Kip Roberson Email & Phone Number

Jackson, Wyoming, United States

La Grande, Oregon

Leads through effective, equitable planning, staff management & resource allocation. Manages priorities, identifies critical issues, resolves conflicts & technical issues, and directs all library operations. Ensures library facility is attractive & safe for staff & patrons. Ensures library offers array of informational, instructional, recreational, & research services to meet the needs of diverse community. Communicator with sense of humor & open door policy for staff, patrons, & community partners.Developed & implemented Library's COVID-19 continuity of operations plan - based on community needs, scientific data, guidance from CDC, Oregon Health Authority, OSHA, & State Library of OregonDeveloped & implemented new library services to better serve patrons - Library Take-Out, Library Take-Out(side), Library @ Your Door, After-Hours Pickup, and Chat With A LibrarianWorked with City Manager & City Council to change existing library policies; involved consultation with County Commissioners. Wrote 2 legislative memos & resolutions regarding establishment of fine-free circulation policy & non-resident membership options; resolutions passed City Council, 5-1 & 6-0, respectivelyEnhanced Library's digital offerings by adding hoopla, Kanopy, Freading, Freegal, MyHeritage, LinkedIn Learning, & JobNowDeveloped & implemented Library communications strategy Led Library through website and logo redesign projectsPartnered with La Grande School District to provide eCard to every studentReinvigorated, re-branded library foundation. Led foundation through most successful fundraising event ever with Library Giving Day 2020Cultivate community relationships and form partnershipsAwarded 4 grants - replacement of all public computers, workforce development/digital literacy, U.S. CensusImplemented staff training/continuing education plan

Responsible for planning, managing, & evaluating public service delivery in 4-branch/50+ staff region, ensured optimal library operations & services responsive to local community needs. Developed adept, collaborative, & resilient management team; actively managed individual & team performance. Built & maintained strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues across organization, served as primary liaison between library administration & staff in assigned region. Contributed to development of Library’s strategic direction; developed & executed plans advancing system goals. Cultivated strategic, anticipatory mindset in responding to complex issues in changing environment.Led regional librarians through Community Engagement project - provided support for library staff to come to deeper understanding of communities they serve. Librarians examined data & listened carefully to community members about their strengths, interests, needs, & concerns. Developed local priorities based on what was learned from community, engaged in partnerships to develop relevant programs & servicesIncreased diversity of professional staff by 33%Led regional staff thru alignment of work with system's strategic goal of racial equity & serving traditionally under-represented communitiesLed busiest neighborhood branch through remodel project - combined information & circulation desks to better serve patron needsDeveloped & delivered library services, including WiFi hotspots & outreach to homeless & insecurely housed residentsCo-lead on Librarian Work: Philosophy & Structural Support Project Team - developed statement defining work of Librarians in organization, developed structure for public services that supported efficient development & completion of workServed on Fines & Fees Policy Analysis Project Team - applied racial equity lens to existing fines & fees policies; made recommendations to lower barriers to access & proposed rates to be used in budget development

Greater Boston Area

Performed administrative work involving direction of broad range of public library functions. Responsibility for management of public library collection & provision of library services to patrons & community organizations. Duties included policy recommendation, departmental planning, direction & administration of library activities.Awarded state planning & development grant for new/expanded/renovated library facility ($40,000 grant award)Completed new 5-year strategic plan (components: SOAR analysis, community visioning, community survey)Planned & implemented first annual Littleton Reads: One Book, One CommunityCreated Seed Library Littleton in partnership with Littleton Community FarmIntroduced new formats & technologiesCompleted redesign of library website

Burlington, Vermont Area

Performed professional, administrative & supervisory work that required frequent exercise of leadership, independent judgment, & initiative in planning, organizing, & managing town's public library services.Advocated for & secured budget increases each year, despite Great Recession.Completed new 3-year strategic planCompleted space needs study; worked with architect to develop conceptual design for new facilityWorked closely with consultant & donors on fundraising feasibility studyInstalled & managed library's computer equipment & networkIncreased open hours with no budgetary impactIncreased circulation of library materials annuallyIntroduced new formats & technologiesCreated additional revenue streams for Friends of the LibraryAwarded Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Opportunity Online Hardware GrantCompleted library's first collection inventory since automationMigrated library's ILS to a consortium-based, open-source ILS

Key member of administration team responsible for management of all public service functions. Participated in development of system's overall vision & determined strategies to achieve goals & objectives. Ensured consistency in delivery of library services across system & promoted environment of proactive customer service.Increased circulation for 3 consecutive yearsIntroduced videogame and comic book collections - first library in region to do soIntroduced library's first monthly newsletter, PagesDeveloped robust, diverse DVD collection - comparable to a film school's collectionLed public service staff through proactive customer service training & implemented roving referenceAchieved reallocation of staff & budget resources by outsourcing portions of collection development & catalogingIncorporated, promoted new & emerging technologies into library operationsLed public service staff across three branch locations through ILS migrationActive participant in job description analysis/pay equity processActive participant in collective bargaining/contract negotiation processDeveloped branch profiles based on neighborhood demographics & needs that define each branch's collections, services, & hours

Performed professional, administrative and supervisory work that required the frequent exercise of leadership, independent judgment, and initiative in planning, organizing, and managing the town’s public library and in thedevelopment and delivery of library services designed to meet both individual and community needs.Expanded library services from 5 days to 6 days per week without budgetary impactAdvocated for and secured budget increase in a year when every other town departmental budgetdecreasedEnsured established state certification standards were met each yearLed library and Old Colony Library Network (as consortium president) through system migration (Dynix to SIRSI)Participated in establishing Sharon Public Library Endowment FundIncorporated new/emerging technologies into library operations — first library in area to offer WiFi accessPrimary player in designing new library facility for community — wrote RFP for space needs survey/ architectural services; promoted/publicized need for project to community; routinely consulted with chosenarchitectSecured pay equity for all library positions with jobs across all town departments having comparable duties, skills and requirementsActive participant in collective bargaining/contract negotiation process and other union-related mattersDeveloped and implemented evaluation tools for employee performance reviewsIncreased library’s annual circulation for nine consecutive yearsEstablished and maintained library’s internet presence at www.SharonPublicLibrary.orgEstablished online community calendar at www.SharonCommunityCalendar.comStarted library’s first newsletter, Between the Lines, mailed quarterly to all households

Administered & directed the functions, activities & operations of town's public library. Provided leadership with strong public service commitment. Appreciated & empowered a hard-working, innovative & progressive staff.Secured pay equity for library employees with other town employees performing comparable tasksDeveloped & nurtured vital partnership with Middlebury College library that included provision of professional servicesLed Library through first automation project including planning & implementation of ILS, retrospective conversion of library holdings, staff & customer trainingEstablished Library's first monthly newsletter, Ilsley Inklings

Directed all aspects of reference & readers' advisory services for the library including scheduling & management of departmental staff.Designed & developed programs & publicity materials for adult, teen customersCreated orientation & training program for reference & readers' advisory staff

Assisted library customers in the use of reference materials and online resources. Conducted library orientations and tours. Assisted with the selection of library materials.Developed, published, and maintained the Lake County Human Resources Directory

M.L.S., Master Of Library Science

B.S., Finance

A.S., Business Administration

High School Diploma, College Prep