DESCRIPTION

The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICFL) is located in the Executive Branch of state government and is governed by the Board of Library Commissioners, which is appointed by the governor.
The State Librarian is the statutory executive officer for the Board of Library Commissioners and manages the administration and operations of the Commission for Libraries in accordance with the rules, policies, and plans promulgated and adopted by the Board. The State Librarian provides vision and leadership for Idaho’s statewide library development program, talking book services, and the digital repository for state publications, and performs related executive work.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

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  Education: Graduate degree from an accredited library school required by statute (I.C. 33-2504).
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  Libraries and librarianship: Thorough knowledge of library theory and principles. Experience demonstrating broad knowledge of the environment in which libraries, information centers, and librarians function, and of the issues and challenges which face the profession. Demonstrated success in working effectively in the library profession. Good understanding of the issues related to information access, individual privacy, and intellectual freedom. Good understanding of emerging technologies and their current and potential application to library services. Good understanding of federal and state laws affecting libraries.
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  Leadership: Demonstrated success in providing strong and capable leadership in managing change. Demonstrated success in working effectively with a governing board, other governmental bodies and officials, staff, and the community. Demonstrated superior judgment, maturity, and evidence of executive demeanor and diplomacy. Ability to recommend, develop and implement rules, policies and programs. Ability to mediate and facilitate problem-solving among staff, library community members, and others. Skill in understanding views, articulating positions, and building consensus.
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  Strategic vision: Ability to conceptualize and define viable and innovative strategies to address problems and opportunities. Ability to balance risk and opportunity. Ability to implement strategic plans in order to position the agency to anticipate trends, events, and appropriate organizational direction.
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  Administration: Broad knowledge of public administration at local, state, and federal levels. Extensive administrative experience including senior policymaking, primary accountability for organizational outcomes, imaginative approaches to problem-solving, coordination of diverse functions, and interaction with related industry groups.

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  Serve as executive officer and advisor to the Board of Library Commissioners for all matters relating to its statutory responsibilities, and make recommendations to the Board consistent with its rules, policies and the agency mission to build the capacity of libraries to better serve their clientele.
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  Employ and fix the compensation of all other employees of the Commission who shall be directly responsible to the State Librarian.
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  Oversee the administration of the agency including development and implementation of policies, procedures, priorities, short-term and strategic plans, and budgets, and the management and evaluation of employees, facilities, programs, and services.
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  Communicate and collaborate with, and represent the Commission to other agencies, libraries, organizations, the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, members of Congress and other federal officers, funding sources, local officials, and the public to carry out the Board’s statutory responsibilities and to further the Commission’s mission.
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  Provide vision and leadership to the Commission staff and to the staff and governing bodies of Idaho’s public, school, academic, and special libraries.
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  Advocate for strong library services as integral to education and life-long learning, to our cultural heritage, and to economic and community development in Idaho.
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  Provide guidance and assistance to the agency management team and foster an environment that supports collaboration, shared problem-solving, and the values of a learning organization.
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  Actively participate in state, regional, and national organizations involved in library and information technology policymaking, legislation, funding, services, and advocacy.