LIBRARY SERVICES MANAGER-Business/Technology

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 historic charm with a breathtaking art museum, top-flight cultural attractions, professional sports, lakefront festivals, recreational opportunities, and great restaurants.

The City of Milwaukee is proud to employ a diverse workforce that is committed to providing exemplary service to the City’s residents. If you have a passion for being a part of an inclusive team of public servants, please consider the following opportunity.

The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) 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!

The Milwaukee Public Library currently has one vacancy for Library Services Manager-Business/Technology, which is based at Central Library. The eligible list may be used to fill similar vacancies. This role serves in a leadership capacity.

Responsible for the provision of high-quality services at Bus/Tech public service points and management of the selection, maintenance, and development of the Milwaukee Public Library’s (MPL’s) related collections, the Library Services Manager-Business/Technology provides oversight of the Business, Technology, Science and Periodicals (Bus/Tech) Unit.

Leadership and Administration:

• Direct the organization and operation of the Bus/Tech Unit, including Government Documents, Patents, and Periodicals; set unit priorities and goals and design objectives, outcomes, and strategies for achieving System goals.
• Teach and coach the Bus/Tech Unit to develop a strong sense of team, departmental identity, and positive morale.
• Coach, guide, and support individual team members toward attainment of their professional and personal goals.
• Evaluate the content and usefulness of the Bus/Tech materials and resources, periodicals, and government documents.
• Direct and guide staff in the implementation of policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with multiple library units to successfully implement projects.
• Confer with Administrative Team members on current service programs, budgeting, staff development, strengthening resources, long range planning and other matters affecting the quality of departmental services.
• Collaborate and cooperate with Administrators and other Central Library managers to strengthen the Central Library in its role as the state and county-wide Resource Library.
• Gather information on the best policies and practices from other libraries, prepare and present narrative and statistical studies, studies of use, reports and plans; handle correspondence.
• Inform Library Administration Team members of activities and progress through the use of verbal and written reports.

Oversight of Resources and Services:

• Direct and coordinate librarians in the duties related to customer service and the selection, organization, and use of materials and resources.
• Guide and oversee continuous collection maintenance, attempting at all times to maintain a balanced collection in terms of current use, historical value, subject matter, and current collection development goals.
• Monitor selection budgets. 
• Serve as consultant for Bus/Tech-related library and bibliographic projects.
• Oversee MPL’s participation in the Federal Documents Depository Program; implement the library’s strategic plans for community health and financial literacy, workforce development, small business resources, and technology and digital inclusion, collaborating with library administration, staff, and the community.
• Serve as a consultant for subject-related library and bibliographic projects, particularly in areas related to economics, business and physical sciences, natural sciences, pure sciences, health, engineering, technology, patents, industrial standards, homemaking, government documents and periodicals.

Performance Management:

• Develop written performance expectations for staff; evaluate their performance and counsel them on the provision of high-quality service, on professional development and professional reading, writing, and speaking.
• Plan and conduct in-service sessions and staff meetings.
• Model high level of customer service, train and coach staff to do the same.
• Participate in staff recruitment, selection, discipline, recognition, transfer and promotion.

Community Outreach and Advocacy:

• Represent the library in the community.
• Develop and present public programs to increase awareness of library services and collections.
• Write articles or serve as a resource on articles written about library resources.
• Develop partnerships, programs, and materials; train and schedule staff to provide educational opportunities for job acquisition, for new business start-up, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
• Track library programming contacts/participants, measures of success, documents progress, and creates and files reports.
• Participate in relevant committee work as member or chairperson.

Central Librarian in Charge (LIC) Duties:

• Serve as Librarian In Charge of Central Library as scheduled, exercising overall supervision of public services staff and areas, touring public service areas to ensure public service needs are being met, adjusting staff schedules, interpreting library policies and procedures, providing access to meeting spaces, investigating facility, security, or accident reports and filing accurate and timely accounts of these issues, working with security personnel to maintain proper decorum and compliance with the library’s code of conduct and other policies and procedures related to health and safety.
• Report activities to Administrative Team members as necessary.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

City’s COVID Vaccine Policy:

To be considered fully vaccinated for purposes of this policy, all individuals who have accepted an employment offer must complete an FDA-approved vaccine at the recommended dosage and time interval prior to their employment start date, or have an approved religious or medical accommodation prior to their employment start date. Unless a job candidate has an approved religious or medical accommodation from the City of Milwaukee (see below), they must submit the Vaccination Attestation form prior to their employment start date. You can find further information relative to the City’s Covid-19 Vaccination Policy here. 

The Library Services Manager‑Business/Technology must be willing and able to do the following:

• Work beyond standard business hours on occasion.
• Work rotating shifts.
• Stand, walk, climb stepstools, crouch, and reach.
• Lift and move items weighing up to 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. 

1. Master's degree in library science or library information science from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited library school.
2. Five years of progressively responsible professional librarian experience, including performing complex bibliographic, reference, and readers' advisory work.

NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates’ education as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offers.

• Experience in a Business/Technology library or department.
• Supervisory experience.

Technical

• Knowledge of modern library organization, procedures, policies, mission, goals, services, and trends, particularly as they relate to public library systems.
• Knowledge of relevant Business/Technology/Periodicals databases and other resources to support library objectives.
• Knowledge of technical reference procedures and interlibrary cooperation.
• Ability to learn the workings of the MPL system, including its policies, functions, relationships, and resources.
• Ability to read and interpret a wide variety of job-related documents; broad knowledge of subject disciplines and wide-ranging reading interests.
• Knowledge of computers, online catalogs, databases, networks, and their applications for library use; proficiency using word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Ability to learn City policies and procedures related to budgeting, purchasing, and vendor management.
• Knowledge of safe work procedures and accident prevention practices.

Leadership and Supervisory

• Knowledge of leadership principles and best practices for selecting, supervising, and motivating employees.
• Supervisory skills to build successful teams.
• Ability to foster an environment of inclusion wherein all employees are treated respectfully, are valued for their strengths, and feel that they can safely express themselves.
• Ability to represent the library in a manner consistent with MPL's vision, mission, and strategic plan.

Communication and Interpersonal

• Knowledge of customer service best practices and the ability to incorporate them into operations.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse library users of various age levels to interpret their reading and informational needs.
• Ability to work effectively with multilevel, multicultural managers and staff systemwide, elected officials, board members, other City employees, vendors, other agencies, and the public.
• Verbal communication skills to be able to share information in a clear and concise manner.
• Presentation skills in order to address various audiences, both formal and informal.
• Written communications skills to be able to write clear reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and articles.

Critical Thinking

• Analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, as well as sound judgment.
• Organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet frequent deadlines.
• Skill in performing detailed, independent work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Situational awareness and observational skills to be able to mitigate potential safety incidents.
• Honesty, integrity, and responsible stewardship of City resources.

The current salary range (Pay Range 1GX) is $77,986-$96,768 annually, and the resident incentive salary range is $80,326-$99,671 annually. Appointment above the minimum is possible based upon level of experience and other qualifications and is subject to approval.

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program that includes the following:

• Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Comprehensive Wellness Program
• Onsite Clinic Services
• Onsite Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative Work Schedules
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
• Flexible Spending Arrangement
• Commuter Value Pass

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/der/benefits.

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: an evaluation of education, experience, and/or responses to supplemental questions; a written or performance test; a structured interview; or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to structured interviews and performance examinations. Structured interviews may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

INITIAL FILING DATE - The selection process will be held as soon as practical after the application deadline listed above. 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 selection process components. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative selection process dates or times. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

• Applications and further information may be accessed by visiting www.jobapscloud.com/MIL.
• 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 at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

EEO Code 102

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer