Supervising Librarian

Salary : $98,508.80 - $147,763.20 Annually
Location : Mitchell Park Community Center and Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Library Services Department
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 11/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Are you a dynamic library professional who is looking to move up in your career with a cutting-edge library system?

The Palo Alto City Library is looking for a skilled, experienced, and passionate professional to serve as Supervising Librarian in our Community Engagement & Support Services division. This position will supervise the daily operations in Collections and Acquisitions, including managing staff; overseeing all collections and technical services operations across our five branch system. Self-directed, highly analytical, process-minded and innovative library professionals are encouraged to apply.

Supervising Librarian in Support Services roles and responsibilities:

• Supervises Support Services staff
• Member of library management team
• Duties include:

• Assisting in the development of collection budget and allocations; monitors expenditures
• Working with vendors and contracts as needed
• Overseeing acquisitions/processing work by associates, specialists and clerks
• Overseeing management of collections at five locations
• Assisting Cataloging Librarian with tasks as needed

The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented library professional with acquisitions, collection development, cataloging and supervisory experience.

Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage day-to-day operation of one or more branch libraries.
• Assess and respond to customer needs: oversee and evaluate the provision of service in the program or operational area. Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Supervise, train and evaluate subordinate library staff in on-going program/facility operation.
• Represent library in cooperative library system committees and/or user groups, task forces and professional associations.
• Develop overall plans and priorities, prepares budget requests, develops procedures and evaluates performance.
• Coordinate staff schedules to provide adequate coverage.
• Demonstrate positive public relations with others and trains staff to do the same.
• Supervise meeting room bookings.
• Must have knowledge of computer technology and specific library applications integrated library system, interlibrary loan module, and online reference databases.
• Communicate with all library staff regarding status of program plans.
• Develop written procedures and policies in area of responsibility.
• Ensure that appropriate statistical records and reports of activities are prepared, maintained, and distributed.
• Participate in formulation and implementation of library goals and objectives.
• Plan and participate in activities to promote community contacts, including making presentations, organizing book sales or other fundraising activities, conducting needs assessments and responding to community requests for service.
• Must have ability to connect positively with library and community constituencies including the local governing authorities, community leaders and organizations, library staff, library patrons and the general public.
• Must foster the development of a cooperative work environment.

Related Functions:

• Evaluates patron needs and preferences for library service.
• Chairs or participates in city and library system committees.
• May be assigned special projects to fulfill library goals and objectives.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Master's Degree from an ALA accredited Library School of Information and Science program or equivalent graduate degree. Substantial completion of a graduate library education degree program and demonstrated successful professional library experience for a minimum of three years may be considered in lieu of a Master's degree.

and

• Three years full-time professional library experiences relevant to position.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License

• Physically capable of operating a vehicle safely and conducting site visits to observe conditions

Supplemental Information

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking
01

Please describe your experience with library collections, acquisitions, cataloging and technical services. Please include as many details as possible including tools, resources and vendors.
02

Please describe your supervisory experience. How many employees have you supervised, what were their roles and for how long?
Required Question