MELSA seeks Executive Director

Text courtesy of Metropolitan Library Service Agency.

Minnesota's public libraries are community hubs where people of any age can access tools vital to full participation in contemporary life. Children, teens, and adults visit libraries to borrow or download books, use a computer, attend a class or program, meet with colleagues, study with friends, or just relax in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Libraries offer friendly expertise and free and open access to entertainment, education opportunities, and practical information people need about literacy, health, business, technology, job-seeking, and more.

Minnesotans support public libraries through state income and local property taxes. Cooperative agreements among libraries provide cost-effective access from home, within nearby communities, and across the state to the collections of Minnesota's school, public, academic, and special libraries. The state provides access to thousands of e-books and dozens of information databases that benefit preschoolers through college students as well as lifelong learners.

The State of Minnesota is divided into 12 geographic regions for the purpose of delivering library services. MELSA (The Metropolitan Library Service Agency) is the largest regional public library system, with more than 100 library branches (out of more than 300 libraries across the state). The eight library systems in MELSA's region are Anoka County Library, Carver County Library, Dakota County Library, Hennepin County Library, Ramsey County Library, Saint Paul Public Library, Scott County Library, and Washington County Library.  MELSA works with, and promotes cooperation among, its member libraries and systems to bring the best library services and programs to the region's residents.

Mission: The mission of MELSA is to make great metro area public libraries better.
Vision: MELSA is a national leader among library collaboratives.
 

Position Overview

The Governing and Advisory boards seek an individual who has a passion for, and commitment to, the ongoing health of public libraries as essential entities in our society. The Executive Director will provide leadership and bring a strong voice to the public library ecosystem as a trusted steward of public dollars. The Executive Director will establish a clear vision for the organization that amplifies the power and collective impact potential of libraries across the public and private sector. The Executive Director will be a visible leader and cohesive voice for the library community, serving as both advocate and thought leader to ensure maximum public investment for the benefit of residents of the seven-county metro area and their public library systems.

The Executive Director is responsible for working with the Governing and Advisory boards to establish a strategic vision for MELSA and providing leadership for staff in the fulfillment of that vision through the daily management of the organization. The Executive Director is responsible for implementation of policies, goals, and objectives; the stewardship of public dollars; as well as the financial, programmatic, and administrative oversight of the organization, operating within guidelines set by state statute.
 

Funding Overview

The annual operating budget of MELSA is $6-$7 million annually, nearly all of which is redistributed to member library systems through cooperative agreements and grant programs. The organization holds approximately $1.8 million in capital and cash assets, and maintains a reported $500,000+ net pension liability as of December 31, 2017.

Nearly all of MELSA's revenue comes from State of Minnesota aid and grants, including Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) funds, Regional Library Telecommunications Aid (RLTA), and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
 

Governance and Organization Structure

MELSA is the administrative agency for receiving and equitable sharing of state and federal grant appropriations made available through State Library Services of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).  MELSA was established in 1969 as a nonprofit governmental agency in accordance with the Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement, an agreement between the cities and counties of the member libraries, and serves as one of 12 regional library systems in the state. MELSA is governed by a Board of Trustees; one trustee is appointed by each party to the agreement. The Trustees receive professional expertise from an Advisory Board composed of the directors for the eight member libraries.
 
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Trustees and supervises five individual staff positions (project manager; communications manager; office manager; youth services and project manager; and, business manager).  MELSA maintains centrally located administrative offices in Saint Paul, Minnesota that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
 

Minimum Qualifications

• A master's degree in library science from a library education program accredited by the American Library Association.
• A minimum of five years' professional experience working for a library, with at least two years of public library administration experience.
• A minimum of two years' supervisory experience, preferably more, and preferably in a library setting.
   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS BEYOND MINIMUM REQUIRED

• Experience in strategic planning for library services
• Experience working with regional public library systems in Minnesota or other States/Territories
• Experience working with Governing and/or Advisory Library Boards
   

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

Strategic Direction:

• The Executive Director is a critical voice in the local and statewide library community – responsible for articulating a vision for the role of public libraries and effectively communicating this vision in a persuasive manner that attracts funding resources, builds coalitions, and promotes public libraries as essential partners in achieving local and statewide goals.
• Establish and communicate the overall mission, goals, and objectives for MELSA. Plan, administer, and oversee the development of a clear strategic plan and execute an annual operating plan and related strategies to achieve the goals outlined in the plan.
• Maintain a current understanding of the issues, trends, and environmental factors affecting the library field (including demography, economy, government/politics, society, and technology) in order to help MELSA and its member systems evolve to meet the needs of their diverse communities.

Government Relations and Community Engagement:

• Develop strong relationships and build local and statewide coalitions with the member library systems, the Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators, Minnesota Library Association, the statewide library community, governmental offices including the Minnesota State Legislature, Minnesota Department of Education, Office of the Governor, county commissioners, and national congressional offices.
• Engage effectively with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), and other national and local library funding agencies to maximize public investment.
• Build strategic alliances across statewide library systems, agencies and associations to work collaboratively on issues that advance MELSA's mission and purpose.
• Amplify the power and role of libraries through visible leadership across public and private sectors to ensure that cross-sector initiatives keep public libraries front-of-mind and leverage member systems' potential for collective impact.

Fiscal Responsibility:

• Oversee the operational health of the organization by creating the annual budget, monitoring expenditures, establishing controls, and reporting regularly, clearly, and transparently to the Governing board.
• Develop appropriate annual and long-term financial objectives; consistently achieve these objectives through operational budget management, effective advocacy, and oversight of organizational assets that is in accordance with standard nonprofit best practices.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the legal and statutory requirements necessary to lead contract negotiation processes that result in favorable partnerships, purchasing rates, and program and service opportunities for member library systems and MELSA.
• Ensure that organizational investments in programs and services reflect the goals and values of the organization in accordance with the strategic plan.

Organizational Leadership:

• Provide leadership and set a standard of excellence for all of MELSA's programs, services, and activities.
• Foster an inclusive environment that attracts and retains diverse, high-quality staff.
• Build an organizational culture that embraces and reflects equity in mindset, policies, and daily practice.
• Lead MELSA staff in the development and implementation of the organization's goals, policies, and programmatic activities. Establish and monitor the necessary accountabilities for the staff with the objective of fulfilling the mission and vision of MELSA on behalf of its member systems.
• Provide ongoing, as well as structured annual, performance management reviews for each employee that outline expectations, acknowledge achievements, and support areas for growth.  When necessary, create performance improvement plans for under-performing employees and monitor progression toward clearly stated goals and expectations.

Board Engagement:

• Engage the Governing and Advisory boards in shaping the vision for MELSA, actively soliciting their input on key priority issues in a timely, effective manner, and formulating recommendations for consideration by the Board and/or its respective committees based on that input and other considerations.
• Inform, discuss, and guide the boards on regional, statewide, and national issues of concern and opportunity that require policy decisions, evaluation, and direction in order to improve the overall effectiveness and impact of MELSA.
   

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• A clear vision of, and passion for, the importance of public libraries.
• Significant experience in governmental relations (advocacy) and the ability to enhance relationships and build coalitions that benefit MELSA and its member library systems.
• Experience in planning, budgeting, board relations, and staff management.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Exceptional skills in oral and written communication, synthesis, analysis, listening, and collaboration. Superb public speaking skills and experience.
• Comfortable as a decision-maker, while also practicing inclusive leadership.
• Inspirational leadership style grounded in a belief in libraries.
• Supervisory experience marked by support for staff teams and healthy internal communication style.
• Experience leading and implementing strategic planning process in a library setting.
• Experience working with a board of directors.
   

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position works in an administrative office environment that is ADA compliant. Qualified candidates must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 70% of the time; the person in this position must be able to operate a computer keyboard and other office machinery, such as a copy machine, printer, and telephone. The person in this position frequently communicates with staff and external partners and must be able to exchange accurate information verbally, in writing, and by telephone. This position has frequent meetings at library branches and partner locations, and must therefore have access to independent transportation.
 

SELECTION PROCESS

The examination/selection process for this classification will consist of a rating of your training and experience from the application materials submitted. The top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the personnel committee of the Board of Trustees for further consideration.
 

Application Process

A resume and cover letter are required. Electronic application is strongly preferred. To apply, visit the Dakota County job opportunities website. 

Candidates unable to apply electronically may send hard copies to:
Dakota County Employee Relations Department
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Attn: Stacy Manka
 

Timeline

March 28: Deadline for applications
Mid-April: Initial interviews
Early May: Final interviews
July 1: Anticipated start date