Assistant Director

GENERAL SUMMARY This position works in the Abbott Library and assists the Library Director in professional, administrative, and supervisory work to plan, manage, and direct specific programs, staff, and operations of the public library. In addition, this position acts as the Director in case of absence of the Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assistant Director Duties

• Executes library policies and the directions of the Director in all areas of library operation.
• Assumes responsibility for library operations in Director's absence.
• May assist the Director in a variety of strategic areas including developing new policies, budget preparation, long-range planning, preparing statistical and narrative reports, managing Automated Library System, and developing a procedure manual, emergency procedures, and other aids for staff and volunteers.
• May assist the Director in community relations, selection and training of new staff, scheduling and evaluating staff, managing volunteer work, and following volunteer best practices.
• May assist the Director with key operational and technology projects, including managing public and staff computer updates and security.
• May assist the Director with grant writing and fundraising efforts.
• Supervises and schedules volunteers.
• Manages room reservation schedules.

Collection Development

• Provides leadership of and recommendations in areas of collection development, in conjunction with staff.
• Under the direction of the Director, manages the budgets related to collection development efforts.
• Select new materials for library collections by evaluating review journals, publishers' catalogs, and other online professional resources.
• May approve or disapprove patrons' requests for new materials by locating and evaluating reviews.
• Prepares new materials for circulation by labeling items based on the library's classification system. Places audio-visual materials into the proper cases. Edits records within the local library collection.
• Catalogs or assists in cataloging books and other materials.
• Under the direction of the Director, analyze existing collections for weaknesses and order materials to upgrade subject areas.
• Under the direction of the Director, determines whether to withdraw, replace, or rebind materials in the collection and work with library staff that assist with this process.
• Assists in the purchasing of book processing supplies.

Programming

• Plans and implements adult programming, including lectures, movie screenings, interactive programs, musical acts, and hands-on experiences.
• Manages program funds assigned to adult programming.
• Schedules and leads adult drop-in groups.
• Assists in planning and running monthly book discussion group(s).
• Assists in promoting adult programs.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend professional meetings, workshops, and classes.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned by the Director.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• Assistant Director reports to the Library Director.
• The Assistant Director shall abide by the library's mission statement, policies, and work to further the goals of the library.

GENERAL LIBRARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Help to establish and maintain a high customer service performance standard.
• Works at the staff circulation desk as needed. Greets patrons when they enter the library and perform all circulation duties, including checking in and out library materials, notifying patrons of holds, placing holds for patrons, registering new borrowers, maintaining current patron information, and collecting fines and other fees for faxing or copies. Tracks Internet usage and patron questions. Records patron attendance of all library programs.
• Provides readers' advisory, reference and technology help as needed. Assists patrons with locating library materials, assists patrons with access to Internet workstations, assists patrons with making photocopies and scans and assists in managing the meeting rooms and meeting room scheduling.
• Opens and closes the library as needed. At opening, assists with the emptying of the exterior book drop. At closing, assists with shutting down all computers, entering daily statistics, turning off all lights and locking all doors before leaving the building.
• Ensures safe conditions for staff, public, and building operation. Takes appropriate action in emergencies.
• Create or oversee creation of library displays.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include the Abbott Library's policies and procedures, the Town of Sunapee Employee Handbook, American Library Associations (ALA) code of ethics, New Hampshire RSAs, and other relevant local, state and federal laws.

COMPLEXITY

The position includes a variety of complex duties and responsibilities including:

• Ability to understand library principles, practices, and policies and how to implement them within the day-to-day function of a public library.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and consult the Director, as necessary.
• Ability to plan and lead book discussion groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with library staff, employees in other town departments, volunteers, and patrons.

SCOPE AND EFFECT

The scope of the position includes performing tasks required to maintain day-to-day operations within the library and performing tasks required for the long-term, strategic advancement of the library.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Contacts are typically made with the Library Director, other library staff, library patrons and the general public. The contacts may also include committees or groups in a non-structured to well-structured setting.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

The purpose is to provide outstanding service to all library patrons.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

• When the Director is off duty, the Assistant Director shall assume the authority and responsibility of making all decisions and of being the person in charge of other people working in the library.
• The Assistant Director may instruct other workers and volunteers of duties and jobs to be done when their assigned work is finished.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Professional Experience

• Knowledge of library principles, methods, materials, and practices of library operation.
• Knowledge of the theories, objectives, principles, and practices of public administration as applied to a public library.
• Ability to administer the activities of a public library and oversee the work of others.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, officials of other agencies and the general public.
• Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written communications.
• Ability to assess reader interest.
• Ability to offer patrons basic and intermediate help with technology devices, software, and apps.
• Ability to use audio-visual technology, office equipment and library systems.
• Ability to perform routine work well; to follow instructions and to accept responsibility.
• Ability to arrange books alphabetically and numerically.
• A neat, clean, friendly, can-do attitude with other staff and patrons, and willingness to accommodate all patrons.
• Commitment to expanding skills and knowledge through continuing education courses and workshops.
• Sufficient general knowledge of everyday library procedures to permit running the library in the Library Directors absence.

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in library science or equivalent library experience is preferred and required for Labor Grade 12.
• Prior experience working in a public library is preferred and required for Labor Grade 12.
• Prior library managerial experience is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: for communicating with others, talking is required, for receiving information and instructions from others, hearing is required; and for doing the job effectively and correctly, sight is required, specifically, close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with the assistance of reasonable accommodation to be determined on a case-by-case basis. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel or grasp; reach, grasp and torque with hands and arms; to speak, see, hear, and smell. The employee must occasionally lift, carry, and move up to 25 pounds, frequently reach above and below shoulder height, and frequently required to push and /or pull. Other physical demands include frequently twisting, bending, crawling, squatting, kneeling, crouching, climbing, and balancing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee will be expected to travel to various local, state, and regional meetings and conferences.

WORK SCHEDULE

• The Assistant Director, a full-time position will be paid according to the Town of Sunapee Labor Grade 11 or 12, depending on education and work experience.
• The total work week hours for which the Assistant Director shall be paid are determined by the Board of Trustees and administered by the Library Director.
• The library shall observe the holidays identified in the Town of Sunapee Employee Handbook.
• Vacations shall be taken by the Assistant Director only with the pre-approval of the Library Director.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

A resume and cover letter may be emailed to [email protected]. Applications received before April 25, 2025, will receive first consideration. The position will be open until it is filled.

Salary: $23.40 - $32.54 hourly rate

Website: www.town.sunapee.nh.us/library/job-opening/town-sunapee-abbott-library-assistant-director