Head of Reference Services – Rochester Public Library

Salary: $91,579.00 – $134,673.00 Annually
Location: Rochester Public Library, 101 2nd Street SE, Rochester MN 55904, MN
Job Type: Regular FT
Department: Rochester Public Library
Job Number: 20180022
Closing date and time: Continuous

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Rochester Public Library (RPL) seeks a forward-thinking, agile, and collaborative Head of Reference Services to join the Administrative Team in building community focused library services. The successful candidate will possess a willingness to embrace change and learn from failure, a keen interest in collaborating and brainstorming with colleagues and community members, and the ability to think strategically and objectively about library activities.

Duties of the position include providing visionary leadership to and overseeing the daily operations of the Reference Services Division. The Reference Services Division provides exemplary customer service by maintaining up-to-date resources in a variety of formats; providing world-class programs, events, and classes, including the award-winning Rochester Reading Champions and Wellness Corner programs; managing interlibrary loan services; and building community connections.

RPL’s Strategic Plan drives our planning, budgeting, and yearly actions, and our Logic Model, outcome measurements, and customer engagement practices provide a continuous feedback loop. RPL’s Core Values are at the heart of our strategic decisions and daily activities. We strive to provide a welcoming environment for people to gather, reflect, and connect with each other and informational resources through our physical building, bookmobile, as well as outreach activities. We are committed to intellectual freedom, serving all customers fairly, and providing exceptional customer service. As a staff we champion collaboration, embrace creativity, engage in the community, and care about each other, our customers, the community, and what we do.

RPL, a department of the City of Rochester, MN, is a very busy downtown library and bookmobile (over 500,000 visits per year, over 1.8 million items checked out, and the busiest bookmobile in the state of Minnesota). RPL serves the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, and visitors from all over the world with a mission of:ads: We strengthen community and enrich lives by sparking imagination, creativity, engagement, and learning.

Nature of Work
The Head of Reference Services provides leadership for the planning, development, and administration of the Reference Services Division. The position is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Reference Services Division; selecting, training, inspiring, supervising and developing staff; coordinating and evaluating the activities of the Reference Services Division including collection development, interlibrary loan, web content development, classes for adults, Wellness Corner, Rochester Reading Champions, and serials control.

Responsibilities include participating as a member of the Library’s administrative team which is responsible for the execution of the Library’s Strategic Plan and yearly Action Plans; building and maintaining relationships within the library and greater community; the Head of Reference Services may act for the Library Director in the Director’s absence.

The Head of Reference Services Division reports to the Library Director.

Starting salary is $91,579 to $107,738 with advancement to $134,673.

Applications will be accepted until the vacancy is filled with priority consideration for applications submitted by April 1, 2018

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

*Manage the Reference Services Division
• Provide innovative leadership in the development and evaluation of library reference services.
• Provide short- and long-term planning to reach Rochester Public Library goals and action plans.
• Work cooperatively with other divisions to plan and coordinate workflow and projects.
• Assign and organize work to meet Rochester Public Library goals and action plans.
• Maintain effective communication.

*Lead and Develop Employees
• Inspire and empower staff at all levels to equip them to perform at their best.
• Supervise employees through assigning work, evaluating work performance, mutually setting goals and objectives, training, and adhering to rules, regulation and contracts as they pertain to division employees
• Participate in recruitment, hiring, and orientation processes for new division employees.
• Ensure that division employee conduct is in compliance with departmental and City policies and procedures. Collaborate with the Library Director and human resources to resolve employment issues.
• Encourage ongoing development through training and growth opportunities.

*Administration
• Act as advisor to Library Director on overall library planning and budgeting in collaboration with other Division Heads.
• Recommend and manage budget for the Reference Services Division.
• May act for the Library Director in the Director’s absence.

*Collection Development
• Build and maintain the adult non-fiction, reference, and periodical collections in all formats.
• Develop and monitor the use of written procedures for these areas.

*Public Service
• Oversee public service within the Reference Services Division.
• Provide public service at the Reference Desk and other service points, outreach events, and through classes and programs.
• Handle complaints and deal with problems as they arise.
• Meet the City’s customer service standards and the Library’s Core Values in all interactions with the public and staff.
• Utilize furnishings, equipment, and space within the Reference Division for optimum public service, attractive appearance, efficient support service, and optimum staff and public comfort.

*Public Relations & Community Engagement
• Work with the Communication Division to provide publicity for the Division.
• Build and maintain relationships in the community to further the Library’s mission.
• Give presentations.
• Represent the library at various functions.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

*Essential Job Functions

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited college or university and at least five years professional librarian experience in a public library. Library reference experience and at least three years of supervisory experience is also required.

Desirable Qualifications
Experience in administration and leadership in the areas of reference and public service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of: library procedures and administrative practices; computer applications for libraries, including online database searching and interlibrary loan; materials selection, interlibrary loan, and serials, with some knowledge of cataloging, with the ability to coordinate these functions; and principles of supervision, budgeting and human resources.

Skill in: providing customer service to people of all ages; developing strong working relationships; effectively teaching, leading and directing the work of others; Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and working under pressure of time and conflicting demands.

Ability to: set priorities and to manage one’s own time as well as to plan, supervise, and coordinate the work of others; exercise initiative while functioning as a member of the library management team; assess user needs quickly and accurately; participate in cultural, intellectual, and professional activities of the community, region, and state; express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; and work with people tactfully and courteously.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as: Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:

Continuous demands: repetitive movements of the hands, wrists, and fingers.

Frequent demands: fine dexterity; standing; sitting; lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 10 lbs of force; and handling of materials.

Occasional demands: walking; lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling between 10 to 50 lbs of force; climbing; balancing; stooping; kneeling; twisting; bending; and reaching.

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing, and touch.

Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions)

Original posting / application information