City of Aberdeen Municipal Government is hiring: Library Director in Aberdeen

Overview

The Library Director provides leadership and direction for the City’s public library system, ensuring high-quality library services that educate, engage, and inspire the community. This position oversees daily operations, staff, budgeting, and program development while advancing the library’s mission to enrich the lives of our community through universal access to knowledge, lifelong learning, and literacy.

The Director works closely with the Library Board, City leadership, and community partners to shape library services that reflect community needs, promote literacy and lifelong learning, and support the City’s broader goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Hire, train, schedule, supervise, evaluate, and when necessary, discipline staff. Foster a collaborative and service‑oriented workplace culture that supports staff development and teamwork.
• Oversee the planning, delivery, and evaluation of library programs and services that promote literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement including reference, acquisitions, circulation, volunteer coordination, and community outreach.
• Develop, implement, and enforce library policies in compliance with Library Board and City Council directives, resolutions, ordinances, and guidelines.
• Supervise the maintenance of the library's automated systems, collections, facility, and equipment.
• Prepare and present the annual budget requests; manage approved funds and monitor all financial transactions and records.
• Review and approve payroll and related financial documentation.
• Monitor trends in library services, technology, and community needs to guide long‑range planning.
• Maintain accurate inventories, records, and reports.
• Select, purchase, and deselect materials in accordance with Library Board policies; manage and supervise the library's collections.
• Work in partnership with the Library Board, City Council, department heads, supervisors, and community stakeholders on library initiatives and operations.
• Prepare a variety of regular and special reports for the Library Board, City leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as recording secretary to the Library Board of Trustees; serve as ex‑officio member of the Aberdeen Library Foundation Board of Directors.
• Coordinate activities and partnerships with schools, county agencies, community organizations, and other groups.
• Ensure the security and safety of library facilities; monitor and report incidents such as trespassing, theft, or other criminal activity in a timely manner.
• Perform related duties.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of library science and administration.
• Knowledge of library technology, computers, and job‑related software programs.
• Knowledge of management and supervisory principles and practices.
• Knowledge of accounting and budget management principles.
• Knowledge of collection management principles.
• Knowledge of personnel management.
• Skill in management and supervision.
• Skill in the use of an automated library system.
• Skill in interpersonal and public relations.
• Skill in report preparation and presentation.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Library Board and the City Manager assign work in terms of library goals and objectives. The supervisors review work through conferences, reports, and observation of department activities.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include American Library Association guidelines, city personnel policies, state library laws and library policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application. This position develops library guidelines.

COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK

The work consists of varied duties in planning, directing, managing, and supervising the operation of the city library. Frequent changes to information technology standards and the rapid development of new trends in library services contribute to the complexity of the work.

The purpose of this position is to direct the operation of the city library. Successful performance in this position assures the effective and efficient operation of the library.

CONTACTS

Contacts are typically with coworkers, board members, other city employees, representatives of other libraries, vendors, business leaders, educators, and the general public. Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, resolve problems, provide services, motivate personnel, and justify, defend, negotiate or settle matters.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or while intermittently standing, walking, bending, crouching or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects and distinguishes between shades of color. The work is typically performed in a library.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

This position directly supervises select staff and provides oversight and guidance to additional employees through supervisory staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree in a related field with a Master’s in Library Science preferred.
• Applicants should have relevant work experience of at least five (5) years in the library science field, with a preference to candidates with supervisory experience.

RESIDENCY

All new hires must reside within the city limits unless specifically approved by the City Manager.

OPENING DATE

October 31, 2025

CLOSING DATE

November 30, 2025

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

Please include a cover letter explaining your interest in the role, a current resume highlighting your relevant experience, and complete the application. This information may be submitted by emailing it to hr@aberdeen.sd.us or can be delivered to the Human Resources office in City Hall.

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Function

• Other
• Government Administration