Branch Manager II, Main Library, New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans, LA

The Opportunity: The mission of the New Orleans Public Library is to inspire the individual and enrich the community through access to information, resources, technology and programming that is delivered by knowledgeable and creative staff. We strive to fulfill that mission every day in one of America's most unique and historic cities and are looking for a dynamic and committed professional to join us.

The Applicant: The successful applicant for this position should be a progressive, collaborative and innovative team builder, who is an experienced, dynamic and committed professional well aware of current and emerging trends and best practices in public library services.

The Situation: About the New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) – NOPL is not just growing, it's thriving. In 2012, NOPL opened Five (5) new branch libraries (ranging in size up to over 28,000 square feet), joining eight other branch locations and a Main Library in providing service to the residents of this growing city.

NOPL enjoys the opportunity to service an extremely broad range of residents who range from individuals with limited literacy and English-language proficiency skills to those who are highly literate and technically savvy. Servicing such a diverse, vibrant, and creative population allows NOPL to offer a collection, services, and programs that no other library in the world can.

About the Main Library: The Main Library is centrally located between the Central Business District and the growing BioDistrict which is focused on the development of the biosciences industry. This area is the largest employment center in Louisiana.

The Main Library, NOPL's flagship location, provides the system's largest collection throughout three floors and continually offers a wide array of programs and services to the community. In addition to traditional library offerings such as Youth Services, Information and Reference departments, and a technology center, the Main Library features the African American Resource Center and the Louisiana Division/City Archives, which is the official repository for the records of New Orleans municipal government from 1769 to present day.

The Main Library regularly hosts several exciting programs, including most recently a reading by U.S. Poet Laureate, Natasha Trethewey, the premiere of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's most recent work, Dirt, Dust, and Trees: A Jazz Tribute To Ernest Gaines, and an evening for young women to talk with CNN's Soledad O'Brien.

About New Orleans: Consistently listed as a top U.S. travel destination, #5 in this year's Travel + Leisure rankings, New Orleans is an amazing place to visit, but the people that call New Orleans home are truly the lucky ones because they get to take full advantage of the one-of-a-kind sights, sounds, tastes, and traditions of this amazing and beautiful city.

There is always something to do in New Orleans, from the almost ridiculous number of festivals held throughout the year, to searching out the perfect bowl of gumbo, this city may be called "The Big Easy", but it's hard work having so much fun.

The word about living in New Orleans is getting out. Forbes.com ranks New Orleans the #8 in their list of Top Cities to Relocate To and parenting.com ranked New Orleans #16 in their 2011 Best Cities for Families list. The city is growing every day and is emerging as a hub for entrepreneurship. New Orleans ranked as the Top City for Young Entrepreneurs by under30ceo.com and was #1 on Forbes list of America's Biggest Brain Magnets.

Job Description: MANAGER OF MAIN LIBRARY (Branch Manager II)

The Branch Manager of Main manages all the divisions within the public service areas of Main Library. The incumbent oversees programs, services, and operations for the Main Library including African American Resource Center, Youth Services, Circulation, Information and Reference, Louisiana and City Archives, Periodicals, Arts and Recreation. The incumbent also works to manage collections, materials and spaces.

Essential Job Duties: Under the direction and guidance of the Director of Public Services, the Main Branch Manager:

• Works with Director of Public Services and Main staff to ensure Main Library is an inviting, attractive and safe space.
• Establishes or revises goals, procedures and schedules relating to Main Library public service operations.
• Manages, supervises and participates in all daily service and support operations within the Main Library.
• Oversees programs at Main Library and manages Main Library's daily programming calendar and processes program fund requests.
• Coordinates emergency evacuation, safety and security procedures for Main staff and customers.
• Works with other departments/divisions (facilities maintenance, administration, Tech Services, IT, Business Office, etc.,) to assist in delivery of services at Main Library and to maintain a safe, functional and inviting space.
• Works closely with other branch managers and library management to assure services are responsive to patron needs.
• Problem solves with Main staff to resolve customer complaints.
• Directs, supervises, motivates and evaluates Main department heads to ensure appropriate assignment of job duties to enhance maximum delivery of services.
• Participates in selecting, training, motivating and evaluating Main branch public service staff; provides or coordinates staff training within location; works with employees to correct deficiencies and implements discipline and termination procedures with guidance from Human Resource Director and Director of Public Service.
• Mentors and supervises Librarian I's, II's, and III's.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining good communication practices among Main staff.
• Oversees the management and maintenance of collections housed in the Main Library including recommendations for new materials, space allotments, merchandising, weeding, etc.
• Oversees security staff at Main library.
• Makes recommendations to the Director of Public Services for budget expenditures for Main.
• Participates on system-wide initiatives and committees as required by supervisor.
• Serves in rotation with other Branch Managers as weekend and/or evening Branch-Manager-InCharge (BMIC).
• Works with members and organizations in the New Orleans community to enhance library services and represents the Library in community organizations in the service area.
• Upholds policies established by Library Board and Administration.
• Maintains and reports statistics and prepares reports for the Main Library.
• Contributes to the planning and development of capital improvement projects; work with architects and consultants relative to branch improvements in conjunction with administrative and facilities staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of practices, procedures, techniques, material, and technology used in the provision of professional library services, including general reference, classification, cataloging, acquisition, circulation, collection development, adult and children's library services.
• Knowledge of City and state agencies that work with and serve the Library.
• Ability to select, supervise, train, assign, and review work, administer discipline, and conduct performance evaluations for assigned staff in a manner conducive to full performance and morale.
• Knowledge of library administration, divisions, interests and priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively regarding library projects, functions, resources, policies and procedures.
• Ability to make sound, independent judgments within established policies and procedures in carrying out assigned duties, prioritizing responsibilities, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to problem-solve issues related to patron complaints and library services.
• Ability to coordinate, manage, and evaluate library services, activities, policies and procedures, objectives, and resources to community groups, and library patrons.
• Ability to organize own work, setting priorities and meeting critical deadlines.
• Ability to deal with people tactfully and effectively, establish and maintain effective working relations, and provide excellent customer service to all library stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, and articulate ideas, concepts and proposals in correspondence, memoranda, reports and other documents.
• Ability to use library related professional tools and software applications (MS Office, catalog database, reference databases)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's Degree In Library Science from an ALA-accredited graduate library school

AND

• Four (4) years of experience as a professional librarian, two (2) years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity in public service at an urban public library.

Compensation: $51,144 - $84,062 (Civil Service Normally Hires at the Beginning of the Salary Range)

How To Apply:

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, resume, current salary/salary requirements, before August 30, 2013 to Linda Copeland at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information: www.neworleanspubliclibrary.org/~nopl/jobs/jobopenings.htm