Director Research Library State Library

The New York State Education Department's (NYSED) Office of Cultural Education is seeking candidates for a Director of the Research Library (M5) in the New York State Library. The New York State Library is seeking an accomplished and forward‑looking library leader to serve as Director of the Regent Joseph

E. Bowman, Jr. Research Library, one of the largest research libraries in North America. Reporting directly to the New York State Librarian and serving as a senior leader in the New York State Library, the Director leads the Research Library and serves as a key strategic partner to the State Librarian.

Established in 1818 and home to more than 20 million items, the Research Library preserves and provides access to extraordinary collections that document New York State government, history, and culture while serving the information needs of State government, scholars, researchers, and the public. The State Library is also the official repository for New York State government publications and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications.

Beyond the Research Library, the New York State Library includes the Talking Book and Braille Library and the Division of Library Development, which works with 72 library systems and a statewide network of approximately 7,000 academic, public, school, and special libraries.

The Director will lead a large, experienced, multidisciplinary staff (~ of about 50) and provide strategic and operational leadership for the Research Library's collections, services, programs, facilities, and resources. Working closely with the State Librarian, the Director will help shape broader institutional priorities, strategy, partnerships, and initiatives across the New York State Library. The Director will also set priorities for an institution with more than two centuries of history - expanding access to collections, advancing digitization and digital preservation, strengthening public and research services, modernizing spaces and operations, and ensuring that the Research Library continues to meet the evolving needs of New Yorkers.

As part of the Office of Cultural Education, the New York State Library is located in Albany's Cultural Education Center alongside the New York State Museum and New York State Archives. Together, these nationally significant institutions steward extraordinary collections that document and illuminate New York's history, government, culture, and natural heritage. This distinctive setting provides the Director with opportunities to collaborate across the Office of Cultural Education, bringing together collections, expertise, and resources to advance shared priorities and expand public access and engagement.

As New York State's capital and oldest city, Albany offers a distinctive combination of history, culture, higher education, and public service, together with the opportunities and amenities of the broader Capital Region. Home to approximately 1.1 million residents, the region is a center for government, technology, healthcare, education, and finance, with a strong network of colleges, universities, museums, libraries, and cultural institutions.

The Capital Region also offers exceptional access to the Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Catskills, and Berkshires, while its location in the heart of the Northeast places New York City, Boston, and Montreal within easy reach. With its prominent role in State