LIBRARY BRANCH MANAGER

What Milwaukee can offer YOU

Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is an urban hub bursting with energy. Milwaukee provides a casual sophistication – big city appeal without the big-city hassles. We are accessible and affordable, and our residents are welcoming. Milwaukee has evolved through the years, bringing together its unsurpassed old world charm with a breathtaking Art Museum, top-flight arts and cultural attractions, professional sports, lakefront festivals, recreational opportunities and great restaurants.  

The Milwaukee Public Library offers a dynamic, innovative work environment where each employee contributes to making the Library the best Third Place possible – Inspiration starts here, we help people read, learn and connect!  City employment offers substantial benefits, including a top rated pension plan, health and dental benefits with employee contributions that have remained virtually flat for the last three years, paid time off including vacation, 11 holidays and sick leave accrual, long term disability, 457 deferred compensation plan, group life insurance and more!

The Milwaukee Public Library will have several vacancies for Library Branch Managers.  

A Library Branch Manager, serves as Librarian-in-Charge of a branch library.  Responsibilities include providing leadership for Branch staff and managing the overall service plan and operation of the agency including collection development and maintenance, services and programs, customer and community relations, outreach and developing partnerships and overseeing the general maintenance and security of the library building and grounds.  With experience may be assigned management of a second branch.

• Directs and works with staff to provide library service to the residents living in the service area, including overseeing reference and readers' advisory service to users and providing books, audiovisual materials, computerized databases and programs.      
• Initiates contacts in the community and works with community organizations in library-connected programs; forms partnerships with neighborhood organizations and businesses for the enrichment of the communities that the library serves.     
• Represents the library in community organizations; speaks at meetings; keeps community leaders aware of library resources and services conducive to civic programs.        
• Develops and directs librarians, interns, Library Reference Assistants and Library Youth Educators who perform reference, bibliographic, community work, programming, and other services, by holding regular staff meetings, goal setting, planning and developing performance standards and assisting staff in reaching performance standards.       
• Through the Branch Library Services Assistant, supervises clerical staff which includes scheduling, assigning duties, records keeping, managing workflow and materials handling, and evaluating performance.        
• Interprets and implements MPL policy with staff through discussion and staff meetings.    
• Applies library policies to specific library situations and consults with Administration on possible policy improvements.         
• Supervises expenditures of book funds allotted to the branch library, prepares budget requests and may oversee the execution of grant contracts.       
• Supervises maintenance of operations records, writes annual, monthly and special reports.      
• Responds to complaints from patrons and interprets policies and procedures; handles first and second steps of grievance procedure; issues warning notices and commendation notices.  Makes recommendations for disciplinary action, and handles security issues.      
• Reads reviews of materials, as applied to the neighborhood served.       
• Works with staff and system selectors to assure appropriate and well-balanced collections.     
• Promotes use of the library and its collections.       
• Participates in library sponsored TV and radio presentations as appropriate.  Writes bibliographic articles as required.       
• Plans and presents programs on a variety of subjects of community interests.        
• Contributes to social media about library activities.       
• Is thoroughly familiar with the library's vision, mission and strategic plan and serves in an increasingly active capacity on designated library committees to assist the library in achieving its goals.      
• Serves on system-wide committees, interprets needs of branch library, supervises preservation of library property.        
• Takes active part in professional association activities and keeps abreast of library literature.  Follows and enforces safe work procedures.  

Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

1.  Master's Degree in Library Science or Library Information Science from an ALA accredited library school.

2.  Five years of recent (within the last eight years) professional librarian experience, including three years working within a library environment and showing career progression. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: To receive credit for college, transcripts are required and must be received by the application period closing date. College transcripts should be attached to your online application (student copies are acceptable). Applications without transcripts attached will be considered incomplete and will be rejected. 

Your transcript must be legible and include the following information:  the university or college name, your name, the degree completed (if applicable) and the date the degree was completed.

• Spanish language skills desirable.
• Previous experience in a lead worker or supervisory role.

• Knowledge of modern library organization, procedures, policies, mission, goals, services and trends.        
• Knowledge of the effective use of various methods of social media.       
• Knowledge of computers, online catalogs, databases, networks, the Internet and their applications for library use.        
• Knowledge of mentoring and coaching techniques and principles.       
• Knowledge of management best practices and principles.       
• Knowledge of circulation and registration procedures and knowledge of automated application of these procedures.     
• Organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.       
• Analytical ability and problem solving skills to identify and solve problems and determine alternative courses of action and recommend actions.       
• Interpersonal and customer service skills to work effectively with staff, patrons, community group members, diverse library users of various age groups, cultural backgrounds and educational and literacy levels.       
• Oral communications skills to make presentations, participate in discussions on television and radio programs and to conduct formal library programs.       
• Written communications skills to write reports, social media posts and branch policies and procedures.       
• Skill in community outreach to develop relationships with relevant community partners.     
• Ability to supervise and manage others.        
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.      
• Ability to effectively and positively represent the library before community groups and the public.

The current starting salary (1DX) is $54,865 for residents of the City of Milwaukee.  Appointment above the minimum is possible up to $68,030 with approval. The annual starting salary for non-Milwaukee residents is $53,519.

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: education and experience evaluation; written, oral, or performance tests, or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to oral and performance examinations. Oral examinations may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.  

INITIAL FILING DATE - The examination will be held as soon as practical after July 28, 2016. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice.  However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.  

NOTE: For current information regarding the status of the City of Milwaukee’s residency requirement, please visit the Department of Employee Relations’ Website: http://city.milwaukee.gov/DER#.V3U2aMtTGos. Please call 414.286.3751 if you have questions regarding your individual circumstances as part of the application and/or selection process.  

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• APPLICATIONS and further information may be accessed by visiting www.jobaps.com/MIL.  
• Applications and transcripts should be submitted no later than the deadline listed above.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.  

BENEFITS

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves  

To find full details of the City’s benefits, please visit www.city.milwaukee.gov/Benefits2016.