Library Director search - Kenosha Public Library (WI)

[Beth Barker]

Library Director – Kenosha Public Library (WI)

The Kenosha Public Library (WI) nine-member governing Board of Trustees seeks a consensus-building and community-oriented leader to be the organization’s next Library Director. This individual will guide the Kenosha Public Library (KPL) and the Kenosha County Library System (KCLS) into the future by continuing to embrace a diverse and growing population and offering relevant and first-rate spaces, collections, programs, and services. Building upon a solid history of community engagement, the new director will be an advocate for intellectual freedom and open access to information. They will also be a champion for ensuring our libraries remain a welcoming, safe and supportive environment for all members of the community, regardless of background or socioeconomic status.

 

Kenosha Public Library serves approximately four neighborhood locations, has two outreach vehicles, and a new children’s library that opened its doors in July 2024. With a team of 84 dedicated staff, KPL serves as the resource library for the Kenosha County Library System. KCLS comprises KPL and Community Library, which has two locations in Salem Lakes and Twin Lakes.

 

Kenosha is a city rich in history and community spirit, nestled in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Michigan. With a population of nearly 100,000, it is the fourth largest city in Wisconsin. What stands out about Kenosha is the uniqueness of the city: locally owned multigenerational businesses and restaurants located in a vibrant downtown, electric streetcars, lighthouses, and a castle full of cheese. Residents enjoy an incredible array of outdoor amenities—five lakefront beaches, 130 miles of bike trails, and over 1,000 acres of park and conservation sites throughout the city. Kenosha is also home to a burgeoning arts district, several award-winning museums, and a plethora of community festivals and celebrations. The city is a short drive to larger metropolitan areas such as Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago.

 

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Library Board of Trustees, the Library Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer for both the Kenosha Public Library and the Kenosha County Library System. This leadership role involves strategic planning, organization, direction, and evaluation of all library functions, operations, and activities. In collaboration with the library board, the director is responsible for creating and implementing an operating plan, budget, and procedures to ensure quality patron service, community relations, and equitable access to library resources for all residents. With significant autonomy, the director administers library programs and policies approved by the board to achieve short- and long-term goals aligned with the organization’s Mission and Vision Statement.

 

Qualifications: A master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited college or university and Grade 1 Wisconsin Library Certificate eligibility is required. Five years of progressively responsible full-time experience in public libraries, including at least three years of recent management experience in a public library is also required. Strong knowledge of all functional areas of a public library, including library management, budget management, policy development and implementation, strategic planning, and problem analysis and resolution, and experience in change management is preferred.

 

Compensation: The hiring salary range is $117,000 – $127,000 (with placement negotiable dependent on experience and qualifications) and an excellent fringe benefits package. KPL offers a generous total rewards program for executive level staff. 

 

For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates (https://bradburymiller.com/). Apply with a meaningful cover letter and resume via our application portal (https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/) by clicking on Kenosha Public Library and the apply button. This position closes on Sunday, October 20, 2024. 

 

View the most up to date version of this announcement in its entirety along with accompanying link on our website (https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/).

 

 

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Beth Barker (she/her)  

Director of Finance and Communication  

Bradbury Miller Associates  

330-340-7115 | Dover, OH | bradburymiller.com  

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