Library Director

Posted: Oct 10, 2025

Library Director

Portage Lake District Library - Houghton, Michigan - Houghton, MI

business_center Full-time

Salary: $65,000.00 Annually

Application Deadline: Nov 3, 2025

Director—Portage Lake District Library

Want to work in a winter wonderland on the shores of magnificent Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? The Portage Lake District Library in Houghton, Michigan, is looking for a library director.

Named the most charming small town in Michigan by HGTV and one of the top 100 most livable small towns in the nation by Liveability.com, Houghton is a hidden gem for nature lovers with its rolling hills, wave-washed shoreline and scenic hiking, biking and snowmobile trails. It even has a ski hill.

It’s home to Michigan Technological University, a top-ranked research university that draws faculty and students from all over the world. Michigan Tech brings music, theater and other cultural events to Houghton that you would not normally find in a small town.

Its district library is equally impressive. The Portage Lake District Library perches right on the banks of the Portage Waterway. It has a collection of nearly 71,000 circulating books plus thousands more available through regional and statewide interlibrary loan, as well as extensive digital resources. Its staff of 20 love working there, as do its volunteers. The community loves it too. They flock to its wide variety of programs. The school bus even drops children off there after school.

The library serves a population of 17,760, including the residents of the City of Houghton and Portage Township. Through a contract with a neighboring school district, PLDL also oversees the operations at the Hancock School Public Library.

So what is the Portage Lake District Library looking for?

Under the direction of a library board appointed by the City of Houghton and Portage Township, the director:

• Manages the operations of the library, including hiring and management of personnel.
• Initiates development and implementation of the budget.
• Develops long range goals, strategic plans and policies.
• Implements board policy.
• Oversees educational, cultural, and informational services and programs.
  
  

We are seeking a team builder, critical thinker and dynamic personality. The ideal candidate possesses skills in management, budget-making, advocacy and team building, as well as knowledge of emerging trends in libraries. This individual will be articulate and have the knowledge and experience to work effectively with governing boards, library staff, public officials, library patrons and community groups.

Qualifications

• MLIS from an ALA-accredited university.
• Proof of progressively responsible management experience in a public library or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience with budget and fiscal management.
• A deep understanding of library technology, resources and trends.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated team-building, management and leadership skills.
  
  

Annual Salary: Not less than $65,000.

Benefits include paid leave; health, dental and vision insurance, and a defined-contribution retirement plan.

To apply: Email your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in this position to PLDL Board President Sylvia Matthews, [email protected].

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