Join APL as Branch Services Manager at Washington Ave.
There are library workers who thrive in a fast-paced urban library, a place where each day brings the opportunity to be the best part of someone else’s day. These uniquely resilient and mission-driven workers eventually find their way to a branch like our Washington Avenue Branch—and we’re in search of a great manager to lead them! The successful candidate is a skilled library professional who has an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access for all. We know you’re out there, and we want to work with you.
The Job and Your Team
Lead a team of 13 full-time and part-time direct reports consisting of cross-trained Librarians, Library Assistants, and a Principal Clerk. This is an on-site position (with dedicated parking) that oversees two floors of branch services and programs, one floor for adults and one for youth. Primary duties involve managing staff, including scheduling, timesheets, evaluations, and programming for adults and youth. The successful candidate demonstrates excellent organizational, interpersonal, and leadership skills as well as strong working knowledge of providing library services in an urban environment.
This position reports to the Head of Branch Services for APL, and receives support from managers across the system in Public Safety, Community Engagement, Programs & Partnerships, IT, Facilities, Communications, Collections, and Human Resources.
APL is a seven-branch system, and you will work alongside a collegial and dedicated team of peer branch managers. Branch managers meet regularly to discuss cross-district procedures, initiatives, and issues.
Life at the Washington Ave. Branch
Although 161 Washington Ave. is a three-story building, the branch services manager’s domain consists of the first and second floors. On the first floor, you’ll find Circulation, Reference, meeting and study rooms, public computers, the Head of Public Safety office, adult collections, and the Albany Made Creative Lab makerspace. The second floor houses our youth services room, storytime and programming rooms, community and study rooms, branch staff offices, and APL’s Local History collection. Our two special library service areas at Washington Ave.—the Albany Made Creative Lab makerspace and the Local history room—are overseen by staff committees. The third floor is APL Administration, Collection Management Services, Information Technology, Communications, Programs and Partnerships, and a staff lounge.
Other on-site partner organizations and tenants are managed by library administration, and include a daycare program, an adult education organization, a literacy non-profit, a local cable channel studio, and a community bike-share program.
Working in Downtown Albany
An anchor of downtown Albany’s Center Square neighborhood, the Washington Ave. Branch is walking distance to destination restaurants, shopping, cultural institutions (Albany Institute of History and Art, NYS Museum and Library, Empire State Plaza), and parks, as well as the seats of city and state government. The state recently earmarked $400 million to revitalize downtown Albany institutions and strengthen public safety.
APL’s strategic partnerships with organizations serving downtown, such as Joseph’s House, In Our Own Voices, Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus, and the City School District of Albany, make it possible for us to serve a diverse population with a broad spectrum of needs at the Washington Ave. Branch.
APL Overview
We provide programs, services, and materials to Albany residents and visitors at seven award-winning neighborhood branches. Every year, APL sees close to half a million visitors and circulates 525,000 physical and electronic materials. We offer 6,500 programs for all ages and our meeting and study rooms are booked about 11,000 times per year. We also serve as the central library for the Upper Hudson Library System, and patrons of member libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties enjoy APL resources.
Our mission is to educate, entertain, and empower our community. Our core values are collaboration, discovery, diversity, empathy, integrity, literacy, privacy, and service. Our primary strategic goals revolve around providing robust community engagement through outreach, programming, services, materials, and space; growing our workforce of engaged, qualified, and diverse staff; rooting services and policies in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access; and ensuring that initiatives are environmentally and financially sustainable.
How to Apply
This is a unique leadership opportunity for anyone looking to expand their responsibilities and grow within a supportive team. We encourage you to submit your resume and application to hr@albanypubliclibrary.org.
View the full Washington Ave. Branch Services Manager job description
Andrea Nicolay
Andrea Nicolay is executive director of Albany Public Library. She sees the library as a nimble organization with the power to impact the well-being of a community, and is committed to providing innovative, patron-first library services to the people of Albany through APL's seven award-winning branches.