Librarian - Specialized Services

maine; Augusta (ME); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Maine State Library in Augusta seeks a professional reference and governance specialist to serve statewide library staff, trustees, and stakeholders. The role focuses on nonprofit and municipal library governance, HR policy, and fiscal and facilities matters essential to Maine libraries.

You will lead in the Library Development team, provide high‑quality reference, develop learning resources, and deliver training across regions, with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with library policy and the ethics of librarianship.
• Familiarity with Maine statutes that affect library governance, management, and services.
• Demonstrated ability to research complex topics in response to reference requests from library stakeholder groups.
• Ability to conduct a complex reference interview on issues pertaining to library governance and management.
• Experience conducting legal research and summarizing legal resources for a lay audience.
• Ability to facilitate and/or provide training for Maine library community members on relevant federal, state, and municipal statutes, policies, and regulations relevant for library management and the delivery of services.
• Demonstrated writing ability to develop resources for professional development opportunities for library staff
• Demonstrated presentation skills including online/virtual webinars
• Ability to work collegially with all types of library staff, library trustees, and other library stakeholder groups
• Ability to work with a diverse and independent team
• Ability to analyze, plan and implement projects to accomplish MSL mission and goals

Responsibilities

• Manage the assigned specialty portfolio
• Develop informational and learning resources in a variety of formats
• Facilitate and/or deliver professional development opportunities for library staff and trustees
• Provide timely and relevant reference services to library staff, trustees, and library stakeholders
• Contribute collaboratively to achieving annual department projects and goals
• Participate in departmental and other required meetings.
• Library governance and management consulting
• Assess the needs of library staff and trustees related to library governance and management through annual department outreach including using surveys and conducting site visits
• Perform research on and monitor the status of local, state, and federal statutes, regulations, and policy that affect libraries in Maine
• Facilitate and create materials for workshops, training, and other learning opportunities for library staff and trustees using research findings
• Maine Regional Library System support
• Serve as a region liaison for one or more of the regions in the Maine Regional Library System
• Collaborate with region representative(s) to the Maine Library Advisory Council to provide learning and networking opportunities within the assigned region
• Provide direct consulting services to libraries within the assigned region working collaboratively with other consultants

Skills

Library policy knowledge

Ethics of librarianship

Maine statutes understanding

Research complex topics

Legal research

Training facilitation

Presentation skills

Collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Master's Degree

Job description

Maine State Library

Opening Date: October 20, 2026

Closing Date: November 03, 2026

Grade/Admin Unit : 27 / Professional/Technical

Job Class Code : 3106

Salary: $60,840.00 - $85,488.00/Annually

Position Number : 014701300

Location: Augusta

Telework: Remote with occasional in-office time.

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

OVERVIEW:

The Maine State Library (MSL) is dedicated to serving the information needs of all Maine residents and strengthening libraries statewide by supporting individual information needs, building library capacity, and transforming information into knowledge. MSL fosters a collaborative, team-oriented environment that values innovation, initiative, and shared problem-solving. Excellence in service is central to our mission. We seek individuals who thrive in collaborative settings and demonstrate outstanding interpersonal and communication skills across a wide range of stakeholders.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This is a professional position responsible for providing statewide, regional, and individual reference and consultative services to Maine public library staff, trustees, and other library stakeholder groups. This position specializes in governance structures of nonprofit and municipal public libraries, public library management, including knowledge of federal, state, and municipal statutes that affect HR policy, fiscal responsibility, facilities, and other areas required to run an effective public library in the state of Maine.

This position will provide leadership in its specialty area within the Library Development team and provide high-quality service to the Maine public library community. This position is an important contributor to the overall success of the Library Development team and collaboration with the team is an essential component of the work. Work is performed under limited supervision. Occasional regional and statewide travel is required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Typical Duties for This Position (including, but not limited to):

• Manage the assigned specialty portfolio
• Develop informational and learning resources in a variety of formats
• Facilitate and/or deliver professional development opportunities for library staff and trustees
• Provide timely and relevant reference services to library staff, trustees, and library stakeholders
• Contribute collaboratively to achieving annual department projects and goals
• Participate in departmental and other required meetings.
• Library governance and management consulting
• Assess the needs of library staff and trustees related to library governance and management through annual department outreach including using surveys and conducting site visits
• Perform research on and monitor the status of local, state, and federal statutes, regulations, and policy that affect libraries in Maine
• Facilitate and create materials for workshops, training, and other learning opportunities for library staff and trustees using research findings
• Maine Regional Library System support
• Serve as a region liaison for one or more of the regions in the Maine Regional Library System
• Collaborate with region representative(s) to the Maine Library Advisory Council to provide learning and networking opportunities within the assigned region
• Provide direct consulting services to libraries within the assigned region working collaboratively with other consultants

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

We are seeking candidates with the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Familiarity with library policy and the ethics of librarianship
• Familiarity with Maine statutes that affect library governance, management, and services
• Demonstrated ability to research complex topics in response to refence requests from library stakeholder groups
• Ability to conduct a complex reference interview on issues pertaining to library governance and management
• Experience conducting legal research and summarizing legal resources for a lay audience
• Ability to facilitate and/or provide training for Maine library community members on relevant federal, state, and municipal statutes, policies, and regulations relevant for library management and the delivery of services
• Demonstrated writing ability to develop resources for professional development opportunities for library staff
• Demonstrated presentation skills including online/virtual webinars
• Ability to work collegially with all types of library staff, library trustees, and other library stakeholder groups
• Ability to work with a diverse and independent team
• Ability to analyze, plan and implement projects to accomplish MSL mission and goals

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Master's D