Library Director
Apply NowCompany: The City of Falls Church Virginia
Location: Falls Church, VA 22042
Description:
Library Director
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Supporting Community. Inspiring Discovery. Promoting Literacy.
$157,599 - $177,000
(on site)
The City of Falls Church is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking individual to become the new Library Director of the esteemed Mary Riley Styles Public Library.
The Community: The City of Falls Church, located less than seven miles from the heart of Washington D.C., is a unique and historic city. Besides featuring quick access to renowned museums and art galleries in the Capital City, almost every neighborhood is a treasure of its own with a variety of restaurants and shops that reflect the city's great cultural diversity. The City is one of the most densely populated and fastest growing localities in Virginia. Situated between Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Falls Church takes pride in its independent spirit, small town character, environmental stewardship, and outstanding schools. The city is an independent municipality, separate from the surrounding Arlington and Fairfax Counties. With a population of roughly 16,000, the city is known for its urban village community, quality customer service, nationally ranked school system, environmental activism, and community activities. The community was established around The Falls Church (Episcopal) that was founded in 1734. The City of Falls Church became a township in 1875, and an independent city in 1948.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library Mary Riley Styles Public Library has been named a "star library" in Library Journal's recently released Index of Public Library Service 2022. This is the 15th year in which Library Journal has scored U.S. public libraries on the LJ Index of Public Library Service and awarded Star Library ratings. MRSPL has received a star designation 14 of the 15 years.
The Library was founded in 1899 and has operated out of different locations throughout Falls Church until the late 1950s. The Town of Falls Church first officially began supporting the library in 1928 and assumed full responsibility for the library in 1940. After becoming an independent City in 1948, the City of Falls Church established a formal library board in 1954 and ultimately funded construction of a new library building on land donated by the children of Mary Riley Styles, the longtime chairwoman of the Library Committee of the Woman's Club who passed away in 1946.
The new building opened in 1958 and has since been renovated and expanded three times: 1969, 1993, and most recently 2021. Previously known as the Falls Church Public Library, it was re-named the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in 1977. Today, the library continues to serve the City of Falls Church's roughly 16,000 residents, as well as library users throughout the Metro DC area. In addition to the newly redesigned building, the library has also in the last year deployed a new website and an updated five-year strategic plan.
The Library Director reports to the Deputy City Manager of Internal Operations with monthly reports to the Library Board of Trustees, a seven-member citizen body appointed by the City Council. This position oversees supervision of all library employees and works with a Library Management Team, composed of five library department supervisors. The Library Director is a member of the City's Leadership Team and serves as an ex officio member of the Library Foundation.
As the Library Director, you will:
Our library is proud to have received numerous awards for excellence in service, community engagement, and innovative programming. Join us in continuing this legacy of excellence!
Apply today to join us in making a difference. Transform lives, inspire minds, and help us write the next chapter of the Mary Riley Stiles Public Library's story.
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, with occasional evening meetings and occasional weekends. The Library Director is a member of the City Emergency Response Team.
Salary & Benefits: $157,599 - $177,000, depending on qualifications. Includes comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, pension plan, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending account, college, life and long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, credit union membership, free parking, and more. See www.fallschuchva.gov/benefits for additional information.
Application and Selection Process: Interested candidates are encouraged to apply no later than July 26, 2024. Please upload a resume and cover letter with the online application. Virtual and/or on-site interviews in the City of Falls Church will be offered by a panel of stakeholders in the weeks following the position closing date to those candidates named as finalists. References and background checks will be conducted after receiving the candidate's permission.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Falls Church does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.
Reasonable Accommodation: During the selection process, applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation with the agreement of the Human Resources Division. Requests should be directed to the Human Resources Division.
All City Facilities Are Smoke Free
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Supporting Community. Inspiring Discovery. Promoting Literacy.
$157,599 - $177,000
(on site)
The City of Falls Church is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking individual to become the new Library Director of the esteemed Mary Riley Styles Public Library.
The Community: The City of Falls Church, located less than seven miles from the heart of Washington D.C., is a unique and historic city. Besides featuring quick access to renowned museums and art galleries in the Capital City, almost every neighborhood is a treasure of its own with a variety of restaurants and shops that reflect the city's great cultural diversity. The City is one of the most densely populated and fastest growing localities in Virginia. Situated between Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Falls Church takes pride in its independent spirit, small town character, environmental stewardship, and outstanding schools. The city is an independent municipality, separate from the surrounding Arlington and Fairfax Counties. With a population of roughly 16,000, the city is known for its urban village community, quality customer service, nationally ranked school system, environmental activism, and community activities. The community was established around The Falls Church (Episcopal) that was founded in 1734. The City of Falls Church became a township in 1875, and an independent city in 1948.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library Mary Riley Styles Public Library has been named a "star library" in Library Journal's recently released Index of Public Library Service 2022. This is the 15th year in which Library Journal has scored U.S. public libraries on the LJ Index of Public Library Service and awarded Star Library ratings. MRSPL has received a star designation 14 of the 15 years.
The Library was founded in 1899 and has operated out of different locations throughout Falls Church until the late 1950s. The Town of Falls Church first officially began supporting the library in 1928 and assumed full responsibility for the library in 1940. After becoming an independent City in 1948, the City of Falls Church established a formal library board in 1954 and ultimately funded construction of a new library building on land donated by the children of Mary Riley Styles, the longtime chairwoman of the Library Committee of the Woman's Club who passed away in 1946.
The new building opened in 1958 and has since been renovated and expanded three times: 1969, 1993, and most recently 2021. Previously known as the Falls Church Public Library, it was re-named the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in 1977. Today, the library continues to serve the City of Falls Church's roughly 16,000 residents, as well as library users throughout the Metro DC area. In addition to the newly redesigned building, the library has also in the last year deployed a new website and an updated five-year strategic plan.
The Library Director reports to the Deputy City Manager of Internal Operations with monthly reports to the Library Board of Trustees, a seven-member citizen body appointed by the City Council. This position oversees supervision of all library employees and works with a Library Management Team, composed of five library department supervisors. The Library Director is a member of the City's Leadership Team and serves as an ex officio member of the Library Foundation.
As the Library Director, you will:
- Lead a dedicated team of professionals in delivering exceptional service to our vibrant community.
- Shape the future of our library by implementing cutting-edge programs and resources.
- Foster an inclusive environment that promotes lifelong learning and cultural enrichment.
- Collaborate with city officials, community members, and City leadership and employees to enhance our library's impact.
Our library is proud to have received numerous awards for excellence in service, community engagement, and innovative programming. Join us in continuing this legacy of excellence!
Apply today to join us in making a difference. Transform lives, inspire minds, and help us write the next chapter of the Mary Riley Stiles Public Library's story.
Responsibilities:
- Conceptualizes, formulates, implements, and evaluates long and short-range plans designed to achieve the goals of the library;
- Develops and administers library policies and procedures;
- Ensures provision of excellent customer service to both the community and internal customers;
- Develops and presents the annual operating and capital budget to the City Manager, Library Board, and City Council, and implements the budget;
- Develops and monitors library capital projects;
- Works with and advises the Library Board of Trustees and serves as an ex officio member of the Library Foundation;
- Prepares and presents required and special reports to the Library Board, City Council, and Library of Virginia;
- Works collaboratively with other City Department leadership on City-wide strategic priorities;
- Supervises library collection development;
- Selects, trains, and supervises library staff;
- Supervises professional library activities such as cataloging and classifying library materials, collection development, and automated systems;
- Plans the library's public information program including oversight of the website;
- Supervises the planning and coordination of the Library's automation needs, equipment, programs, and systems with the City's IT Department;
- Ensures the library's compliance with all State and Federal guidelines;
- Coordinates library activities with other City agencies as well as the City schools and civic organizations;
- Participates in State professional library organizations; and
- Performs related tasks as required.
Qualifications:
- Graduation from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Library Science and extensive, responsible professional library experience including considerable supervisory experience;
- Strong interpersonal skills serving both internal and external stakeholders;
- Ability to develop and implement a clear strategic vision with Board/staff/community input;
- Possession of or the ability to obtain a Virginia State Library Certificate;
- Comprehensive knowledge of the full scope of professional library principles, methods, materials, and practices, general administration and supervision, readers interest levels, books and authors, periodicals, reference media and library databases, cataloging procedures and problems;
- Demonstrated ability to analyze library service problems and to participate in effectively solving them, to organize, manage and motivate people, prepare and present reports, budgets, and other presentations;
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to employees' training for library work and establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, library patrons, City Council, Library Board of Trustees, and Library Foundation; and
- Demonstrated knowledge of general automation needs in a library and specific library databases and automated library systems is necessary.
Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, with occasional evening meetings and occasional weekends. The Library Director is a member of the City Emergency Response Team.
Salary & Benefits: $157,599 - $177,000, depending on qualifications. Includes comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, pension plan, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending account, college, life and long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, credit union membership, free parking, and more. See www.fallschuchva.gov/benefits for additional information.
Application and Selection Process: Interested candidates are encouraged to apply no later than July 26, 2024. Please upload a resume and cover letter with the online application. Virtual and/or on-site interviews in the City of Falls Church will be offered by a panel of stakeholders in the weeks following the position closing date to those candidates named as finalists. References and background checks will be conducted after receiving the candidate's permission.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Falls Church does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.
Reasonable Accommodation: During the selection process, applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation with the agreement of the Human Resources Division. Requests should be directed to the Human Resources Division.
All City Facilities Are Smoke Free