New Library Director Recruitment & Hiring Timeline (Not a Final Version)

I've already shared this list with one colleague. (Congratulations to Kris Adams Wendt on a stellar 34-year career in public libraries at Rhinelander.) Now the next time someone asks, I can refer them to Retiring Guy.

Tasks (and who is responsible)

September
1. Identify costs association with hiring process: reimbursement for travel to interview, relocation expenses for new hire. (Library Board, Finance Committee) Decision item included in 2008 budget proposal.

October
1. Review Library Director position description: duties/examples of work, knowledge and abilities, physical demands of the position (Library Board)
2. Read Trustee Essentials, chapter 5: "Hiring a Library Director", with focus on what to look for in a new director, basic legal requirements, steps to follow when hiring (Library Board, Staff, City Administrator)
3. Appoint a search-and-screen committee: refine overall timelime, determine non-board members who will participate. (Library Board)
4. Prepare Achievement History Questionnaire (to be sent to applicants with acknowledgement letter): determine number & type of questions to be included. (Library Board)


January

1. Write job advertisement: approve wording, determine where to publish in online & print and resources & when the ad should first appear, set deadline to apply, select contact person. (Library Board, Management Staff)
2. Determine salary (Library Board)

February-March-April (search-and-screen committee)
1. Conduct review of resumes: acknowledgements, distribution, method of preliminary evaluation & ranking.
2. Contact references.
3. Consider procedures for contacts not listed as reference.
4. Determine number of candidates to invite for interviews
5. Determine format of formal interviews.
6. Develop uniform list of questions for interviews
7. Schedule dates and times for interviews; make necessary travel arrangements.
8. Plan activities for staff interaction: tour, informal staff contacts, management staff meeting.

May (Search-and-screen committee)
1. Conduct interviews.
2. Contact references (assignments, uniform list of questions)

June (Library Board President, search-and-screen committee)

1. Contact selected candidate
2. Send confirmation of appointment and starting date in writing
3. Request letter of acceptance
4. Notify other candidates of hiring decision
5. Provide housing, school, other community information

August (Staff)

1. Staff in-service (Meet the New Director)

September (Library Board, Staff)
1. Conduct orientation
2. Host community reception