Hiring, Evaluating & Replacing Library Directors
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Transcript Hiring, Evaluating & Replacing Library Directors
YOU WANT US TO DO WHAT?!
HIRING, EVALUATING & REPLACING
LIBRARY DIRECTORS
A GUIDE FOR LIBRARY BOARDS
Janis Stubbs
Board basics
Board members have one employee: the director.
Most important job the board has is to hire a great
director.
Successful boards let the director run the library
and supervise staff.
Hiring the Director – 5 DON’T’s
Don’t rush the process
Don’t assume internal candidate is superior
Don’t hire a new director based on what the old
director was like
Don’t be cheap!
Don’t delay
The Process
Your budget
Bump in salary for acting director?
Travel expenses, meals
Library needs
Board brainstorming session
Issues facing new director
Who is your ideal candidate?
Staff input
Who will sit on the search committee?
Soliciting Applicants
A current, formal job description for the position
Creating an ad that will attract attention from
good candidates
Budget,
community, salary range
Ad placement
Apply
electronically or snail mail?
Who receives applications?
Where to advertise
New Jersey Library Association (www.njla.org)
Pennsylvania Library (www.palibraries.org)
New York Library Association (www.nyla.org)
Drexel University (www.cis.drexel.edu/jobs/)
Rutgers University (www.scils.rutgers.edu/placement/)
Possibly Clarion University and University of Pittsburgh
Newspapers
Professional journals (e.g. jobs.libraryjournal.com)
More recruiting sources
Headhunters
Current staff
Staff from neighboring libraries
Ask around!
Once You Have Applicants
Create a packet of information for applicants
Determine how to screen applicants
Checklist
for the basics
Compile list of interview questions
Decide how the interviews will proceed
Interviewing
Make sure interviewers stick to the script—
same questions for every candidate
No illegal questions
Same ratings system for every candidate
Don’t make the interview too long
Leave time for questions
Allow for some spontaneity but keep it moving
After first round
Narrow to one or two choices
Second interviews if needed
More specific questions
Discussion of salary and benefits
Meet with staff/board/municipal officials?
The Outcome
Search committee makes its choice
Decision goes to full board
Board president makes formal offer
Candidate formally accepts
Other candidates notified
Establish probationary period and process to monitor
Clearly communicate expectations
When all is said and done…
Thank staff for hard work during search
Celebrate! Have a reception at the library
Invite staff, Friends, municipal officials and
community
Make new director feel welcome
Make yourselves available for questions or concerns
Congratulate yourselves for a successful outcome
Evaluating the Library Director
Purpose:
Understanding board expectations
Provides motivation and feedback
Helps the board understand library operations
Keeps job description current
Who does it?
Standing personnel committee or committee appointed for
this purpose
Tell director who is participating
Full board should see the results and sign off on final
evaluation
Basis for the review
For new directors, evaluation should come at the
end of established probation period
For continuing directors, annual evaluation
Should be based on previously established goals
and objectives
Evaluation should be unofficially year-round; no
surprises
How to conduct the review
Start with the director’s self-evaluation
Use director’s job description
Have a set of criteria to use for assessment
Evaluation should be both written and verbal
Points to consider
Does the director’s performance match the goals set the
previous year?
How are relationships with staff, elected officials, the
community?
Is the director a good financial steward?
Is there a strategic plan for the library? If not, is it
being discussed and worked on?
How about supervisory skills? Good delegator? Ready
to try new things?
Does the director keep up with current trends?
Memberships in professional organizations like ALA,
NJLA?
If the evaluation isn’t wonderful…
Establish improvement plan
Adhere to library policy
Do not let personality conflicts influence the
evaluation
Keep everything confidential
Resources
http://ldb.njstatelib.org/ldb_files/imported/Trustees/L
ibrary%20Director%20Performance%20Appraisal.pdf
http://www.baycountylibrary.org/wpcontent/uploads/LibraryDirectorEvaluationPolicy-311.pdf
http://www.lrs.org/documents/field_stats/Employee_E
valuations.pdf
http://midhudson.org/trustee/dir_eval.htm
Replacing the library director
Replacing a library director
Document, document, document!
Determine whether director is causing problems or
has problems
Start with performance evaluation
Difficult
to gauge daily performance since board
members aren’t at the library every day
Do you involve staff? Do you listen to staff if they
come to you?
Where to begin
Do SOMETHING! Do not let problems worsen
Adhere to library personnel policy
Follow union/civil service contract or regulations
Disciplinary action
Formulate
written plan of corrective action
Verbal and/or written warning, suspension
Reasons for termination
Insubordination
Ignoring board policies or doing the opposite of
them
Excessive tardiness, absenteeism
Drugs or alcohol on the job
Harassment
Theft
Sleeping on the job
Verbal or physical abuse
How to proceed
Inform municipal officials/ask for help
Make sure everything is legal
Consult
library attorney
Check New Jersey employment law
Allow director to resign?
Keep a tight lid on everything
Employee deserves respect throughout process
Avoid the potential for lawsuits
The actual event
Be prepared
Be sensitive to timing
Choose neutral site
Be honest; stick to facts
Keep it short
Don’t argue
Final paycheck? Benefits issues?
Leave immediately?
If possible, end on positive note
Afterwards
Do other employees know? How will you tell them?
Say nothing publicly
Plan who will serve in the interim
Salary adjustments?
Don’t delay starting search for new director
Think about how to answer candidates who ask why
there is a vacancy
Look to the future; stay positive!
Conclusion
Today you’ve learned…
Good strategies for hiring a new director
Effective ways to evaluate a director
Why and how to terminate an unsuccessful director
Now celebrate what good board members you are!
Questions
????
Janis Stubbs
Assistant Director/District Consultant
Delaware County Library System
340 N. Middletown Rd.
Fair Acres Building 19
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-8622
[email protected]