Hello Julie, and welcome to the group!
Although I'm in an academic library setting, our institution actually has 4 locations and a variety of virtual services. When you say that you are 'director' of the entire system, but also 'manager' of one of the branches (albeit, the HQ unit), what do the two roles entail?
I'm guessing that what you are struggling with -- in addition to doing 2 jobs, and probably only getting paid for 1 -- is the challenge of blending the doing, managing, and leading roles of each. There is a point at which an individual stops "doing" hands-on library work, and begins "managing" others who do the work. At some point, one takes on "leadership" roles, too. Although leadership happens at various levels, when you move into a director's role there is more expectation for vision, planning, interaction with peers at a higher level, external engagement, and resource development (budgets, grant writing, fund development with corporations, foundations, and philanthropic donors). One of the problems in our library settings, regardless of type, is that the "doing" and "managing" portions can consume all of your time, leaving little space for the higher-level "leadership" activities.
In my case, when I started in my current position I had 2 assistant deans, each with particular assignments which included aspects of the manager role (as well as some specific areas they were doing things with, too). That helped create space for me to work on building trust relationships, working on strategic planning, an a number of other key things I needed to accomplish as a new leader. Sadly, one of the two has since left for a new job out of state and we are not likely to fill the line due to budget. This will impact our operations, obviously, pushing more manager stuff into my day-to-day activities.
Is there any chance that you can create a manager or assistant director position to manage the HQ branch? Or maybe even empower or elevate one of its unit heads to take on some of the more routine manager tasks?
Ultimately, the lack of some additional administrative staffing will provide ongoing challenges for your institution. Not to mention your sanity.
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Erik Nordberg
Dean of Libraries
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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Original Message:
Sent: Jan 02, 2020 09:53 AM
From: Julie Phillips
Subject: Dual library director/branch manager role - anyone else?
Love this new discussion group! I'm the director of a 4-branch public library system in Botetourt County, VA (population 33,000), and I also serve as branch manager of the headquarters branch. I've been in the role since June 2019, so I'm still figuring out how to use my time most effectively. I'd be interested to hear from public library directors who also fill dual roles as director and branch manager. How do you juggle the two roles satisfactorily?
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Julie Phillips
Library Director
Botetourt County Libraries
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