Library Public Services Area Manager

City of Milwaukee; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Milwaukee Public Library seeks a Library Public Services Area Manager to lead Special Collections and Humanities, including the Krug Rare Books Room. You will set goals, direct staff, manage budgets, and align initiatives with library strategy to ensure premier access to rare materials and archival collections.

The role emphasizes policy development, donor relations, grant pursuit, and cross‑unit collaboration to advance public access and scholarly use of unique materials.

Qualifications

• Master of Library Science or equivalent from an ALA-accredited program.
• Five years of increasingly responsible post-MLIS librarian experience, with at least three in leadership or administrator roles.
• Experience with special collections, archives, or rare books is a plus.
• Strong customer service, program development, and staff coaching capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Special Collections and Humanities divisions, including the Krug Rare Books Room.
• Direct staff in customer service, programs, preservation, and collection maintenance.
• Oversee scheduling, staff development, budgets, and grant opportunities.
• Lead collection development, digitization, and access initiatives in collaboration with other library units.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards and policies for rare materials.

Skills

Staff leadership

Budgeting

Customer service

Education

MLIS or equivalent

Tools

Cataloging systems

Digital archives platforms

Job description

The Library Public Services Area Manager (PSAM) oversees the Special Collections and Humanities division, including the Krug Rare Books Room and archival collections. The PSAM manages unit goals, priorities, and work plans aligned with the Library’s mission and strategic direction.

Essential Functions

Leadership and Administration:

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversee daily operations for Special Collections and Humanities divisions, including the Krug Rare Books Room.
• Develop and direct staff related to excellent customer service and programs, materials handling, performance management, collection development and maintenance, resource delivery, and the preservation of selected materials.
• Oversee the scheduling of Special Collections & Archives public services staff, including making emergency staff assignments.
• Lead and support managers in prioritizing program initiatives and collection-related projects.
• Establish departmental goals, priorities, and strategic objectives; develop initiatives and implementation plans.
• Contribute to the system-wide planning, decision‑making, and library-wide initiatives as part of the Library Administration team.
• Develop, implement, and interpret policies, procedures, and programs related to collections, services, and operations to ensure consistency, compliance, and alignment with professional best practices for special collections and rare books.
• Manage departmental budgets, expenditures, and resource allocation to ensure responsible stewardship of funds and alignment with operational and strategic priorities.
• Identify and pursue relevant grants and other funding opportunities.
• Lead the development, stewardship, and sustainability of rare books, manuscripts, archival materials, and unique artifacts, maintaining a balanced collection that reflects current use, long‑term research value, and public access.
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with current and prospective donors and institutional partners, collaborating on the evaluation, appraisal, and acquisition of materials to enhance the distinctiveness and visibility of the Library’s collections.
• Conduct environmental assessments and benchmarking, gathering best practices from peer institutions and preparing analyses, reports, and usage studies to inform decision‑making and strategic planning.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical, and professional standards governing rare and archival materials.
• Communicate departmental activities, outcomes, and progress effectively to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring Library leadership and staff are informed and engaged.
• Stay current with professional literature and participate in related professional organizations.
• Assist in planning of central library renovations and building projects.

Collection Management & Development:

• Direct the planning and execution of exhibitions, public programs, outreach efforts, and other initiatives that are responsive to community needs and promote meaningful engagement with collections.
• Work collaboratively with others to improve MPL’s virtual service point and finding aids to facilitate statewide use of MPL’s unique collections.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report local and regional use of collections and resources.
• Serve as a resource and support managers who are assigned to the partnering societies and organizations that support MPL’s special collections and archives.
• Serve on one or more boards as MPL’s representative.
• Oversee preservation, conservation, valuation, digitization, risk management, and responsible disposition of materials to ensure long‑term access, security, and integrity.
• Direct and coordinate staff in the selection, organization, and use of special collections materials.
• Lead Special Collections‑related digitization and digital access initiatives, including prioritization, rights management, and digital preservation.
• Collaborate closely with Technical Services, Cataloging, and other Library units to support accessioning, metadata strategy, discovery, and cross‑functional projects.
• Keep abreast of developments in special collections and archives standards and trends, applying new rules, interpretations, and techniques as appropriate.

Security:

• Oversee and manage the security of rarities and archival collections at the Milwaukee Public Library.
• Monitor the daily access and usage of the Krug Rare Books Room at the Central Library, including overseeing staff use of items and assigned work in collections to ensure the highest level of security and protection of documents.
• Model a high level of understanding of security best practices for special collections and rarities and coach staff on standard protocols.

Performance Management:

• Establish clear goals, expectations, and performance measures.
• Develop written performance expectations for staff; evaluate their performance and counsel them on the provision of high-quality service and professional development.
• Model a high level of customer service, train and coach staff to do the same.
• Participate in staff recruitment, selection, discipline, recognition, transfer and promotion.
• Support direct reports who work with volunteers and identify new volunteer opportunities.
• Assist in reviewing and developing job descriptions.
• Oversee progressive discipline processes and personnel management, ensuring accountability and consistent application of policies and procedures.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate a diverse team of managers, librarians, and support staff.
• Support professional development of staff that contributes to their professional growth and effectiveness as well as individual career goals.
• Provide ongoing training and coaching for staff on best practices and protocols related to special collections, including materials handling, security, conservation, and other core operational standards.
• Plan and conduct in‑service sessions and staff meetings.
• Assist in developing training for staff on new technologies.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

Conditions of Employment

The Library Public Services Area Manager must be willing and able to do the following:

• Work flexible work hours, including some evening and weekend hours, over 40 hours per week.
• Lift and move items weighing up to 10 pounds occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• File a Statement of Economic Interests in accordance with the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances Chapter 303-Code of Ethics.

1. Master's degree in library science or library information science (MLIS) from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited library school.

2. Five years of increasingly responsible post-MLIS professional librarian experience, of which three years must have been serving as one of the following:

• Administrator of a major library division, large branch, or independent community library.
• Coordinator of special collections or archives in a library, museum, or other similar setting.

3. Valid Driver’s license with personal automobile and appropriate insurance required at the time of appointment and throughout employment. *Private automobile allowance may be paid pursuant to Section 350-183 of the Milwaukee Code.

NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates’ education as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offers.

Desirable Qualifications

• Coursework, certification, or related experience in special collections, archives, or rare books.