Manager of Adult Services

RAILS Libraries; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 79,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (90% premium)

IMRF retirement

20 vacation days

12 health leave days

5 personal days

13 holidays

8 weeks parental leave

Tuition assistance

Professional association dues

Lifestyle Spending Account

Job summary

The Oak Park Public Library seeks a full-time Manager of Adult Services to lead its Adult Services team and Creative Technology efforts. This role drives equitable, patron-centered services, budgets, projects, and strategy as part of the Management Team, supervising 20+ staff and collaborating with the Director of Public Services and Communications.

Fluency in English and Spanish is a plus; a 40-hour workweek and salary range of $79,000 to $89,000 are provided with a robust benefits package and

Qualifications

• Understands and advances the library's vision and priorities.
• Service-oriented and committed to exceptional patron service.
• Supports a positive team environment.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Willing to adapt to shifting responsibilities.
• Takes initiative to improve service, processes, programs, and products.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and interpersonal skills.
• Be competent with current technology and willing to learn more.
• Knowledgeable about library resources and impact.
• Pays attention to detail and maintains confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Hires, trains, coaches, schedules, supervises, and evaluates staff; coordinates workflow.
• Resolves or reports personnel issues; directs learning and development.
• Prepares departmental records, statistics, and reports.
• Develops goals, objectives, strategic plan, and budget.
• Leads projects and ensures alignment with strategic plan.
• Guides programming delivery and participates in outreach.
• Ensures staff have required technical skills and equipment.
• Leads monthly department and library-wide meetings.

Skills

Organizational alignment

Customer service

Collaboration & teamwork

Project management

Adaptability

Initiative

Judgment & political savvy

Technical proficiency

Accountability

Accuracy

Integrity

Education

Master’s degree in library and information science

Job description

The Oak Park Public Library seeks a full-time Manager of Adult Services to join and lead its Adult Services team.

Position Summary

The Manager of Adult Services is a key member of the library's Management Team, responsible for providing strategic and day-to-day operational leadership for the Adult Services department, including the Creative Technology team. This role champions the delivery of equitable, patron-centered services and programs that advance the library's mission and strategic priorities, navigating the unique dynamics of a high-accountability community.

Reporting to the Director of Public Services and Communications, the Manager is accountable for department-wide functions, including budget development, project execution, and strategic goal setting. This position directly and indirectly supervises, coaches, and evaluates 20-plus departmental staff to ensure a high-performing team that fosters lifelong learning, community engagement, and digital fluency across the library’s physical and virtual spaces.

Bilingualism in English and Spanish (or another language relevant to Oak Park’s community) is a plus; while not required, fluency in another language will enable you to provide exceptional customer service and build relationships with more of our community members.

This position is full-time, with a 40-hour workweek.

Anticipated starting salary range: $79,000 to $89,000. Offers are made within this range based on competencies, experience, and internal equity.

As part of the comprehensive compensation package, full-time library staff members receive generous benefits, including:

• 90% premium coverage for PPO and HMO medical insurance across all tiers
• Enrollment in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), a premier defined benefit (pension) plan for Illinois municipal government employees
• 20 paid vacation days annually
• 12 paid health leave days annually
• 5 paid personal days annually
• 13 paid holidays annually
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave
• Up to $5,250 per year tuition assistance for continuing education
• Paid learning opportunities, such as webinars and conferences
• Paid dues for professional association membership
• $150 Lifestyle Spending Account to enhance your physical, financial, and emotional well-being

Required Qualifications

• Organizational Alignment:Understands, supports, and advances the library's vision, mission, and strategic priorities.
• Customer Service: Service-oriented and committed to providing exceptional service to our patrons, staff, and community.
• Collaboration and Teamwork:Supports a positive team environment in which members participate, respect, and cooperate with each other to receive desired results.
• Project Management:Excellent project management skills.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates willingness to accept a shift in responsibilities due to the nature of a changing workplace.
• Initiative: Takes initiative in improving service, processes, programs, and products.
• Judgment and Political Savvy: Displays emotional intelligence and possesses excellent interpersonal skills in navigating the workplace. Proven ability to exercise sound judgment and independent thinking.
• Technical Proficiency: Be competent in using current technology and be willing to learn and grow in technical understanding.
• Accountability: Be knowledgeable about library resources, services, and impact.
• Accuracy: Pays attention to detail.
• Integrity:Demonstrates the capacity to maintain confidentiality.

Education and Experience

Required

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Demonstrated success in leading and mentoring a team to achieve objectives, while fostering a collaborative environment.

Preferred

• Experience designing programs and services.
• Experience working in a public library or similar non-profit setting, with an understanding of the public institution's purpose and its mission within the community.

A combination of education, professional, and lived experiences that demonstrate the ability to meet the position’s requirements successfully may be considered.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Management

• Hires, trains, coaches, schedules, supervises, and evaluates staff; coordinates and monitors workflow to determine staffing needs.
• Resolves or reports personnel issues.
• Directs the learning and professional development of staff.
• Responds appropriately to internal and external customer service issues when they arise
• Prepares and maintains departmental records, statistics, and reports.
• Develops and implements goals and objectives, a strategic plan, and a budget.
• Participates as a member of the library management team.
• Leads and participates in projects, adhering to project management standards.
• Guides the delivery of programming for the service area in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Participates in library-wide outreach and programming.
• Leads and participates in monthly department meetings and attends library-wide meetings
• Assures that service points are appropriately staffed and staff are trained in service area procedures.
• Connects with SWAN and RAILS for guidance, collaboration, and information sharing as appropriate.
• Ensures staff have the required technical skills and equipment.

Leadership

• Collaborates with Management and Leadership Teams to develop and revise library strategies and policies, and to address system-wide needs and issues
• Resolves or reports problems affecting the patron experience (facilities, technology, staffing, etc.)
• Communicates, interprets, and assures compliance with policies and procedures
• Leads project and team meetings (sets the agenda, reviews, and reports minutes)
• Assists with planning and implementing the library’s strategic goals

Community Engagement

• Promotes library services and programs in the community
• Builds and maintains relationships with community partners
• Identifies opportunities for engagement

Learning

• Engages in professional development and continuous learning activities across diverse fields and disciplines to support organizational learning and growth
• Stays current with trends related to library service

Evaluation/Assessment

• Collaborates with Data Analysis Consultant, Management and Leadership Teams to implement evaluation strategies for service area
• Monitors the patron experience at the library’s physical and virtual locations, providing a variety of methods and opportunities for immediate and ongoing patron and staff feedback
• Analyzes patron /staff feedback and frames problems for staff members to develop solutions

About the Oak Park Public Library

The Oak Park Public Library strategically prioritizes equity, anti-racism, engagement, learning, and stewardship. We serve a diverse population at our three locations and out in the Oak Park community. Our vision is to empower every voice in our community, and our mission is to share the information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations.

The Oak Park Public Library is an equal opportunity employer.We are committed to creating and supporting an environment of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion for the benefit of our staff, collections, programs and services, patrons, and community. Members of traditionally marginalized groups and those committed to working in a diverse cultural environment are encouraged to apply.

$79,000 to $89,000. Offers are made within this range based on competencies, experience, and internal equity.