Library Services Manager

About the position

The City of Duluth is seeking a Library Manager to lead its team of dedicated library staff, work with the Duluth Public Library’s three supporting organizations, and inspire innovative services to meet community needs. If you are interested in joining a library team that prides itself on providing a safe, welcoming place for everyone in the community, please read on.

The Library Manager works with four Library Supervisors to oversee a team of more than 50 full-time equivalent staff at three locations. The Manager serves as the staff liaison to the Duluth Public Library Board, an advisory board composed of nine community members. In addition, the Manager has a seat on the boards for the Duluth Library Foundation and the Friends of the Duluth Public Library, and represents DPL on various regional and statewide committees.

The Duluth Public Library is a division of the City of Duluth’s Property, Parks and Libraries Department. The Library Manager reports to the Department Director.

The ideal candidate will be a librarian with a Master’s Degree in Library Science and five or more years of library experience, at least two of which are at a supervisory level. The ability to lead a large, diverse staff and foster positive relationships with community members is essential for this position. Experience in long-term planning and community engagement is a plus.

The Duluth Public Library is a bustling, well-loved cornerstone of the community. The Main Library, with its ore boat architectural design, is located in Duluth’s picturesque downtown on the shore of Lake Superior. The West Duluth Branch operates in a city-owned building that includes a senior center as well as fire and police stations. The Mount Royal Branch serves the community from a busy shopping center near the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Each location has a unique feel, but all place a strong emphasis on customer service.

Duluth, MN is a city for all ages with a growing community of young professionals. Duluth is northern Minnesota’s largest city and home to two colleges and a university. It has something for everyone, including historic neighborhoods, a vibrant cultural scene, a thriving craft district, and beautiful parks. Often cited as a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts, Duluth has miles of trails for hiking, biking, running, and skiing.

It is located close to Lake Superior’s beautiful North Shore and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but still an easy drive to Minneapolis and St. Paul.

To manage the operations of the Duluth Public Library system, as well as the development and implementation of its service programs. To provide leadership and advocacy for quality, state-of-the-art library service.

The supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines and assists incumbents with unusual situations, which do not have clear precedents. Incumbents plan and carry out the successive steps and handle problems and deviations in the work assignment in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted practices in the occupation.

Does have supervisory responsibility, typically for employees who exercise broad discretion. The supervisor provides broad guidance including mission and vision but does not provide task or duty level direction. Makes decisions and/or recommendations relative to hire, termination, pay or performance.

• Plan, direct, supervise and evaluate library operations and services at the main and branch libraries.
• Establish short- and long-range goals and objectives within budgetary constraints.
• Develop and monitor division budget.
• Maintain awareness of changing trends and technology in public library operations to aid in formulating, recommending, implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of new or revised methods and plans to increase productivity, improve performance, and reduce costs.
• Supervise the development, organization, and coordination of work plans by Library Supervisors in their respective areas.
• Review and evaluate service…