Assistant Director

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assistant Director Duties
• Executes library policies and the directions of the Director in all areas of library operation.
• Assumes responsibility for library operations in Director’s absence.
• May assist the Director in a variety of strategic areas including developing new policies, budget preparation, long-range planning, preparing statistical and narrative reports, managing Automated Library System, and developing a procedure manual, emergency procedures, and other aids for staff and volunteers.
• May assist the Director in community relations, selection and training of new staff, scheduling and evaluating staff, managing volunteer work, and following volunteer best practices.
• May assist the Director with key operational and technology projects, including managing public and staff computer updates and security.
• May assist the Director with grant writing and fundraising efforts.
• Supervises and schedules volunteers.
• Manages room reservation schedules.

Collection Development
• Provides leadership of and recommendations in areas of collection development, in conjunction with staff.
• Under the direction of the Director, manages the budgets related to collection development efforts.
• Select new materials for library collections by evaluating review journals, publishers’ catalogs, and other online professional resources.
• May approve or disapprove patrons’ requests for new materials by locating and evaluating reviews.
• Prepares new materials for circulation by labeling items based on the library's classification system. Places audio-visual materials into the proper cases. Edits records within the local library collection. • Catalogs or assists in cataloging books and other materials.
• Under the direction of the Director, analyze existing collections for weaknesses and order materials to upgrade subject areas.
• Under the direction of the Director, determines whether to withdraw, replace, or rebind materials in the collection and work with library staff that assist with this process.
• Assists in the purchasing of book processing supplies.

Programming
• Plans and implements adult programming, including lectures, movie screenings, interactive programs, musical acts, and hands-on experiences.
• Manages program funds assigned to adult programming.
• Schedules and leads adult drop-in groups.
• Assists in planning and running monthly book discussion group(s).
• Assists in promoting adult programs.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Attend professional meetings, workshops, and classes.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned by the Director.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
• Assistant Director reports to the Library Director.
• The Assistant Director shall abide by the library’s mission statement, policies, and work to further the goals of the library.

GENERAL LIBRARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Help to establish and maintain a high customer service performance standard.
• Works at the staff circulation desk as needed. Greets patrons when they enter the library and perform all circulation duties, including checking in and out library materials, notifying patrons of holds, placing holds for patrons, registering new borrowers, maintaining current patron information, and collecting fines and other fees for faxing or copies. Tracks Internet usage and patron questions. Records patron attendance of all library programs.
• Provides readers’ advisory, reference and technology help as needed. Assists patrons with locating library materials, assists patrons with access to Internet workstations, assists patrons with making photocopies and scans and assists in managing the meeting rooms and meeting room scheduling.
• Opens and closes the library as needed. At opening, assists with the emptying of the exterior book drop. At closing, assists with shutting down all computers, entering daily statistics, turning off all lights and locking all doors before leaving the building.
• Ensures safe conditions for staff, public, and building operation. Takes appropriate action in emergencies.
• Create or oversee creation of library displays.

GUIDELINES
Guidelines include the Abbott Library’s policies and procedures, the Town of Sunapee Employee Handbook, American Library Association’s (ALA) code of ethics, New Hampshire RSAs, and other relevant local, state and federal laws.

COMPLEXITY
• The position includes a variety of complex duties and responsibilities including:
• Ability to understand library principles, practices, and policies and how to implement them within the day-to-day function of a public library.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and consult the Director, as necessary.
• Ability to plan and lead book discussion groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with library staff, employees in other town departments, volunteers, and patrons.

SCOPE AND EFFECT
The scope of the position includes performing tasks required to maintain day-to-day operations within the library and performing tasks required for the long-term, strategic advancement of the library.

PERSONAL CONTACTS
Contacts are typically made with the Library Director, other library staff, library patrons and the general public. The contacts may also include committees or groups in a non-structured to well-structured setting.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS
The purpose is to provide outstanding service to all library patrons.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY
• When the Director is off duty, the Assistant Director shall assume the authority and responsibility of making all decisions and of being the person in charge of other people working in the library.
• The Assistant Director may instruct other workers and volunteers of duties and jobs to be done when their assigned work is finished.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Professional Experience
• Knowledge of library principles, methods, materials, and practices of library operation.
• Knowledge of the theories, objectives, principles, and practices of public administration as applied to a public library.
• Ability to administer the activities of a public library and oversee the work of others.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, officials of other agencies and the general public.
• Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written communications.
• Ability to assess reader interest.
• Ability to offer patrons basic and intermediate help with technology devices, software, and apps.
• Ability to use audio-visual technology, office equipment and library systems.
• Ability to perform routine work well; to follow instructions and to accept responsibility.
• Ability to arrange books alphabetically and numerically.
• A neat, clean, friendly, can-do attitude with other staff and patrons, and willingness to accommodate all patrons.
• Commitment to expanding skills and knowledge through continuing education courses and workshops.
• Sufficient general knowledge of everyday library procedures to permit running the library in the Library Director’s absence.

EDUCATION
Master’s degree in library science or equivalent library experience is preferred and required for Labor Grade 12. Prior experience working in a public library is preferred and required for Labor Grade 12. Prior library managerial experience is preferred.