Closing Date: August 8, 2025
Compensation: $97,300 - $124,000

June 20, 2025

The Farmington Community Library Board of Trustees seeks applications for the position of Director of the Farmington Community Library due to the pending retirement of the current Director. Farmington Community Library (FCL) is a District public library serving the cities of Farmington and Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees, FCL is a dynamic public library serving a population of over 95,583 residents and maintains reciprocity with The Library Network consortium, comprised of 74 member libraries and their 114 locations. Our 8.7 million-dollar budget supports a dedicated staff, consisting of 36 Full Time and 61 Part Time employees, who provide exceptional service at our Farmington and Farmington Hills locations, mobile outreach facilities and virtual service platforms. As an autonomous governmental unit, the library receives funding from two dedicated millages with consistent high voter approval. The Farmington Friends of the Library generously provide funds for innovative programming and community events.

In 2024, the library completed a Master Plan and is excited to begin updating and renovating library spaces at both locations. Click here to learn more about the Master Plan.

The library maintains an excellent reputation as a forward-thinking, service-oriented Class VI Michigan Library. FCL is deeply embedded in community organizations and events, serving an ethnically diverse community with a strong tradition of supporting public education, community college partnerships, cultural services and technological innovation.

Classification: Director
Department: Administration
Employment Status: Full-Time
Exempt/Nonexempt Status: Exempt
Reports to the Library Board of Trustees

As the Chief Officer of both branches of the Farmington Community Library, the Director is responsible for administering all library functions within the goals, guidelines and policies established by the Library Board of Trustees. The Director supervises library services and staff and is responsible for the facilities, properties, financial management and personnel under the governance and oversight of the Trustees. The Director is expected to provide a leadership role within the library, the community and the library profession and serves as an official representative of the library. The Director is an at-will employee.

Primary Job Duties

General Administration and Management:

  • Supervises the facilities, properties and personnel of the libraries.
  • Demonstrates administrative and supervisory ability to coordinate operations and services, direct workflow and develop procedures, policies, services and programs that reflect contemporary library practices.
  • Prepares and presents an annual budget, reflective of the library’s mission, goals and objectives for Board approval.
  • Ensures that all fiscal accounts are in good order, following generally accepted accounting principles for governmental operations. Ensures appropriate internal controls are followed; authorizes all payables for Board review and approval; monitors payroll and changes in fixed assets; and works with the auditor to verify compliance with standard federal laws and Board policy.
  • Serves as the primary personnel officer. Demonstrates knowledge of personnel laws, human relations policies, administration of fringe benefits and programs for staff development.
  • Works collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, attends its regular meetings, provides a comprehensive Director’s Report and attends Board sub-committee meetings, as needed.
  • Expected to work primarily onsite, at both locations, and attend community events, as needed.

Planning, Organization and Evaluation:

  • Develops short-range and long-range goals for library services, programs and facilities and coordinates these with the multi-year Master Plan and Strategic Plan, if applicable.
  • Coordinates and, with the Facilities Manager, serves as the liaison with construction companies to facilitate multi-year projects.
  • Possesses knowledge in obtaining Library Bonds and implementing Capital Fund drives for updating facilities to meet 21st-century library standards.
  • Establishes standards of excellence for all operations and implements evidence-based strategies for continuous improvement.
  • Evaluates the effectiveness of library services through data analysis, community feedback and assessment of changing demographics and technological needs.
  • Analyzes data affecting library operations such as legal, physical and statistical factors.
  • Demonstrates transformational leadership within the organization: fostering innovation, solving complex problems, leading change initiatives, promoting staff professional development, providing mentoring and creating psychologically safe environments.

Personnel Management:

  • Develops comprehensive staff job descriptions and recommends and administers personnel policies.
  • Leads recruitment, hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination processes with emphasis on building diverse, skilled teams.
  • Defines clear performance expectations and establishes measurable goals for service excellence and innovative programming; actively works to maintain high staff morale and engagement.
  • Approves performance evaluations of all professional staff and authorizes merit increases for all regular employees based on clear performance metrics.
  • Creates a shared vision of innovative library services through a deep understanding of contemporary librarianship principles, emerging technologies and collaborative leadership practices.
  • Maintains an open-door policy for staff communications while leveraging staff expertise and encouraging constructive input.
  • Encourages professional development of staff members through support for conference attendance, continuing education and professional certifications. Provides internal programs for employee training and development.
  • Acts as a mentor, mediator and facilitator for staff growth.
  • Meets with the Management Advisory Committee (MAC), the Services Improvement Team (SIT) and with the Working Conditions and Benefits Committee (WCBC).

Community and Professional Development:

  • Serves as chief public relations officer of the library, works with outside groups as library liaison, assures that positive media exposure, including social media, reflects the library’s role in the community and speaks on the library’s behalf.
  • Attends professional and other meetings to maintain contact with library professionals and library related agencies. Attends regional, state and national library conferences.
  • Supports the Friends of the Library and engages with business, professional and individual community members to foster and expand revenue sources.
  • Participates in professional development opportunities to enhance leadership capabilities and maintains an awareness of emerging trends and developments in the library field.
  • Effectively serves all members of our diverse community through programs, policies and services.

Qualifications:

  • Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an institution accredited by the American Library Association.
  • Certification as a Professional Librarian Level I from the Library of Michigan as required by state law for a Class VI library.
  • Five (5) years of progressively responsible library experience, including at least three (3) years of library administrative responsibility. Additional education may be substituted for experience.
  • Must have strong budgeting experience/background.
  • Ability to convey, for purposes of training staff, the basic principles, concepts and methodology of professional librarianship in carrying out assignments, operations and procedures.
  • Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, social skills and adaptability.
  • Visionary regarding library trends, the impact of changing information technology and the amount of acceptable risk the Board is willing to take in implementing new ideas and new technology. Ability to process information effectively to learn new material, handle complex concepts, consider issues and to multi-task.
  • Other related tasks as assigned.

Requirements of the Role:

  • Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for sedentary work. Walking, standing, bending, stooping, crouching, reaching, carrying books or boxes of books, etc.
  • Degree of physical demands, for example, strength, is associated with essential functions of the job. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects, for example, pushing book carts.
  • Ability to view a computer monitor and use a keyboard for extended periods of time.
  • Accuracy when typing to complete work-related documents.
  • Accuracy when writing and speaking.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of library records and administrative matters.
  • Good time management: is prompt, flexible, works under short time constraints and meets deadlines.
  • Able to interact and work effectively with customers, supervisors, co-workers and volunteers.
  • Able to retain concentration and poise despite numerous interruptions.
  • Meeting attendance at Library Board and Friends of the Library meetings and at the local, regional, state, and national level, occasionally outside normal business hours.

Compensation:

  • Salary range is $97,300 - $124,000 (based on candidate’s qualifications and experience).
  • The excellent benefit package includes: paid vacation, sick leave and paid holidays, health insurance, dental and vision cost reimbursement, a Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP), short/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and a MERS defined-contribution retirement plan.

Application Protocol:

  • Your cover letter should specifically address how your experience aligns with 2025 library leadership challenges and highlights how you’ve responded to community needs.
  • Provide a resume and three (3) professional references with complete contact information, including email address and phone number.
  • The first interview will be held with the Selection Committee and can be in-person or on Zoom. The second interview will be conducted in-person before the Library Board, library staff, and community stakeholders. During the second Interview, applicants will be asked to provide a fifteen (15) minute presentation.
  • Travel expenses may be reimbursed for second round interview only.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by August 8, 2025.

Download the job posting here.

Download the full Director Job Description here.


Address all communications to:
Crystal Peterson, Executive Assistant
Farmington Community Library
32737 W 12 Mile Rd
Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3302
Crystal.Peterson@farmlib.org
248-848-4303

 

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