Library Directors

2020 Annual Directors’ Letter

Library Director Slipsheet

New Directors Manual for Public Libraries in New Jersey

In all aspects of the continued success of libraries, the most important role is that of the library director. The library director should be the nexus of information, sharing with the library board of trustees ideas, concerns, financial and budgetary information, political sensitivities, and, most critically, a vision for the future. After all, it is the library director who knows the most about the library, its challenges, and its hopes for the future.

Library Director Core Knowledge

Public Library Law Digests

Links to Presentations and Handouts for all Directors

Links to Webinars and Videos for all Directors

      • Per Capita State Aid Webinar
      • The Law and Libraries Webinar
      • Dealing with Difficult Patrons Webinar
      • The NJ League of Municipalities – The NJ League of Municipalities offers seminars and events that are informative and useful to administrators, directors, and librarians.  They cover topics such as OPRA (open public records act), digital government,  procurement. Sign up for their emails and seminars which also gives legislative news for New Jersey.
      • Why Can’t We All Get Along: Friends & Foundations – Available to watch now, this free webinar series “Why Can’t We All Get Along: Friends & Foundations” discusses ways in which Library Friends and Foundation organizations can better work together to accomplish similar goals. Additionally, we discuss the opportunity of merging your support organizations. This webinar is produced by Library Strategies Consulting Group and hosted by consultants Peter Pearson and Stu Wilson.

      • Strategic Planning When You Can’t Afford a Consultant – So you have to develop a strategic plan for your library, but you cannot afford to hire a consultant? Let Michele Stricker, Deputy State Librarian for Lifelong Learning at the NJ State Library, provide you with the basic practices and resources for creating a practical framework for your strategic plan. Walk away with useful tips and techniques that you can apply to your own library.

Administrative Documents

Training Express: Video Borrowing Service

LibraryLinkNJ is pleased to provide this new service to our members. We’ve selected a library of high-quality, high-interest videos on topics pertaining to library transformation, customer service, successful communication and library marketing.

For a list of videos and borrowing guidelines, please visit the Training Express page.

The NJ Public Library Directors Summit

The New Jersey State Library with LibraryLinkNJ, The New Jersey Library Cooperative sponsored the second Public Library Directors’ Summit on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at the Holiday Inn in East Windsor.

This one-day event provided public library directors with best practices and the latest developments in the areas of library law and other public library topics. The summit featured programs on library law by Michael Cerone, facilities management by Michael Gannon, and a library technology infrastructure update by Carson Block.

2017 Presentations and Handouts

Past Presentations

NJ State Library New Directors Orientation

The next annual New Directors’ Orientation will be held on February 20 and 27, 2019, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the New Jersey State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Center (2300 Stuyvesant Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08618).

The workshop will feature essential information for new library directors in the following areas:

  • Overview of New Jersey State Library services focusing on how we can help serve you in your new position as Library Director.
  • NJ Library Law
  • Purchasing Basics
  • Strategic Planning
  • Managing Library Staff
  • Budgets and Financial Reporting
  • Public Relations and Your Library
  • Working with Trustees and Elected Officials

This is a singular opportunity for new directors to learn the basics about their responsibilities, and to network with other new directors throughout the state. Mary Chute, State Librarian, will be in attendance, as well as other State Library staff who can answer your questions about our services and help you learn about our various departments.

Registration begins at 9:00 am on both days. The State Library will be providing a continental breakfast and lunch. Please register HERE.

2019 Presentations

2017 Presentations

Public Library Director 101 Series

Are you new to the public library director role?  Or considering becoming a director in the future?  The Public Library Director 101 Series will introduce you to the many and unique facets of public library directorship.  This series of four webinar recordings provides a broad overview that both informs and inspires.

  • The Learner Guide designed to be used in conjunction with the “Public Library Directors 101” series.
  • In Your New Role you’ll hear about ethics, values, and leadership – all important traits for public library directors.  (Duration:  11 minutes)
  • The Community Relations module will introduce you to marketing, public relations, and outreach from the public library director perspective.  (Duration:  15 minutes)
  • The third installment of the series Planning and Project Management discusses essential steps in the strategic planning process, the benefits of strategic planning, and tools for successful project management.  (Duration:  17 minutes)
  • In the final module, Asset Management you’ll learn about managing the varied assets of library systems, including staff, buildings, collections, and budget.   (Duration:  28 minutes)

The Public Library Director 101 Series was produced through the COSLA Continuing Education Connector project and supported through funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  For more information, contact COSLA Executive Director Timothy Cherubini at tcherubini@cosla.org.