Hiring a library director is one of the most important jobs of the library board; after all, it’s even one of the powers given in Century Code, “employ qualified personnel to administer the public library and dispense library services" (§40-38-04).
When starting the hiring process, the board should establish an initial timeline that includes appointment of the search committee, review of the job description and posting it to websites, newspapers, etc., deadline for applications, review period, interview timeframe, and the anticipated start date. The search committee can be the whole board, but it could also be a combination of board members, staff members, and community members.
The board will also need to make sure that they are aware of and educated in current library practices, benchmarks imposed by the Standards for Public Libraries, current needs and direction of the library, and competitive professional salaries and benefits. These things will all help form the overall job posting and announcement.
The job description itself can be based on the previous director’s job description. But trustees should also look at the director’s responsibilities and make edits and revisions where necessary. Some responsibilities may include the following:
The job description also needs to include minimum requirements for education and work experience, desirable areas of expertise, areas of responsibility, specific duties, salary and benefits, probation period, expectations for successful job performance, physical and environmental requirements of the job, and certification requirements.
Once the job description has been finalized, the board should look at their pay scale for the director to make sure that it is competitive; this will ensure that the library can secure a qualified director. Pay should be comparable to city/school district positions with similar requirements and responsibilities. While it is common practice for library boards to look at the salaries library directors in nearby libraries, this isn’t always the best practice due to the common practice of under-paying library directors.
The job announcement itself should include the job description and pay scale along with a description of the library and community. Make sure to request reference and resumes as well. The job announcement should then be advertised on the local website and social media, North Dakota Library Association's Job Listings page, and other listservs and associations that the board deems relevant. Some cities have requirements about how jobs need to be advertised, so check in with the city or county’s Human Resources department before placing ads.
More information about the interview and hiring process including interview questions and sample job descriptions can be found in the resources below:
Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.