The Senior Person is a staff member who has been given authority to make decisions for the good of the library. There are two levels of Senior Person: Senior Administrative Person and Building Senior Person.
The Senior Administrative Person is always the Director whenever they are physically present. In the Director’s absence, the Deputy Director is senior administrator; in their absence, the Branch Manager, Adult Services Manager, Youth Services Manager, Digital Services Manager, Circulation Services Manager, and the Technical Services Manager are respectively senior. Regardless of whether they are physically present or not, the Senior Administrative Person makes decisions regarding the system as a whole, such as whether to close a building.
The Building Senior Person is given the authority to exert control over the staffing and operations of the agency in routine situations and handles complaints from customers. The Building Senior Person supervises staff in the absence of the department supervisor or senior administrative staff. At Main Library this responsibility is rotated among Public Service Managers, the Technical Services Manager, the Deputy Director, and other designated staff. At Woods Branch it is the Branch Manager, Circulation Services Manager, or other designated staff.
Responsibilities of the Building Senior Person
- Checks with each department to ensure that staffing is adequate. In the absence of the department manager, the Senior Person works closely with departmental staff to make decisions regarding emergency staffing, oversee scheduling of breaks, and ensure that the work of the department goes smoothly.
- Makes decisions about the safety and security of the building in collaboration with the Safety and Security Services Manager when present; settles problems with customers that should not be deferred; manages last-minute issues with meeting rooms; makes decisions about staff and scheduling that should not be deferred.
- Informs the Senior Administrative Person of unusual actions taken or circumstances which may result in later repercussions, such as customer complaints or disciplinary problems. (Serious emergencies immediately, other matters the next day).
- In conference with the building Maintenance staff, informs Maintenance Services Manager of building emergencies; may arrange for emergency building repairs under their direction or in their stead. In the absence of a Maintenance staff person, the Senior Person addresses any building issues to the best of their ability, consulting with other staff as necessary.
Approved by the Shaker Heights Public Library Board of Trustees 12/93, 5/99, 11/07, 5/11/2010, 5/13/2013, 6/9/2014, 5/11/2015, 5/16/2016, 3/15/2021, 5/15/2023, 5/19/2025
