The White Plains Public Library seeks an energetic library professional with stellar administrative and management skills and the proven ability to successfully lead a dynamic and continually evolving urban public library. The current library director will retire in August 2024 after 13 years in the position.
The Library is the municipal library of the City of White Plains and serves a diverse and vibrant community of 56,000 residents, of which more than 30,000 are registered borrowers. It is a member of the Westchester Library System, a cooperative public library system serving the 38 public libraries of Westchester County.
White Plains is the County seat of Westchester and home to extensive governmental, educational, medical, legal, retail, transit, business, and corporate facilities. Situated 25 miles north of Manhattan, White Plains is a suburban city with a full accompaniment of urban amenities. Its population soars during the day. With its excellent school system, recreational facilities, premier business market, major mall and a dynamic downtown featuring outstanding restaurants, boutiques and nightlife, White Plains is thriving. It is viewed by residents and visitors alike as one of the most attractive and desirable cities in the state in which to live, work, shop and play.
The Library has a strong service profile and is known for its excellence, innovation, and customer service. The Library Director, staff, and Trustees sustain the Library’s close working relationships with the municipality, local schools, and a wide range of community partners.
The Director is responsible for the implementation of the Library’s strategic plan. This includes promoting equity, diversity and inclusion; expanding community engagement; renewing the Library’s infrastructure, both physical and technological; improving sustainability; and learning from COVID-19.
The Library Director reports to a nine-member Board of Trustees appointed by the municipality, and is a member of the White Plains Library Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation is a separate non-profit incorporated to raise funds for enhanced library services. The Library Director also serves as liaison to the Friends of the Library, a dedicated organization of volunteers who support Library initiatives with book sales and membership.
The Library Director oversees a $7.4 million municipal budget, a staff of approximately 30 full-time and 29 part-time employees, and an 82,000 sq. ft. facility. The Library has been engaged in a renovation of the building beginning with the creation of the Trove, a library for children and families, in 2005; followed by the Edge, a library for teens with a media lab; the Hub for adult services; a thriving cafe; a renovated gallery and auditorium; and abundant spaces for meeting and learning. The Library is initiating a new capital program that will refresh and reinvent the Trove.
This position requires a candidate with a passionate belief in the power and importance of the public library and a compelling vision for community library service. The successful candidate will have the ability to communicate that vision and engage stakeholders at all levels to achieve it. This candidate will have experience with planning, budgeting, analysis of usage, budget and trends; human resource management; service development, implementation, and evaluation; fiscal management; and the creative use of leading edge technology. This candidate will bring experience, skill, and commitment to the development and management of capital projects, with the ability to adapt with creativity as circumstances change.
Minimum qualifications are possession of a Master’s Degree from an American Library Association accredited masters program in library and/or information studies, and seven (7) post graduate years of professional library experience and at least three (3) years at the supervisory level. Eligibility for a NYS Public Librarian’s Professional certificate.
Salary: $182,400. Excellent benefits package.
To be considered for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume, preferred format PDF or Word by 5 pm on June 5, 2024 to:
librarydirectorsearch@whiteplainslibrary.org
Please put “Library Director, Opening” in the subject line.
The City of White Plains is an Equal Opportunity Employer.