Librarian III (Branch Manager)

City of Avondale; Avondale (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Avondale is seeking a Librarian III to oversee a library branch, including staffing, budgeting, programming, and community partnerships. The role requires strong leadership, customer service excellence, and collaboration with city departments and partners.

Responsibilities include supervising staff, developing services, managing grants, and ensuring safe, welcoming facilities while aligning with the city’s strategic plan.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Library Science or equivalent experience required.
• Minimum three years of professional library experience with budgets, collection development, and program planning.
• Two years of supervisory experience required.
• Strong customer service and community engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversees branch staffing, scheduling, and daily operations.
• Develops programs, policies, and partnerships to serve the community.
• Manages budgets, reporting, and grant activities.
• Represents the library with city departments and external partners.
• Provides high-quality patron services and supervises staff performance.

Skills

Staff supervision

Customer service

Community outreach

Effective communication

Education

Master's Degree in Library Science

Job description

The City of Avondale is accepting applications for Librarian III (Branch Manager)

This recruitment will remain open until filled. First review of applications will occur on 09/02/2026.

Oversees all aspects of managing and supervising a library branch, including staffing, scheduling, facility maintenance, collection development, policies and procedures, customer relations, community partnerships, reporting, and programming. Provides communication between the library branch, city administration, partner organizations, and customers. Ensures excellent and consistent patron services. Accepts responsibility for the overall effectiveness of branch operations.Assists the Arts, Culture & Library Manager with establishing, evaluating, and revising system goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; implementing, monitoring, and reporting results of strategic initiatives and maintaining accurate statistical records thereof; managing contracts, budgets, financial reporting, and expenditure plans; and may be responsible for library system operations in the absence of the Arts, Culture & Library Manager.

Develops and implements goals, programs, services, policies, and procedures for a library branch. Finds the most effective and efficient ways to implement new initiatives.

Interprets and explains library policies, objectives, and services to community groups, business and educational leaders, publishing agency representatives, other City departments, and the general public. Supervises, hires, trains, evaluates, and provides exemplary leadership to all staff. Monitors and appraises employee performance. Ensures staff are knowledgeable of all library policies, procedures, resources, and services and can refer patrons as needed. Schedules staff and authorizes leave to ensure an equitable distribution of work and adequate staffing in both long-term and daily work.

Represents the library to community organizations in the service area. Coordinates, manages, and promotes partner-led Library programs and services with an emphasis on underserved and high-need populations and programs aligning with the Avondale Strategic Plan. Oversees implementation of children, teen, and adult programming performed by staff and community partners, including overseeing mobile library operations.

Contributes to public engagement with programs and services through active networking, public presentations, social media engagement, relationship building with relevant organizations, and collaboration with the City's marketing staff.

Reviews and selects library materials and digital access to library materials for purchase based on established selection criteria and the needs of the community. Oversees marketing of library collections.

Reviews annual budget with the Arts, Culture & Library Manager. Maintains staffing levels and purchases within the branch budget. Oversees supplies ordering. Researches and prepares the library's statistical reports. Reconciles library deposits and maintains revenue spreadsheets. Writes and applies for grants; manages grant execution, activities, and reporting.

Provides exceptional customer service by responding to customer queries and concerns, assisting customers with digital devices, and promoting all material types and products. Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures including a high level of customer service; identifies opportunities for improvements.

Submits work tickets for repairs and evaluates library branch regularly for outages/repairs/cleanliness. Ensures that facilities are safe, welcoming, and healthy for staff and patrons.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Master's Degree in Library, Information Science, or a closely related field or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and technical training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, may qualify.

Three (3) years of professional library experience working with budgets, collection development, and planning, implementing, and evaluating multiple community programs.

Two (2) years of supervisory experience is required.