Director - Port Jervis Free Library (NY)

Director - Port Jervis Free Library (NY) Salary: $85,000 - $110,000 annually Application Deadline: May 31, 2026 Director – Port Jervis Free Library (NY) The Port Jervis Free Library (NY) Board of Trustees is seeking a collaborative leader and expert communicator to lead the library into the future as its next Director. Port Jervis Free Library offers local history, community, reference, and children’s rooms, and is the home of the Minisink Valley Historical Society. Supported by a Friends of the Library group that operates the Book Cellar, the library is a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library System, which maximizes sharing, creativity, and innovation. Port Jervis Free Library serves a diverse community of approximately 20,000 school district residents in Western Orange County, NY. The next Director will report to a five‑member Board of Trustees, support and supervise a team of 11.31 full‑time equivalents, manage a $1.4 million budget, and oversee a 13,000‑square‑foot historic location in downtown Port Jervis. The city of Port Jervis has a population of approximately 8,700 residents who enjoy the various public programming, technology resources (The Hub), and, most recently, non‑traditional lending collections, facilitated by an engaged and dedicated staff. Responsibilities The ideal candidate will provide strategic leadership, build positive board relations, and execute the library’s multi‑year Strategic Plan to align with modern community needs. The Director acts as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees, providing data‑driven recommendations and transparent reporting to facilitate informed policymaking. As a visible leader and spokesperson, the Director actively builds and maintains community partnerships, provides fiscal oversight with the board to develop and sustain a budget, proactively identifies and pursues grant opportunities and alternative funding streams for special projects and capital needs, oversees the maintenance and preservation of library facilities, plans and manages upgrades or renovations, leads the staff through organizational transitions, fosters a culture of adaptability and innovation, and applies expert‑level human resources skills tailored to civil service environments, including performance evaluation, labor relations, and regulatory compliance. Qualifications The minimum qualifications for this role are a Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA‑accredited institution and a minimum of five (5) years of decision‑making experience in a public, academic, or business library. Possession of an NYS public librarian’s professional certificate or eligibility for certification at the time of application, and possession of the certificate within three months of appointment, is required. Applicants must be eligible to be appointed from the civil service list for Library Director I, held by the City of Port Jervis Civil Service Commission. Experience working with a Board of Trustees, library management and supervisory experience, financial administration, and grant writing skills are desired. Compensation The hiring salary range is $85,000 – $110,000 (with placement negotiable, dependent on experience and qualifications) and an excellent benefits package. Application Information Interested candidates should submit their resume through the application portal ( by selecting the position and then the “Apply” button. This position closes on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Visit our website ( to access the latest version of this announcement in full, along with all related links. #J-18808-Ljbffr Nelib