CITY LIBRARIAN

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.
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The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.

The City of Torrance invites your interest in the position of CITY LIBRARIAN!

The City
Torrance California, the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County, is a vibrant coastal city situated in the South Bay region of Southern California. With nearly 150,000 residents and a peak daytime population that grows to 250,000 or more, Torrance spans an area of almost 22 square miles, including a picturesque mile of beach. Known for its diverse culture and strong sense of community, the city offers a blend of natural beauty and urban convenience, boasting a rich history, an array of parks, excellent schools, and a thriving business sector. The City of Torrance is governed by the Council-Manager form of government with an elected Mayor and six Council Members who appoint a City Manager, a City Attorney, and members of 14 advisory commissions, boards, and council. The Executive team works under the direction of the City Manager based on merit principles. Torrance is a full-service city with an annual operating budget of $525.4 million, capital improvement plan of 182.1 million and a staff of over 1,600 organized in 14 departments.

Torrance features world-class medical and research facilities, vibrant shopping, four-star dining, as well as an intricate mix of burgeoning industrial and commercial facilities. Torrance is one of the few cities in the South Bay to feature its own municipal airport and support facilities. It is also considered to be a "headquarters" city, with major corporations such as Sunrider International, Alpinestars USA, Health-Ade Kombucha, Pelican Products, L3 Harris Technologies, RapiScan Systems, American Honda Motor Company, and Robinson Helicopter Company all calling Torrance home.



The Department
The mission of theCommunity Services Department is to enrich the community through the provision of recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities for persons of all abilities.  The goals of the Department are to provide stewardship of the City’s public open space including parks; to provide materials and services in a variety of formats that satisfy the educational, information, recreational, and cultural needs of our diverse community supporting lifelong independent learning; and to serve as a center for community information, services and activities in easily accessible locations throughout the community.  A philosophy of community and customer services continues to provide the focus for our efforts.  The Community Services Department offers Torrance residents the unique opportunity to help achieve a sense of purpose, identity, self-worth, and improved self-esteem within the specialized areas of Cultural Arts, Library, Parks, and Recreation. The Department has five divisions: Library, Administrative, Cultural, Recreation, and Parks.  The Community Services Department is a diverse organization ranging from maintenance of parks facilities and grounds, development of open space, recreational programming, continuous public education in library services, and cultural services with unique features such as a local museum.  Thisshort videoshows a sample of what the Community Services Department has to offer.

The Division
The Torrance Public Library provides outstanding services, exceptional resources, and accessible spaces to support an independent, literate, and informed community. 

The Library Services Division dedicates itself to providing a diverse range of educational resources that reflect community needs. It remains committed to offering materials, programs, and services that respond to the interests and priorities of the community. The Library Commission, along with various community groups, also plays an important role in representing and advocating for the interests of neighborhood libraries.

The Position
The City Librarian position is ideal for a visionary and innovative leader. This role provides strategic leadership and collaborates with managers to develop, implement, and monitor long-term plans, goals, and objectives that support the City’s mission and Council priorities. The City Librarian oversees two managers and play a critical administrative role, with responsibility for all library functions and facilities.

As a member of the Community Services management team, the City Librarian reports directly to the Community Services Director and provides overall leadership for all Library operations. This includes supervising managers, supervisors, and professional and support staff within the Library Division.

For more information about the duties of the position, clickhere.

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is committed to public service, capable of collaborating effectively with diverse groups and stakeholders across the City and community, and brings a proven record of exceptional leadership and management. The successful candidate demonstrates an adaptable leadership style, the ability to inspire and build strong teams, and a commitment to ongoing professional development. They are skilled at mentoring and developing staff, remain current on public library trends and future directions, and have experience in employee relations and public library operations. Additionally, they are resourceful in securing and managing grants, politically astute, and able to navigate shifting organizational priorities. Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent interpersonal abilities, a deep commitment to customer service, and unwavering integrity are essential.

As a dynamic community dedicated to excellence, Torrance is seeking a strategic, self-driven leader who can create a shared vision and effectively carry that vision through to completion. This individual will be committed to developing leadership in others and improving organizational performance through consistent feedback, coaching, and a focus on operational efficiency. The City is also looking for someone who understands the needs of the community and responds to them thoughtfully and effectively.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in municipal management, employee relations within a unionized environment, and the ability to navigate politically sensitive situations. They should be comfortable operating in fiscally constrained conditions and have experience pursuing, securing, and managing grants. A strong understanding of current trends and forecasts in public services, an ongoing commitment to professional development, and unwavering integrity are essential.

Key Priorities & Opportunities
The new City Librarian will be an integral part of finalizing a new Plan of Service for the Torrance Public Library. This will provide the opportunity to build a new strategy for delivery of digital services, blending the best of the “high touch” service delivery Torrance Library is known for, with opportunities to reach new audiences with emerging technologies. This position offers many avenues for statewide influence, connections, and professional development opportunities.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Management liaison to other City Departments and outside agencies, for broad strategic projects and ongoing communication.
• Oversight of budget, operations, staff, services, and processes in significant functional areas of library services.
• Planning and preparation of management reports and documents, including budget management and items to the Library Commission and City Council.
• Broad problem solving and decision making authority for the Torrance Public Library.

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