness of emerging issues and technologies in the field.
• Lead or contribute to special projects, such as community events, new service offerings, and collection reviews.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment, encouraging staff development and accountability.
• Works with Marketing and Communications (MAC) to coordinate publicity directly related to library collections.
• Communicates with supervisors, employees, volunteers, other divisions/departments, vendors, service providers, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Serves as Manager on Duty during assigned shifts, including weekend rotations, responding to incidents and overseeing library operations.
• Customer service
• Provides exceptional customer service.
• Maintains patron confidentiality in compliance with Wyoming state law.
• Maintains knowledge of procedures and policies of Laramie County Library System.
• Serves as a member of the Leadership team to enforce the Library Code of Conduct, following guidelines for applying standards and consequences and issuing suspensions when needed. Enlists assistance from other employees, managers, administration, security, and law enforcement as needed. Reports violations in a timely and professional manner.
  
  

SELECTION PROCESS

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by completing a Laramie County Library System Application for Employment (available at HTTPS://lclsonline.org/work) and submitting a cover letter and resume. The application deadline is midnight on April 27, 2025. The hiring committee will contact applicants who are selected for further testing or interviews. As a courtesy, we notify all applicants via email when a position is filled. Hiring is contingent on a post-offer criminal history background check.

WORK SCHEDULE

The work schedule will predominantly be normal business hours (8am-5pm or 9am-6pm or a variation thereof) Monday through Friday but may consist of weekend, and evening hours as well. Anyone who works for the library must be willing to work anytime the library is open. This position may have the flexibility to work from home 1-2 days per week as part of their normal schedule after the training period. Laramie County Library (Cheyenne) open hours are Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All employees are scheduled to attend monthly staff meetings and in-service days in Cheyenne.

Benefits

• LCLS pays 100% of the employee contributions to the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS). The total rate is currently 18.62% of gross earnings (the employee rate is 9.25% and the employer rate is 9.37% of gross earnings). WRS is a pension plan that will pay lifetime benefits, regardless of the account balance, when age and service requirements are met.
• Employees pay into Social Security.
• LCLS also pays 100% of the premium for $25,000 term life insurance policy for the employee.
• This position receives paid time off for 13 holidays, vacation and sick leave, and an annual personal day.
• Vacation leave is accrued based on the number of hours worked, so it is not a lump sum, but is earned over time. Employees are eligible to use vacation leave after six months of employment (prior commitments negotiable). For the first four years, managers earn up to four weeks of vacation leave per year. The number of weeks of vacation leave increases with years of service.
• Medical insurance and a separate dental plan are available at the employee’s option. LCLS pays 85% of the cost for the medical and dental insurance premiums and the employee pays the remaining 15%.
• A deferred compensation plan, prepaid legal services agreement, vision coverage, and other supplemental insurance options are also available at the employee’s expense.
• Employees may join the YMCA without an initiation fee.
• Employees may join the Cheyenne-Laramie County Employees Federal Credit Union.
  
  

LCLS is an equal opportunity employer. We support and adhere to the tenets of the Americans with Disabilities Act. LCLS is an at-will employer. LCLS provides a drug-free workplace for its employees in accordance with the requirements of the US Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. Hiring is contingent on a post-offer background check.

QUESTIONS

For questions about this position, contact Beth Cook, Deputy Director of Public Service, bcook@LCLSonline.org or 307.773.7227.

Requirements

• Education & Experience: Master's degree in library science or equivalent, with a minimum of five years of experience in a public library, including substantial experience in collection development, acquisitions, and budget management.
• Skills: Strong leadership and supervisory experience, with demonstrated success in managing teams, budgets, and projects. Expertise in collection selection, cataloging, and vendor relations. Proficiency with integrated library systems (e.g., SirsiDynix ILS), acquisition, and discovery tools.
• Communication & Collaboration: Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to collaborate with staff, vendors, and community stakeholders.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead projects within budget and time constraints.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with managing large budgets and vendor contract negotiation.
• Bilingual, with Spanish proficiency preferred.
• Experience with digital collections (e.g., eBooks, eAudiobooks) and online ordering platforms.
  
  

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to: Deputy Director of Public Service
• Supervises: Cataloging Services Supervisor (CSS) and indirectly through CSS, Cataloging Services. One professional Collection Development Librarian.
• One selector.
  
  

Physical Effort And Working Environment

• Work will include physical work with handling items, frequent walking and standing, and occasional lifting items up to 40 pounds, and pushing wheeled carts over 100 pounds.
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes which permit the employee to work in a multilevel facility. Seeing, hearing, and speaking required.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a dynamic, high-pressure environment.