Library Manager - Riverside Library

New York Public Library; New York (NY); On-site; USD 66,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York Public Library seeks a capable Library Manager for Riverside Library, leading a public service team and coordinating programs in a busy urban branch. The role emphasizes customer service, community partnerships, budgeting, and staff development.

Independent decision-making, strong communication, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion are essential. 35 hours weekly; Riverside location; base salary shown in the posting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Substantial public library experience with administrative, supervisory and leadership responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to supervise, train and mentor staff.
• Strong budgeting, procurement and program management capabilities.
• Knowledge of urban public library services and community engagement.
• Spanish fluency preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day branch operations including information, circulation, outreach, and programming.
• Hires and develops staff, conducts evaluations, training, and discipline.
• Oversees branch appearance, budget, and procurement of furniture/supplies.
• Develops strategies to improve user experience using data and metrics.
• Builds partnerships with local organizations and officials.
• Collaborates with programming units to create community programs.
• Maintains collection profile and communicates needs to Collection Development.
• Ensures exceptional customer service and manages patron concerns.
• Coordinates with Library Network Manager to ensure service quality.
• Stays current in library matters through professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Communication

Spanish fluency (preferred)

Project management

Community engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Google apps

PCs/Macs

Job description

Library Manager - Riverside Library

Application Deadline: 25 September 2026

Department: Branch Libraries

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Riverside Library

Reporting To: Jake Odland

Compensation: $77,682 / year

Description

Overview The mission of the New York Public Library is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities. To deliver on this promise, we provide free access to physical and electronic resources in neighborhoods throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

The New York Public Library is seeking a bright, dynamic, and enthusiastic manager to provide leadership and direction to a team of public service professionals in the Riverside Library. The Riverside branch dates to 1897, when the Riverside Association donated its small collection to the New York Free Circulating Library. Riverside became a branch of The New York Public Library in 1901. It has since evolved into a modern library located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, residing in its current location since 1992. With over 237,000 patron visits per year, the Library offers a comprehensive service to all those who live, work and study in the changing Lincoln Square neighborhood by offering patrons access to a wide range of books, information and knowledge.

The Library Manager must have a passion for creating an environment of teamwork that embraces change and excellent customer service. They must possess effective management skills and experience, and be knowledgeable about the administrative and programmatic operations of public libraries in an urban setting.

Key Responsibilities Under the general direction of the Associate Director:

• Manages the day to day operations of the branch including information, circulation, outreach, and programming services


• Serves as the hiring manager for the site and is responsible for the ongoing development, evaluation, training, and discipline of staff in accordance with Library policies


• Has overall responsibility for branch appearance and layout, the procurement of furniture and supplies, and the branch’s operational budget


• Develops and implements strategies to enhance the onsite user experience, including using statistics and metrics to tailor services to meet local community needs and drive circulation and attendance


• Builds partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, elected officials and community leaders to further strengthen the branch’s relationship with their diverse community


• Partners with Programming units to develop and facilitate innovative programs for the community’s diverse patron base


• Maintains and updates the Library’s collection profile, including merchandising the material and communicating collection needs to the Collection Development team


• Focuses overall effort on providing exceptional customer service, including rallying the Branch Library team around this goal and resolving patron complaints as needed


• Collaborates with Library Network Manager and other departments to improve the quality and variety of branch library services, ensure that the site is well-maintained and that technology is operational


• Stays current in public library matters through professional development, involvement in professional organizations, interlibrary organizations, and attending professional meetings, conferences or workshops


• Performs related duties as required

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Skills

• Substantial public library experience working in a variety of roles displaying administrative, supervisory, and leadership skills appropriate to the position


• Successfully demonstrated commitment to providing consistent, high-quality public services


• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills including the ability to serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for the Library


• Successfully demonstrated experience supervising, training, and mentoring staff


• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, identify and assess problems, and decisively implement appropriate solutions or recommendations


• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively across the Library to get things accomplished


• Creativity, flexibility, and initiative in accommodating community and staff needs


• Commitment to diversity and inclusion


• Experience implementing or enforcing library policies and procedures


• Knowledge and understanding of emerging library technologies, service and programming trends for people of all ages in urban public libraries


• Strong computer and other related technology skills, including MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Google applications, PCs, Macs and e-reader devices

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Hires and manages all staff in building


• Oversees branch programmatic and supplies budget


• Monitors personnel budge

Preferred Qualifications

• ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies preferred


• Experience creating, conducting and/or participating in community training, programming and outreach preferred


• Spanish fluency preferred

More...

Core Values All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues


• Be Resourceful in solving problems


• Be Curious in all aspects of your work


• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

• Public service library

Physical Duties

• Light lifting/moving required


• Remain in stationary positions for periods of time


• Daily use of a computer

Physical Required? No

Union/Non Union Local 1930

Schedule

• 35 hours per week to be scheduled during regular branch hours

The New York Public Library Salary Statement

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).