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UHLS Newsletter
2002 - 2008

This page contains news and events of the Upper Hudson Library System. To see news and events of the member libraries, please go directly to the libraries' web sites.

 
Library Manager (full time) - Menands Public Library (Albany County, NY)

The Board of Trustees of the Menands Public Library seeks an enthusiastic and community-oriented individual to serve as Library Manager to oversee the library in the Village of Menands.

The Menands Public Library is a school district public library and is a member of the Upper Hudson Library System. The Library Manager reports to a five-member board of trustees and collaborates with the library board on a variety of activities related to delivering library service to our community. The Library Manager has primary responsibility for the operation and management of the library, including but not limited to: collection development, customer service, program planning and implementation, utilization of technology to enhance library services, written monthly updates to the board, public relations and community outreach. The Library Manager supervises a small staff of up to five part-time employees.

The position of Library Manager is provisional and permanent appointment is contingent upon passing the Library Manager Albany County Civil Service exam and being reachable on the eligible list for that title.

Minimum qualifications for this position include completion of sixty (60) credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university and one (1) year of professional experience in administering not-for-profit, government, education, human services, or library services. Equivalent volunteer work in a library can be substituted for professional experience.

The Library Manager’s annual salary will be $40,000 - $44,000 based on the selected candidate’s skills and experience. The compensation package also includes participation in the New York State Retirement System. The projected start date for this position will be February 14, 2021.

More information about the position and the library can be found on the library's website here: https://www.menandslibrary.org.

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to the Search Committee via email to menandsdirectorsearch@uhls.org.

Application review will begin on 12/15/20 and continue until the position is filled.

Library Director, Robert A. Fahr Watervliet Public Library, Watervliet NY

The Robert A. Fahr Watervliet Public Library is seeking an energetic and creative leader with a strong commitment to public library service for the position of Library Director to continue growth and maximize the positive impact the library has in the community.

An Association public library serving a user population of approximately 10,000, the Library is governed by a seven-member board of trustees. In 2015 the Library opened a fully renovated and expanded 3,700 sq. ft. facility that boasts a dedicated space for youth collections and services, an adult reading room, and a digital learning center. With the newly renovated facilities the library experienced a significant increase in Library circulation, visits, and program attendance. Building on this success the Library asked the Watervliet community to vote on an annual funding budget of $150,000.00 which was overwhelmingly approved.

The Library Director reports to the Board of Trustees and holds primary responsibility for the operation and management of the Library. Duties include collection, service, and program planning and management; collaboration with the board on the yearly budget; daily budget oversight; supervision of staff and volunteers; customer service; marketing, public relations and community outreach; implementation of technology to enhance library services, fundraising and grant writing.

The position is scheduled to work 35 hours per week, with predominantly weekday hours and occasional Saturday hours to support library programs and events. The position requires an MLS or MLIS from an ALA-accredited university AND a minimum of 1-year post-MLS experience managing a public library or major library services. 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate flexibility, excellent communication skills, familiarity with current library technologies, and a positive and professional attitude. The candidate should show an aptitude to work alongside the board to reach agreed upon goals for the betterment of the library community and evolve programs and library collection based on what library patrons and the board views as important services to maintain in the library. Demonstrated experience in library collection and program development, staff and volunteer supervision, budgeting, and facility management is also highly desirable.  Fundraising and grant writing experience will be considered a plus.

The Library Director’s annual salary will be $40,000 to $45,000 based on the selected candidate’s skills and experience. The package also includes paid vacation and sick time and health benefits are negotiable.

All interested and qualified applicants are encouraged to submit an application. To apply please e-mail a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references to rafwpl.apply@gmail.com

The review of applications is ongoing and will continue until the position is filled.

UHLS Libraries Get Mobile App

We've got a brand new way to access library resources! Public libraries in Albany & Rensselaer counties now offer an app called UHLS Mobile, available for free in both Android and Apple app stores.

The app features include the ability to search the UHLS catalog; check the status of a library card account; place physical items (such as books, CDs and DVDs) on hold so they can be picked up at the library; discover and access digitally distributed items like ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines; and connect users to other information such as library hours and program calendars. The app even can scan the ISBN barcode of any book to see whether our libraries own a copy of a specific title—and place a request for that book right away. Download UHLS Mobile today and take us with you wherever you go this summer!

Full press release is here.

CORE Trustee Training Program now available to all UHLS member libraries

UHLS is pleased to announce that our new CORE Trustee Training program is now available for all member library trustees. This program is a 90 minute session that covers the fundamentals of being a library trustee, including roles and responsibilities, NYS minimum library standards, oaths of office, open meetings law, board/director roles, etc. The program also emphasizes the CORE values of Community, Openness, Respect, and Ethics as they relate to the work of a library trustee.

This program is valuable for all currently serving library trustees regardless of their tenure on their board. There is real added value from having all of a library's trustees share the experience together (common ground understanding of these fundamentals, encouraging mentoring of newer trustees by the "old hands", etc.). UHLS also recommends that the Library Director be included when a member library hosts the program to encourage that same common ground understanding between the Library Board and the Director.

The CORE Trustee Training has been designed to be an "on demand" program that can be conducted at member libraries at a date and time that is most convenient for trustees to come together. Please contact Tim Burke (e-mail - tim.burke@uhls.lib.ny.us or phone - (518) 437-9880 x222) to arrange a session for your library board.