Supervising Librarian - Support Services

University of Alabama Libraries; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto City Library seeks a skilled Supervising Librarian for the Community Engagement & Support Services division. The role oversees collections, acquisitions, and technical services across five branches, supervising staff and ensuring quality public service.

The ideal candidate will have detail-oriented library experience in acquisitions, collection development, cataloging, and supervision, with strong communication and community outreach skills.

Qualifications

• Detail-oriented library professional with acquisitions, collection development, cataloging and supervisory experience.
• Strong data tracking and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operation of one or more branch libraries.
• Assess and respond to customer needs; oversee service provision in the program or operational area.
• Supervise, train and evaluate subordinate library staff.
• Coordinate staff schedules to provide adequate coverage.
• Develop plans and priorities, prepare budget requests, develop procedures and evaluate performance.
• Promote community contacts and conduct needs assessments.

Job description

The Palo Alto City Library is looking for a skilled, experienced, and passionate professional to serve as Supervising Librarian in our Community Engagement & Support Services division. This position will supervise the daily operations in Collections and Acquisitions, including managing staff; overseeing all collections and technical services operations across our five branch system. Self-directed, highly analytical, process-minded and innovative library professionals are encouraged to apply.

The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented library professional with acquisitions, collection development, cataloging and supervisory experience.

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage day-to-day operation of one or more branch libraries.
• Assess and respond to customer needs: oversee and evaluate the provision of service in the program or operational area.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Supervise, train and evaluate subordinate library staff in on-going program/facility operation.
• Represent library in cooperative library system committees and/or user groups, task forces and professional associations.
• Develop overall plans and priorities, prepares budget requests, develops procedures and evaluates performance.
• Coordinate staff schedules to provide adequate coverage.
• Demonstrate positive public relations with others and trains staff to do the same.
• Supervise meeting room bookings.
• Must have knowledge of computer technology and specific library applications integrated library system, interlibrary loan module, and online reference databases.
• Communicate with all library staff regarding status of program plans.
• Develop written procedures and policies in area of responsibility.
• Ensure that appropriate statistical records and reports of activities are prepared, maintained, and distributed.
• Participate in formulation and implementation of library goals and objectives.
• Plan and participate in activities to promote community contacts, including making presentations, organizing book sales or other fundraising activities, conducting needs assessments and responding to community requests for service.
• Must have ability to connect positively with library and community constituencies including the local governing authorities, community leaders and organizations, library staff, library patrons and the general public.
• Must foster the development of a cooperative work environment.

Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Nov 6, 2026, 11:59PM PST.