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Central Kansas Library System - Regional System Librarian/Director

Salary Range: $70,000 - $85,000 annually

We are looking for someone to help us make magic happen. We are looking for someone with the following talents to assist our staff and our unique community:

1. Service oriented
2. Organized, detailed with great time management
3. Big picture thinker and open minded collaborator
4. Passionate about libraries and those we serve
5. Experience with a multi-million dollar budget

Are you ready to:

1. Support our mission, vision and values while fostering a team-focused environment?
2. Bring big ideas to life and help shape the future of our member libraries?
3. Have fun while making a meaningful impact in the lives of our member libraries?
4. Lead a multi-type regional system of cooperative libraries successfully into the future?
5. Work with and lead a close knit, dynamic, and dedicated staff with a proven track record of innovation and a national reputation for excellence?

Our organization is welcoming, positive, and productive. Our culture fosters collaboration and excellence with a spirit of genuine caring and empathy for everyone with whom we work and serve. If this sounds like the right fit for you, please consider applying to be the next Director of the Central Kansas Library System.

The Central Kansas Library System, headquartered in Great Bend, Kansas, seeks an eager, committed, and experienced leader as its next System Director. Duties include management of planning, fiscal, personnel, service functions, and legislative advocacy.

The next System Director will lead a dynamic and thriving regional library system in Central Kansas. Capable and experienced librarians (MLS required) are invited to pursue this unusual opportunity to serve as the new director of the seventeen-county cooperative, multi-type Central Kansas Library System. The Director will continue and enhance existing services, and partner with member libraries to explore new and innovative directions. The Director will develop relationships, foster cohesive, strong service oriented teams, and demonstrate effective management and interpersonal skills at the regional and state levels. A strong commitment to service and the ability to build strong relationships in forming a vision for the future are essential. Active legislative advocacy and participation in statewide library programs and organizations are required.

The Central Kansas Library System: The Central Kansas Library System (CKLS) offers services to multi-type libraries in 17 counties within the region. Within the service area, CKLS levies a tax in sixteen counties and contracts for service with one library in a non-taxing county. Fifty four public libraries are located in the seventeen county region. The CKLS service area includes 30 Unified School Districts, four academic libraries, and one institutional library. CKLS has two joint-use (K-12/public) in the region, which serve as both the school library and the city library. The CKLS service area is primarily rural with the largest city being close to 47,000 in population. CKLS is governed by a Full System Board that meets to approve the budget, revision of bylaws, and election of officers to the Executive Board. The Full System Board delegates the day to day running of the System to the Executive Board, which meets monthly to oversee operations.

CKLS is one of the seven Kansas regional library systems with a budget of $2,145,590 (primarily from rural property taxes). CKLS provides a broad range of traditional and innovative services to its member libraries, including financial grants, a shared open source library catalog with 56 participating libraries, participation in the statewide materials delivery service, and extensive consulting and training support to member libraries and library trustees.

The Community: Great Bend is a community of 14,372 providing quality rural living within two hours of several metropolitan areas. Great Bend has well-developed recreation, education, arts and health resources, including a community college, an excellent school system, a community theater, a regional hospital, and parks.

Responsibilities: The System Librarian/Director, under the direction of the 12 member Executive Board and Full System Board, serves as chief executive of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), and has overall responsibility for leadership and management of the System. In addition, the Director is responsible to the State Library of Kansas Board for approval of the annual budget and service plan. The Director develops and manages the annual budget, leads planning and implementation of existing and future programs and services to meet goals and member library needs and priorities. The Director will motivate and support system staff to deliver cost-effective programs and services that meet the needs of library users in member libraries and will train member library trustees. The Director will also ensure an active CKLS presence in the statewide library community.

Qualifications: Minimum requirements include a Masters Degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited program, and at least five years relevant experience, including at least two years experience in an administrative position. Essential personal qualities are leadership initiative, the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects, reports, evaluations, ongoing activities, using effective planning and organizational skills. The ability to work in a constructive and cooperative manner with a diverse range of personnel, governing bodies, colleagues and member institutions and government officials is crucial. The Director, through responsiveness, understanding, and energy will motivate an outstanding team of board, staff and member libraries to position the system at the forefront of library service. Experience with both public libraries and library cooperatives, and working with a board is necessary. The Director will have the demonstrated ability to mediate differences among member libraries and evaluate the diverse needs of member libraries using creative and effective solutions. Willingness and flexibility to work irregular hours and to travel for extended periods of time as required by the needs of the System. Experience with library trends and issues, computer skills including spreadsheets, accounting software, and remote-access technologies is preferred.

This is not a remote or work from home position.

Compensation: $70,000 – 85,000 annually, (based on experience and qualifications) with an excellent benefits package.

Email complete application packet (Job application, answers to supplemental questions, and resume) to jobs@ckls.org.

Application review begins March 24, 2025.