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<b><span style="color:#1E2022">Executive Director – Reaching Across Illinois Library System (IL)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="color:black">The <a href="https://www.railslibraries.info/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2E6467">Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)</span></a> Board of Directors seeks a visionary, innovative, and highly collaborative Executive
Director to lead an award-winning, nationally recognized multitype library system into the future. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Formed in 2011 from the merger of five library systems, RAILS provides a wide variety of innovative programs and services to support approximately 1,300 libraries of all sizes and types (academic, public, school, and specialized).
These libraries include over 4,200 facilities across a 27,000 square mile area in northern and west-central Illinois. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">The RAILS mission statement is: <i>We Connect Libraries</i>, and RAILS is all about connections. The system connects libraries to each other by helping them share resources as widely as possible, including physical materials, e-resources,
best practices, and knowledge. The system connects libraries to information by providing continuing education, consulting, and other resources to help libraries stay on top of relevant issues and meet current and anticipated challenges. This includes developing
activities and initiatives to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion and helping libraries to do the same. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">RAILS works hard to build effective relationships with staff at member libraries and the system has an excellent reputation. RAILS also collaborates with like-minded partners throughout the state of Illinois to advocate for additional
funding and other resources for libraries, and the system also helps libraries promote their value to important stakeholders. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">A current list of RAILS programs and services is available on the RAILS website. Though the system’s focus will always be on connections, RAILS is light on its feet, and is constantly looking for new and more effective ways to meet
member needs, including the potential future needs members may not yet be aware of. RAILS is a very collaborative, member-focused organization, and the RAILS staff is one of the system’s greatest assets. The Executive Director works closely with staff to improve
current offerings and to envision new programs and services to serve all member libraries more effectively. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">RAILS is headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Downtown Chicago and its outlying suburbs provide every amenity possible from professional sports teams to world-class museums and cultural institutions to excellent
cuisine and events year-round. Since RAILS covers such a broad geographic area, the Executive Director will also have the opportunity to explore other parts of the state as well, including hiking and biking trails along the Mississippi River, and state parks
such as Starved Rock, the Grand Canyon of the Midwest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">Responsibilities:</span></b><span style="color:black"> The Executive Director is employed by and reports to the RAILS Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall management and administration of the system. This includes
managing an annual budget of $15.1 million and ultimate responsibility for 94 staff positions across five facilities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to providing executive leadership in the overall administration and management of a multitype library system; maintaining a systemwide, statewide, national, and global perspective
consistent with the system’s mission statement and strategic plan; formulating an overall strategic vision; working closely with the system board, staff, and member libraries to develop and implement services responsive to member needs; and fostering a success-oriented,
member-focused, innovative, and accountable organization. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">Qualifications: </span></b><span style="color:black"> An MLS degree from an ALA-accredited library school, a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible library management experience with five years at the senior and/or executive
level including supervision of professional and supervisory staff are required. Preferred qualifications include someone who is highly collaborative and effective at building and maintaining relationships with RAILS staff, staff at member libraries, and others.
The ideal candidate will also possess knowledge of and experience working with the Illinois legislative process affecting libraries; knowledge of the principles and practices of library system administration; hands-on experience in long-range planning and
budgeting; and proven experience operating and influencing within a political environment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">Compensation: </span></b><span style="color:black">The hiring salary range is <b>$155,000 – $175,000</b> (with placement negotiable dependent on experience and qualifications) and an excellent fringe benefits package. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">For further information, contact <a href="https://bradburymiller.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2E6467">Bradbury Miller Associates</span></a> (<a href="https://bradburymiller.com/">https://bradburymiller.com/</a>). Apply
via email with a meaningful cover letter and your resume as Word or PDF attachments to <a href="mailto:brianatrudell@bradburymiller.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2E6467">Briana Trudell</span></a> (<a href="mailto:brianatrudell@bradburymiller.com">brianatrudell@bradburymiller.com</a>).
This position closes on <b>Sunday, November 27, 2022</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">View the announcement in its entirety along with accompanying links and information at
<a href="https://bradburymiller.com/job/rails/">https://bradburymiller.com/job/rails/</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Beth Miller Barker<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finance and Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bradbury Miller Associates <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(cell) 330-340-7115<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:bethbarker@bradburymiller.com"><span style="color:blue">bethbarker@bradburymiller.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=myy6mkoab&p=oi&m=1114893116172&sit=xckjbseib&f=15a6803e-8d83-46e6-8d14-545a610c8414">Sign up for our newsletter</a> for updates on available positions!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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