News

The Board of Trustees of the Abington Community Library is seeking qualified candidates interested in applying for the job as director. Click for more details.

The Abington Community Library, the second largest public library in Lackawanna County was established in 1960 and is a vibrant, community-based organization that serves a wide range of needs. Patrons account for more than 150,000 visits to the library each year.

The Library is open seventy one hours each week, staffed by eight full-time staff, and twenty part-time staff including teen pages. Three staff members have master’s degrees in Library and Information Science. Regular hours of operation are: Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM; Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM; and Sunday, 2 PM to 5 PM.

The Abington Community Library’s service area includes the boroughs and townships in the Abington Heights School District (Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Glenburn, Newton, North Abington, Ransom, South Abington, Waverly, and West Abington) and Scott Township. The service area population is over 28,000 based on 2010 census. As part of the Lackawanna County Library System, it offers Library service free of charge to any resident of Lackawanna County.

The current Library opened its doors on March 2, 1992. It contains two community meeting rooms frequently used for Library-sponsored programs and by local non-profit organizations. Originally ten thousand square feet, the addition of a Children’s Room in October 2002, increased the Library’s total size to 14,500 square feet. Fifty-five parking spaces are available.

JOB LOCATION
The Library is located on the border of South Abington Township and Clarks Summit at the corner of the Morgan Highway and West Grove Streets.

JOB SUMMARY
The Abington Community Library Board of Trustees is seeking a full-time director to lead an award-winning library with a reputation for providing excellent customer service and quality programming to all ages.

Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, this full-time position is responsible for the overall management of the library, including budgeting, staffing, resources and materials, facilities, programs, and special projects.

The Board is seeking candidates who are self-motivated leaders that bring a broad set of skills together with commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Candidates will need to demonstrate vision, creativity, and imagination along with a hands-on approach to library management and operations in all departments. The desire to build personal connections with a well-trained staff, enthusiastic Board of Trustees, and supportive patrons of all ages is required. Candidates should exhibit passion for programming, commitment to continuing existing programs, and excitement to explore fresh ideas for new program opportunities.

Candidates should be friendly, welcoming, and personable, and should be prepared to epitomize the Library’s mission and values both on site and on outreach visits throughout the service area. Candidates should be able to demonstrate collaborative planning techniques for working with other staff members and contacts from outside the Library to create innovate, successful programs and events.

Candidates must be dedicated to meeting the needs of the community and exceeding expectations. Other requirements include excellent record-keeping skills; fiscal responsibility; high aptitude for technology; people-skills; and strong oral and written communication skills.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This is a full-time position. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required to successfully fulfill the duties of this position. Following a training period, the director will work under the direction of the Library Board of Trustees and is:

Responsible for the overall administration of the Library
 Assist the Board in short and long range planning and in knowing the needs of the community
 Advise and inform the Board of agency operations, attend all meetings of the Board as well as committees and task forces as needed
 Work with professional and clerical staff to review current service, address concerns, and future planning
 Review and refine procedures and policies to produce optimal service; interpret policies to staff and public and make sure staff are implementing them
 Oversee all aspects of the physical plant to ensure safe and efficient running of attractive facilities on a daily basis; oversee selection of items that are appropriate to the Library’s collection; oversee policies and use of Library volunteers
 Work with Board, staff, and Friends to create fundraising and programming opportunities along with associated publicity
 Perform written communication such as: advocacy, Annual Fund Drive letters and other funding requests; thank you notes; forms / applications as necessary; grant writing

To Serve as Finance Director for the Library
 Prepare the annual budget in consultation with the Board
 Monitor all revenue and expenditures to maintain figures within budget parameters; review and approve expenditures; oversee all financial transactions and required local, state, and federal reporting
 Work with an outside auditor on annual audit and oversee preparation of annual report to the Office of Commonwealth Libraries
 Assist the Board with the annual fund drive and prepare grant applications for other sources of funding
 Direct the identification of funding sources and the application for funding from public and private sources
 Seek out grants as needed
 Manage donor contact database, including updating of records and implementation of outreach campaigns

To Serve as a Leader of Personnel
 Hire and direct subordinate staff members in line with Library personnel policies
 Direct the administration and development of personnel and salary policies and efficiently organize staff
 Plan for the use of skills and initiative of staff members to their own and the Library’s advantage
 Observe state and federal laws that relate to current employment practices
 Oversee and mentor professional development of staff members, volunteers, and interns
 Make sure staff have rewarding, satisfying work and the proper training
 Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programs consistent with Board goals and objectives
 Perform all other duties necessary to provide effective leadership to the Library
 Promote a high ethical standard

To Serve as liaison with the Community, Lackawanna County Library System, Northeast Library District, Pennsylvania Library Association, and American Library Association
 Attend local, state, and national coalitions, meetings, and events that support the Library
 Coordinate information with County Library Administrator
 Implement County Library procedures and policies
 Maintain a presence in the community by coordinating relationships with other organizations, both public and private, advocating, and promoting Library services and products
 Coordinate and foster local, state, and national activities that promote the Library

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 Proof of a MLS/MLIS from an ALA accredited college is required.
 A minimum of five years of professional library experience in a public library
 A minimum of three years in a supervisory capacity.
 Public Library Certification as a professional librarian from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Non-profit fundraising, development, and grant writing experience
 Successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with Library policies and state law
 Able to drive a vehicle and possess a valid point-free PA driver’s license, as well as own a car
 Library staff spend a great deal of their time on the job standing or moving about the circulation area, moving heavy book trucks to other parts of the library, bending and stretching to return material to shelves, hanging exhibits, and ‘shifting’ the collection. In a Library this size, everyone participates in these activities, including the Director.

KEY LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
 Interpersonal skills to collaborate with various internal and external groups
 Strong oral and written communication skills
 Team player
 Motivational
 Fair
 Value diversity
 Decisive/accountable
 Flexible
 Committed to lifelong learning
 Technology-oriented
 Value feedback and be an effective listener
 Be a ‘delegator’ not a micromanager

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Abington Community Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The organization believes that all people are to be treated with dignity and respect and are entitled to fair and equal treatment in employment and the receipt of all contracted services regardless
of race, religious creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parenthood, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications must be received by March 16, 2017, 9 PM.
Submit a cover letter, CV/resume, and a list of three professional and three personal references to:

Mail: Jim McVety, President
c/o Abington Community Library
1200 West Grove Street, Clarks Summit, PA 18411 OR

Electronic: jim@firststepadvisors.com Subject line: Abington Community Library Director Search

Salary is commensurate with experience ranging from $44,375 to $55,469/year. Benefits include fully paid Health Care, Vision, and Dental care for the director. Paid sick and vacation leave begin after a successful six-month probationary period.