Executive Director: Oak Park Public Library (Illinois)

The Oak Park Public Library is a well-loved resource at the heart of the community. The mission of the Oak Park Public Library (the library) is to share the information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations and progress toward achieving its vision to empower every voice in the community. Oak Park Public Library is located in Oak Park, a Book Sanctuary Community within the State of Illinois, which passed the first-in-the-nation state bill protecting against book bans. The library provides a third space, beyond work and homes, that is free and welcoming for everyone.

Oak Park Public Library values and prioritizes:

• Equity and Anti-Racism with core values of Accessibility, Empowerment, Courage, Impact, Innovation, Representation, and Social Justice;
• Engagement with core values of Civic Responsibility, Collaboration, Compassion, Empathy, Gathering, and Participation;
• Learning with core values of Access, Education, Intellectual Freedom, Knowledge, Literacy, Opportunity, and Privacy;
• Stewardship with core values of Accountability, Affordability, Health, Preservation, Safety, Sustainability, and Transparency.

These four pillars were developed through a yearslong process of turning outward, listening to what kind of community Oak Parkers want to live in, as well as turning inward soliciting staff input and conducting an internal equity audit. During this process, an Anti-Racism Advisory Team was formed—consisting of library staff, patrons, board representation, local administrators, and young adults—to develop an anti-racism strategic plan. Oak Parkers shared that they aspire to live in a community that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and empathetic, as well as a place that supports education, health, literacy, safety, and affordability.

With this awareness, the Board, Executive Director, and Leadership Team collaboratively set these four pillars of Strategic Priorities and the intention of being a Library for Everyone. Oak Park Public Library is committed to serving everyone, especially those in the community who most need access to services and resources and for whom barriers may sometimes hinder full and equitable access. That includes those who are experiencing homelessness, those with health challenges, those with financial challenges, and other vulnerable or marginalized members of the community.

Oak Park Public Library consists of the Main Library, Dole Branch Library, and Maze Branch Library. In 2023, 371,003 patrons made in-person visits to the three Oak Park Public Library branches, and 39,472 people were reached via onsite and offsite library programs and outreach visits. 1,469,524 physical and digital items were circulated including 13,733 materials which were delivered directly to patrons where they live and work and 1,396 materials were distributed at community events via the Library’s Book Bike. The FY2024 budget is $12m.

The Oak Park Public Library sits at the center of the community and provides innovative ways for patrons to engage. Some highlights include:

The Board of Trustees of the Oak Park Public Library seeks an experienced, compassionate, collaborative leader to serve as Executive Director of the 5-star designated library serving a vibrant, diverse, and socially engaged community directly west of Chicago. In partnership with the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will guide Oak Park Public Library in the next chapter of its shared vision.

The Executive Director will be responsible for the organization’s management, effectiveness, sustainability, and growth by stewarding a Leadership Team responsible for Finance & Human Resources, Communications and Development, Facilities, Equity and Anti-Racism, Community Engagement, Social Services and Public Safety, Collections and Technology, Patron Services, Children’s Services, Middle and High School Services, Adult Services and Management. Overall, the Executive Director is responsible for the professional development, encouragement, and leadership of over 130 full-time and part-time staff members and reports to a seven-member elected Board of Trustees.

Staff Leadership, Development, and Empowerment

• Lead and inspire staff in identifying and implementing strategic initiatives that expand the library’s capacity to meet present and future community needs;
• Build productive and trusting relationships with the library’s Leadership and Management teams and nurture a sense of belonging amongst staff across locations and roles;
• Model collaborative, compassionate leadership to foster a culture of respect, shared goals, and appreciation among staff;
• Recognize staff’s expertise and empower staff to exercise their knowledge and leadership within their programs and the library;
• Ensure that there is effective and transparent internal communication, feedback, coordination, collaboration, and accountability;
• Provide leadership that ensures the organization has the talent to fulfill its mission, that talent is engaged, motivated, coached, and recognized, and prioritize professional development so that talent has the best skills working in support of the library’s goals.

External Community Relations

• Lead the library in service to the community by managing the organization to provide information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations;
• Use an asset-based approach to nurture a sense of community belonging within the library;
• Ensure the library is actively engaged and visible in the community, and act as a connector between the community and the library;
• Pursue and create opportunities to communicate and collaborate with community members to understand the needs and desires of patrons, to inform Oak Park Public Library programs and evaluate programmatic success;
• Work collaboratively with the leadership of other governing bodies for the collective good of the community;
• Foster relationships with community affinity groups to communicate ways that the library can collaborate or offer community space;
• Work collaboratively with Friends of the Oak Park Public Library to continue to build additional resources for the library and develop volunteer relationships;
• Support relationships between staff and community agencies where helpful, such as Social Services and Public Safety Director and Oak Park Housing and mental health.

Library Trustee Collaboration and Strategic Leadership

• Build and maintain a collaborative, trusted, engaged, and effective working relationship with the Board of Trustees;
• Facilitate the library’s ongoing progress toward a continued commitment to equitable access, inclusive practices, diversity in all areas of operations, and anti-racism, including staffing, collections, communications, outreach, and community programming;
• Identify opportunities for improvement by evaluating the library’s effectiveness and refining strategies as needed to ensure success and sustainability;
• Serve as a bridge-builder between Trustees and library Staff; foster a sense of enthusiasm to make progress towards well-defined and operationalized common goals;
• Exhibit a clear sense of mission and vision when addressing controversial and complex issues with Trustees, staff, and the community through thoughtful consideration and deliberation of those issues.

Organizational Management

• Partner with the senior leadership team to ensure that the library is operated according to best practices for effective organizational management, and that the quality, scope, and suitability of programs and activities reflect the vision and values of the library;
• Exhibit a strong focus on short and long-term goals, accountability, and results; establish or maintain focus on clear metrics for success;
• Operate with the highest level of financial integrity; cultivate a strong reputation for public transparency and financial stewardship to support strategic priorities and the library’s goals;
• Ensure the safety and security of all library locations, providing the necessary support to keep staff and patrons safe at all times;
• Work with the Leadership Team to oversee operations, finances, facilities, compliance, and human resources; ensure that the library’s contractual obligations are fulfilled.

Candidate Profile

Oak Park Public Library does require that the incoming Executive Director possess a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree or other ALA-accredited graduate degree or international equivalent in the field of Library Science / Library Information Science. Oak Park Public Library also recognizes that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display many of the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• A record of progressively responsible leadership and team management experience, including experience in a public library system and success as a manager of large multi-function teams;
• Knowledge of public library operations and current technology available to optimize the library’s operational effectiveness;
• Robust commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism, and experience successfully prioritizing, highlighting, and implementing these principles to make marked progress in organizational policies and culture;
• Multi-cultural competence and ability to work with people from a variety of ethnic, racial, socio-economic, educational, linguistic, and religious backgrounds, as well as people with disabilities, and people of different sexual orientations, gender identities, and generations;
• Experience working diplomatically and compassionately in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments;
• High emotional intelligence with a genuine openness to constructive input from staff, community members, partners, and the library Trustees; ability to creatively problem-solve, exercise sound judgment, and lead change including resolving complex issues;
• A record of attracting, engaging, and inspiring others, with sensitivity to others’ perspectives, and an awareness of constituent needs across library locations and how to build partnerships based on fundamental integrity, principles, and values;
• Experience working with library Trustees to collaboratively envision and enact strategic priorities; and with an organization in senior level resource planning, organizing, resource development, coordinating, financial management, and budgeting;
• Strong communication skills, both in writing and in public speaking and experience presenting with cultural sensitivity, and an ability to listen, influence, and successfully.

The starting annual salary for the role ranges from $140,000 to $160,000, commensurate with experience. The Oak Park Public Library offers substantial benefits, including enrollment in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), 90% premium coverage for medical insurance for all tiers, access to dental and vision insurance, flexible spending plans, commuter and lifestyle spending accounts, and 457 and Roth IRA retirement plans. The annual paid time off benefits are also generous, including 20 vacation days, 12 health leave days, 5 personal days, and 13 holidays. The Oak Park Public Library is an equal opportunity employer. It is committed to creating and supporting an environment of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion for the benefit of its staff, collections, programs and services, patrons, and community. Members of traditionally marginalized groups and those committed to working in a diverse cultural environment are encouraged to apply.