The responsibilities that accompany library director jobs vary depending on the business. Duties of a typical library director generally include supervising employees, implementing budgets and policies and planning events. Contrary to popular belief, library directors do not only work at the local public library. Museums, schools and universities, large corporations, media conglomerates, and a variety of other organizations hire such directors.
The library director is usually the top executive at a library. A public or private library director job includes reporting to the library board, which hires the library director. Though the director may administer the budget, the budget is often determined by the library board. The director also makes the board aware of any issues the library is facing.
The library director is responsible for managing the library staff. He hires, trains, and assesses the performance of each employee. Responsibilities of library director jobs also include disciplining any staff member as necessary. Raises, though included in the library budget, are also decided upon by the library director.
At an average library, the director also works with local officials and city organizations to develop library programs. The director may implement workshops, committees, conferences, or classes relevant to the library’s overall mission. Friends of the library volunteers may report to a library manager, though the director also has a say in such hiring processes.
School, university, and museum library director jobs have similar duties to those of the public library director. The library director of an educational facility might report to the principal or dean. A museum library director likely works closely with the head curator or museum director.
Similar to jobs at a public library, museum and school library director jobs come with the responsibility of hiring and managing the proper staff. The products and services of a university or museum may differ from those at a public library, but the nature of the director’s duties are basically the same. At a library designated for medical research, for example, the director might have a background in hospital library management.
Library director jobs at a large business often include the added duty of intensive database management. While books may still be cataloged, many businesses require library directors to maintain electronic records of item usage and distribution. In these cases, library director jobs require advanced knowledge of technological systems.
Additional duties of a library director in a traditional setting include advocating for the library and promoting its use. Directors can find support from local community members and organizations. The physical maintenance of libraries is also overseen by the library director. He may hire custodians on a contract or full-time basis.
Most libraries only hire library directors who have an Master's in Library Science (MLS). Such directors also have years of experience managing one or more aspects of a library. Because libraries are constantly updating their collections and technology, a library director job will likely require one to pursue continuing education on the latest trends and issues.
