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Executive Director – Central Arkansas Library System (AR)

Salary: $160,000.00 - $21,000.00 Annually

Application Deadline: Aug 30, 2026

Public Library

The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) Board of Directors is seeking a mission-driven, community-minded, and visionary leader to serve as the next Executive Director of the largest library system in Arkansas. CALS serves 344,553 residents across the urban, suburban, and rural communities of Pulaski and Perry counties. Reporting to a 16-member Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as the organization's chief executive officer, providing leadership to an experienced executive team, overseeing 293.94 FTE, and managing a $30 million annual budget. CALS maintains a collection of more than one million items and operates a bookmobile and 14 library locations, including the 135,097-square-foot Main Library, which recently reopened following an extensive two-year, $31 million renovation. The updated facility features six floors of public space, computer labs and classrooms, meeting and event spaces, podcast and production studios, teaching kitchens, makerspaces, and a rooftop terrace. The Joann and Garth Martin Children's Center at the Main Library provides an inviting environment where children and families can enjoy the garden, sensory room, and wellness room. Located on Library Square in downtown Little Rock, the Main Library serves as the centerpiece of a vibrant, multi-building campus. Other CALS-operated facilities on Library Square include the Ron Robinson Theater, the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, and the Rock It! Lab.

Hosting large-scale programs such as Six Bridges Book Festival, a city-wide anti-hunger campaign called Be Mighty Little Rock, and employing dedicated social workers within its Community Resources Program, CALS has a long history of playing a critical role in the community through robust partnerships, grants, and awards such as the Library Journal Kline Community Impact Award, received in 2021. The next Executive Director will be an exceptional communicator who champions the organization's mission, vision, and core values while engaging with a wide range of diverse stakeholders. The Executive Director will champion reading, books, literacy, learning, and access to ideas. Through the thoughtful implementation of the existing strategic plan, they will strengthen relationships, build trust, and advance the library system's long-term priorities. Key initiatives for this role include collaborating with community leaders and appointed officials, inspiring a large team of innovative staff to feel empowered in their work, communicating a modern vision of the public library throughout the region, meeting the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing world of AI, and operationalizing updated spaces effectively to streamline public service work and improve the patron experience.

Little Rock, the capital and largest city in Arkansas, spans 116.8 square miles and serves as the cultural and economic hub for a metropolitan area of more than 700,000 residents. Little Rock is a culturally diverse city with an historic blend of communities situated along the Arkansas River in the heart of the state, offering abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, including Pinnacle Mountain State Park, the Arkansas River Trail, rock climbing, hiking, and more than 1,200 miles of biking trails throughout the region. The city …

Responsibilities

The ideal candidate implements and monitors all present and future policies approved by the CALS Board and ensures that CALS complies with all appropriate local, state, and federal laws and regulations; prepares an annual budget that reflects both the level of financial support and the overall mission of the library system. The Executive Director develops, monitors, and forecasts the overall budget to ensure that funds are dispersed legally and that expenditures contribute to the library’s mission; assures that staff development and continuing education opportunities are encouraged and provided for library staff on an equitable basis; oversees public relations, serving as the representative of CALS in the community, maintaining effective working relationships with public officials, governmental agencies, civic and community groups, and the public. This Executive Director initiates and maintains a leadership role in the state’s library community to cooperatively develop and encourage initiatives to benefit library interests. For a full list of responsibilities, see the links in the job posting on the Bradbury Miller Associate website (https://bradburymiller.com/open-positions/).

Qualifications

An MLS from an ALA-accredited institution is desired. Candidates with an equivalent combination of advanced education and relevant professional experience may also be considered. A minimum of seven years of increasingly responsible professional experience, including at least five years in an executive leadership or senior management role, is required.

Compensation

The hiring salary range is $160,000 – $210,000 (with placement negotiable depending on experience and qualifications), plus an excellent fringe benefits package.