The Library Board of Trustees is seeking an energetic, creative and visionary library director to lead a team of staff and volunteers and to manage the day-to-day operation of the Burnham Memorial Library.

To be considered for this position, applicants must have: an ALA-accredited MLS and a minimum of five years of professional library work, with at least one year in a public library and at least one year in a supervisory position. Candidates must have demonstrated competence in both administration and supervision.

The Successful Candidate will have skills and experience in, and commitment to: current trends in library science, including existing and emerging library technologies; collection development and management; planning and organization; budgeting and financial management; directing library operations; and establishing and maintaining effective working, professional, and community relationships.

Other qualities essential for this position include:
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Professional and intellectual curiosity;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Vision to conceive and deliver library services and programs in new ways.

Desirable experience: Grants/Fundraising; Capital Campaigns; Library Construction
The Library Director will:

1. Work with an elected Board of Trustees to articulate and advance the Library’s mission;
2. Manage a budget in excess of $550,000 and a staff of nine permanent employees;
3. Work with library staff to provide a variety of innovative programs that are responsive to community needs;
4. Manage and grow a collection of materials in a variety of formats, including electronic resources;
5. Maintain excellent and relevant public services to the community;
6. Be accountable for the goals set in the current library long-range plan;
7. Take a leadership role in planning for the library’s future;
8. Work with Library Trustees and Town Officials to create an annual library budget, maintain the current library facility, and plan for future library expansion and/or building projects;
9. Work with an active Friends of the Library organization that participates in fundraising and library advocacy.

The Burnham Memorial Library is located in Colchester, Vermont, a town of 17,000 situated along Lake Champlain’s beautiful Malletts Bay. Burnham Library, a municipal public library, has a budget of $567,884 (FY09) and a collection of approximately 54,000 items. In FY07 the library circulated 121,000 items and sponsored 334 programs. The Library has a very active Youth Services department that provides year-round programs to children and families and provides outreach service to local child care and senior citizen sites. The Library participates in the Homecard Program, a reciprocal borrowing project with other public libraries in Chittenden County. The library facility is a lovely brick building located on the historic Town Green. An addition to the original 1940 building was completed in 1989; Library Trustees are beginning the first steps of planning for a building expansion or construction of a new library. Colchester is home to Saint Michael’s College, Vermont Public Radio and Television, and the Center for Emerging Technologies. Burlington, the state’s largest city, is 5 miles south of Colchester and the region offers a wide variety of cultural and recreational opportunities. For more information about the library, visit the Burnham Library website at: www.burnham.lib.vt.us

To apply:
Send a resume, cover letter, and (required) Town of Colchester application form to:

Ms. Sherry LaBarge
Human Resources Manager
Town of Colchester
P.O. Box 55
Colchester, VT 05446

For more information, contact Ms. LaBarge at: 802-264-5504 or slabarge@town.colchester.vt.us

Salary Minimum: $51,800
Status: Full-time (40 hours)
Position available: July 2008
Deadline for applications: August 1, 2008

For a complete job ad, the official job description, and a copy of the Town application form, go to http://town.colchester.vt.us/jobs/employ.htm

Posted on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 12:14 pm in the Jobs category.