The Board of Trustees of the Lee Itawamba Library System seeks a forward-focused and highly
motivated individual to serve as its next Library Director.
The Library Director administers a two-county library system in Northeast Mississippi with a
total budget of $1.6 million and 22 FTE employees. With locations in Tupelo (Lee County) and
Fulton (Itawamba County), the library system provides materials and services to all ages,
including bookmobile service to patrons of Lee County. The library system receives funding
from state, federal, and local funding agencies, as well as, from Friends of the Library groups,
private and non-profit organizations. The Library Director serves as a member of the five-person
Lee County Library Foundation Board, overseeing endowments totaling approximately $1
million.
The mission of the Lee Itawamba Library System is to inspire, encourage, and promote intellectual advancement in our community by providing access to information in a welcoming environment. We commit to: Creating young readers; Connecting patrons to the online world; Helping individuals make career choices; and Educating patrons on how to find, evaluate, and use information.
Responsibilities:
This position is responsible for managing the library system in accordance with the policies established by the administrative board of trustees. The position manages all library system activities, including budget preparation and oversight, library services and programming, personnel decisions, and library materials and technology. Plans and directs the daily operation of the library system. Develops, revises, and recommends policies to the administrative board of trustees; Supervises the library staff and sets an example of expected behavior; Informs and teaches department supervisors about library policies and procedures; Works collaboratively with the administrative board of trustees, the library staff, the branch advisory board, the Friends of the Library advisory boards, and the library systems’ stakeholders to plan for the future of the library; Serves as the library’s advocate, diplomatically presenting the library’s story to the community; Consults with elected officials, community partners, and the general public to articulate the library system’s objectives, needs, policies, and services; Prepares and presents the annual budget for review by the administrative board of trustees for submission to the county and city officials; Plans expanded or new library facilities; Studies current and emerging library methods and modifies the library system to meet both professional library standards and the communities’ needs.
This a forty hour per week position and may include evening and weekend hours. Qualifications:
Minimum Experience Level Required: 3-5 years of progressively increasing responsibility in an administrative and supervisory capacity in a public library setting. Thorough knowledge of public library operations, services, and future trends. A qualified candidate should have a master’s degree in library science from an American Library Association accredited institution.
Compensation:
To apply for this position, send cover letter and resume via email to Bonnie Gaines, Administrative Assistant at adm2@li.lib.ms.us. Deadline for submission is May 10, 2023.