Library Director, Castleton Public Library

Click here to download this position announcement as a PDF. 

Position Overview:
The Castleton Public Library seeks a creative and team-oriented leader who can step into the role of Director with confidence, building on the Library’s strong reputation, services and partnerships. The ideal candidate will be energized by the hands-on aspects of the role and by the impact that the director of a small public library can have in a welcoming space, with an excellent collection and incredible community programming.

Key responsibilities: The Library Director is responsible for the overall operation and management of the Library, within Board-established strategic priorities and policies. Regular responsibilities include:
●     Overseeing the planning, implementation and ongoing evaluation of library programs and services;
●     Hiring, training, and supervising all employees and volunteers;
●     Working closely with the Programming and Outreach Coordinator and multiple part-time staff;
●     Managing collection development across print, digital, and specialty formats;
●     Collaborating with library staff and the Board to continually improve and adapt library services to changing community needs;
●     Developing and managing the library’s annual budget and financial reporting;
●     Working with the Board in strategic planning, policy creation, fiscal oversight, and long-term sustainability;
●     Developing new and existing partnerships to advance the Library’s program and fiscal strength;
●     Coordinating with the Village of Castleton on payroll, benefits and in-kind service arrangements;
●     Ensuring that all technology (computers, ILS, accessibility tools, WiFi) remains current and functional;
●     Maintaining an active and accurate public presence across channels, such as social media, newsletters, calendars, and press outreach;
●     Representing the mission, vision and values of the Library in communication with staff, partners and the public.

Compensation and Benefits:
The Library Director position is a full-time (37.5 hrs per week), salaried Civil Service position (Library Director I) that involves scheduled evening and occasional weekend hours. The successful applicant will have provisional Civil Service status until an examination is given.

Starting Salary: $65,000 annually

Benefits:
●     Competitive health insurance package including dental and vision coverage;
●     Generous paid time off, including 14 paid holidays, 15 vacation days, 3 personal days, and paid sick leave;
●     Participation in the New York State Retirement System;
●     Support for professional development opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications:
●     A Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution, plus two (2) years of management experience in a library of recognized standing;
●     Eligibility for a NYS public librarians’ professional certificate at the time of application, and possession of this certificate when appointed.

Preferred Qualifications:
●     Prior experience as a library director or sole-professional in a public library setting;
●     Experience working in a civil service environment;
●     Familiarity with Sierra ILS and regional library system operations;
●     Demonstrated success in grant writing and fund development, including familiarity with NYS Education Law 259/414 public funding propositions;
●     Experience with community programming across all age groups in a small staff environment;
●     Comfortable with, and excited by, the scope of a small library director role, including direct patron service and hands-on program facilitation.

About Us:
We are a small, dynamic municipal library with an annual operating budget of $300,000, a collection of more than 9,000 items, and a robust programming calendar that attracts children, teens and adults seven days a week, both onsite and in partnership with community organizations. Chartered to serve the Village of Castleton, we also extend services to residents of the Town of Schodack. The Library is located in Castleton’s historic Village Hall, currently occupying two main collection and service rooms, and a Community Room that is used creatively for programming and community events.

The Library and the Village Hall together serve as a primary civic and community gathering space in the Village and surrounding area. The incoming director will find a supportive and mission-driven staff, Board, and Friends group, and a library that is well-run, well-regarded and well-loved by its community.
 
To apply for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter and the names and contact information for three professional references to: Library Director Search Committee at [email protected] 
Applications submitted by June 26, 2026 will receive priority consideration.

In addition to the information available on this Q&A, the Castleton Public Library will offer two Library Funding Proposition Community Information Sessions about the funding proposition on Wednesday, May 6. One session will be held at 1:00 p.m. and another will be held at 6:00 p.m. Sessions will be held in person at the library (85 S. Main Street, Castleton, NY 12033).

Members of the public who have questions about the funding proposition may also contact Library Director Melissa Tacke by phone at 518-732-0879 or by email at [email protected].


See Q&A below - You can also download the Q&A as a PDF here.

What is the library asking the community to decide in the May 2026 vote?
Castleton Public Library’s Board of Trustees is asking voters in the Schodack Central School District to consider approving an increase in the tax paid by property owners in the district to fund a portion of the operating expenses of the library. The total levy amount for voter consideration is $162,000, which, if approved, would be an increase of $3,000 (approximately 1.9%) over the current levy of $159,000.
 
What is the date and location of the vote?
The proposition will appear on the ballot at the Schodack Central School District School Budget Vote & Board Election, held in the Maple Hill High School Gym on Tuesday, May 19, from 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Maple Hill is located at 1216 Maple Hill Road, Castleton, NY 12033.
 
What is the library funding proposition that will appear on the May 2026 Schodack Central School District ballot?
The language of the funding proposition that will appear on the ballot is as follows:
“Pursuant to Education Law, Section 259, shall the Board of Education of the Schodack Central School District be authorized to levy and collect an annual tax, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, in the amount of one hundred sixty-two thousand dollars ($162,000), which shall be paid to the Castleton Public Library for the support and maintenance of the library; with this appropriated amount to be the annual appropriation until thereafter modified by a future vote of the electors of the Schodack Central School District?”
 
If the proposition is approved, will property owners in the district pay a $162,000 levy in addition to the current $159,000 levy?
No. If the proposition is approved, the library tax levy would change to $162,000. This would be an increase of $3,000 (approximately 1.9%) over the current levy of $159,000.
 
If the proposition is approved, would the library be funded or operated by the school district?
No. The school district does not fund, operate, or govern the library in any way. The school district, in compliance with NYS law, provides the mechanism for the vote to occur. If the proposition is approved, the school district will levy and collect the library tax and pay those funds to the library.
 
How would the library's funding change if the proposition passes?
If the vote passes, $162,000 of the library’s budget would come from taxes paid by property owners in the Schodack Central School District. Funding from the Town of Schodack and the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson would remain the same. The library would continue to receive small amounts of income from New York State, Rensselaer County, the Friends of the Castleton Public Library, grants, and donations.
 
What happens if the proposition doesn’t pass?
If the proposition does not pass, the tax levy paid by property owners in the district to support the library will remain at $159,000.
 
Why is the library pursuing a vote?
Continuing to shift our funding model to voter-approved measures increases transparency, awareness, and community control over the cost of public library services. Under a NYS Board of Regents directive, public libraries are urged to shift tax support from general appropriations by municipalities to a direct public vote. This shift provides taxpayers with the ability to determine the desired level of public library services.
 
How is the library currently funded?
The majority of library’s operating budget is funded by three public funding sources:

• $159,000 (47.7% of library budget) – Tax levy paid by property owners in the Schodack Central School District
• $92,500 (27.7% of library budget) – Appropriation from the Town of Schodack
• $10,000 (3% of the library budget) – Appropriation from the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson. In addition to this appropriation, the Village also provides a number of in-kind services to the library, including space, utilities, and administration of payroll and benefits.

The library also receives small amounts of income from New York State, Rensselaer County, the Friends of the Castleton Public Library, grants, and donations.
 
Why is the library’s funding proposition appearing on the school district ballot?
Castleton Public Library is pursuing a vote on the Schodack Central School District ballot because the majority of our users reside in the school district.
 
How will this affect school taxes?
The library’s proposition deals with a proposed increase to the library tax paid by property owners in the district. The proposition does not impact school taxes. The school tax funds the school district, while the library tax funds the library. The library tax and the school tax lines appear separately on the school tax bill and are paid at the same time, but the school district and the library remain two separate entities.
 
If approved, how will this affect my tax rate in future years?
Any future change in the library tax rate would require voter approval at that time.
 
Who is eligible to vote?
Voters must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen. Advance registration is not required. However, voters will be asked to swear or affirm that they are residents of the Schodack Central School District and have been for at least 30 days prior to the vote.