Supervising Librarian

Full Job Description

Invitation to Compete #13-26: Supervising Librarian

Readers Advisory Services (RAS)

Central Library, 1000 4^th Ave, Seattle

Regular, FLSA-exempt, full time, 80 hours per pay period

Salary range: $106,237.44 – 128,808.72 annually

The hours for this position may include weekdays, weekends and evenings, including working every other weekend and one night per week.

The schedule for this position is subject to change based on the Library’s current operational need. This classification is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME.

This position is open to the public and to The Seattle Public Library’s employees. Please read the How to Apply section of this bulletin for more information. Candidates are asked to submit their application materials in NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on March 15, 2026.

Overview

The Seattle Public Library’s mission is to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community.

We view Seattle as a city where imagination and opportunity continue to thrive. Since 1891, we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class library system with 27 locations.

The Library works every day to foster and support a healthy city and a healthy democracy.

We do this work guided by the principles of intellectual freedom, literacy and the love of learning, racial equity, privacy and confidentiality, respect for the community, strong partnerships and innovation.

We are an active and committed partner in the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Library employees are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service and caring. As a workplace, we value respectful and transparent communication, partnership and engagement.

We are enriched individually and organizationally because of our diversity and growth mindset. We take time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of others.

If you share these values and meet the qualifications, the Library invites you to apply for this Supervising Librarian position.

The Central Library serves a broad patron base including adults, children and teens, immigrants, students, researchers, readers, people experiencing homelessness, and others seeking information resources, enrichment opportunities, programs, collection support, and technology access.

Central Library Information Services includes the following public service units: Children and Teen Services, Readers Advisory Services, Business Science, and Technology, Humanities, and the Quick Information Center.

The Supervising Librarian position supervises the Readers Advisory Services (RAS) team of librarians and library associates and is responsible for managing operations, performing higher-level administrative duties, and providing direct services at Central Library information desks.

This is an entry-level library management position that reports to the Information Services Manager, works collaboratively with the Information Services management team to support daily operations, and may supervise other staff as assigned, based on public service needs.

Readers Advisory Services (RAS) operates on Level 3, one of the Library’s primary public entry floors.

This high-traffic area includes the Living Room seating area and co-located services such as Teen Services, Circulation, the FriendShop, and a public coffee cart.

The Supervising Librarian provides real-time operational leadership within this dynamic service environment.

Successful candidates for this position will have demonstrated mastery of the essential functions of a public services Librarian.

These include proficiency in providing professional library services including readers’ advisory for adult patrons; assuming a leadership role when required including taking charge of the public services environment to effectively respond to service, safety, and operational issues; and contributing to and participating in the Library’s learning and strategic service delivery environment.

The Seattle Public Library is firmly committed to Intellectual Freedom and the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI).

To this end, all librarians are expected to understand and support Intellectual Freedom as a core value of the library and understand the role that the Library and librarians play in creating a more equitable community with increased opportunity for low income and historically marginalized individuals and families in Seattle.

Additionally, the candidates must have demonstrated interest in their own as well as others’ professional development through engaging in mentorship, participating in on-the-job training, or in continuous learning activities such as attending conferences, formal training classes, and/or educational programs.

Requirements

Community Engagement and Partnerships: Understand the role of community engagement in identifying community needs and goals.

In coordination with the Information Services Manager and Assistant Managing Librarians, support direct reports in developing relevant and responsive programs, services, and content that meet those needs, building and maintaining formal and informal relationships to realize outcomes that further community and Library goals.

Understand the importance of bringing Library resources to where people are, both inside the library and spaces in the community.

Supervision: Provide a variety of supervisory activities designed to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the Central Library Readers Advisory Services (RAS) unit within the Central Library.

Participate in short- and long-range planning, staff development, resource allocation, and service delivery planning activities.

Organize and coordinate the work of others; monitor and evaluate work performance; and oversee the development of individual work plans of staff in the department. Hire and train staff.

Secure appropriate administrative guidance and recommend, develop, and implement performance improvement activities; conduct performance appraisals; develop corrective action plans; and assist with disciplinary actions.

Conduct coaching and training for staff on key operation functions, including circulation, as appropriate and as needed.

Information Services: Ensure the effective and efficient provision of library services in assigned public services areas, including Readers Advisory Services (RAS).

Provide a full range of professional library services including all levels of reference, readers’ advisory, information, and referral.

Under the leadership of the Information Services Manager and as part of the Information Services management team, help staff to plan, coordinate, and implement library programs and services, with a focus on author programming and reading promotion.

Cultural Competency: Recognition of the need to continually develop and practice cultural competence in customer service, reference services, reader's advisory, program development, community engagement, teamwork and leadership with communities and staff.

Operations: Perform complex, specialized, technical activities, and administrative support activities directly related to the accomplishment of thedepartment objectives.

Within the Central Library’s Level 3 service environment, support coordination with security and co-located partners to ensure effective daily operations.

Responsibilities include: developing daily schedules; preparing time sheets and payroll inputs; ordering supplies; preparing reports, compiling statistics, and planning; and scheduling and facilitating unit meetings.

• Adhere to HR guidance pertaining to disability accommodations, leaves, workers' comp, and similar staff services. Participate in and contribute to the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and objectives for the Central Library.
• Ensure Library policies and procedures are understood and complied with by communicating and interpreting them to staff and/or the public.

• Participate in and contribute to the development and implementation of Information Services goals and plans. Work in coordination with security and other library staff to enforce the Library’s Community Use Agreements and maintain a safe, welcoming library environment.

Leadership Support: Provide leadership support to the Library through collaborative problem solving; implementation of policies, procedures, and initiatives; and project coordination.

Engage in effective teamwork to achieve commitment to system-wide goals through positive collaboration and effective facilitation of meetings and decision-making processes, as required.

Support front-line staff in resolving customer service issues.

Assume a leadership role to address emergency situations and take ownership of the public service environment to create a welcoming environment while working to ensure the safety of staff and the public.

• Intellectual Freedom: Support intellectual freedom. Assume responsibility for how the Library is perceived by staff and the public. Respond to patron questions and concerns about collection development, public internet use, and patron confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Education: Must have an MLS from an ALA-accredited library school and/or Washington State Certification as a Librarian.

Information Services: Minimum of one year of experience providing information services in a public library setting.

The ideal candidate for this position will have experience working with culturally and economically diverse populations and an affinity for readers’ advisory.

Experience developing and providing formal and informal programming foradults is also highly desirable.

Accountability and Autonomy: Demonstrated experience working independently or with minimal supervision to successfully perform tasks and solve problems. Must be able to recognize problems and assess situations, recall and/or gather and evaluate relevant information, and take appropriate action.

Performance Management/Staff Development: Demonstrated aptitude and interest in achieving organizational goals through directing work and managing the performance of others.

A willingness and ability to supervise librarians, paraprofessional information service providers, circulation staff, and shelving staff.

Staffing duties will also include interviewing and screening applications; selecting candidates; orienting and training new staff; assigning work; reviewing work quality; and coaching and evaluating performance.

Organization Skills: Demonstrated ability to recognize and set priorities; and plan, organize, and coordinate own work and that of others.

Teamwork: Strong facilitation and listening skills as well as an ability to work collaboratively in a team environment to find solutions to problems.

Supervisory Experience: Ability to effectively supervise librarian, clerical and technical staff, and volunteers, including interviewing and screening applications, selecting candidates, orientation and training, assigning work, reviewing work quality, coaching and evaluating performance.

Must demonstrate experience working in an urban environment with a diverse group of staff, and modeling excellent internal or external service provision skills.

Technology and Informational Resources: Must have current working knowledge of computers in a Windows environment; library applications; and be able to use on-line, Internet searching methods, and information resources.

Familiarity with social media platforms and other digital and online information tools and platforms is desirable. Experience with Polaris library automation or a similar system is preferred.

Exemplary Customer Service: Minimum one year of experience providing customer service and/or instructional or outreach services to the general public.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a real commitment to public service and providing exceptional customer service.

Candidates must possess excellent interpersonal communication, problem solving, customer relations, and teamwork skills; a sense of humor; and the ability to demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic commitment to public service.

Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Experience in public speaking and formal writing skills are highly desired.

Must be able to clearly, diplomatically, and effectively communicate policies and procedures to Library staff and Library users from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as with neighborhood-based or special interest groups.

Intellectual Freedom: Applicants must have a strong commitment to intellectual freedom as defined by the Library’s policies.

Project Management: Experience planning, developing, and implementing a project; or a minimum of one year of service on a working committee or task force. Familiarity with, and the ability to apply outcomes-based planning and evaluation methods is desired.

Highly Desired Qualifications:

• Workgroup Direction: Minimum of two years of experience which demonstrates expertise with team-building and change management to take group in a new direction, or leadership of a new project or program.
• Experience interacting with individuals who are living with addiction or mental illness, as well as immigrant families, new English speakers, and people experiencing housing insecurity.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed de-escalation strategies and demonstrated experience using those skills in fast paced, urban, and public customer service environments.
• Candidates must be flexible; able to handle multiple competing priorities and tasks; adaptable to change; and able to work innovatively in a high-traffic urban Central Library environment.
• Commitment to collaboration and ability to adapt to changing needs.
• Commitment to Race and Social Justice—and the ability to work with staff to increase equity in our services and programs.
• Skilled at working with teams to effectively manage the environment with compassion and care.

Additional Information

How to Apply

Candidates who meet the qualifications are asked to submit the following items in NEOGOV by 5:00pm on March 15, 2026. Your application will not be considered if these items are missing or incomplete.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials.

The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions.

If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process.

The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information The full salary range for this position is $106,237.44 – 128,808.72 annually.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and covered family-members/most employees-plans Additional Information If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to job.applications@spl.org.

The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.