Description

Description of Organization:

Mission Statement:

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum interprets the life and times of our nation’s greatest president and its relevance to modern America: it fosters scholarship, preserves the documentary and visual history of Illinois and supports historical literacy through an ambitious agenda of changing exhibits, theatrical performances, conferences, lectures, educational programs and on-line content. 

The ALPLM is the world’s leading museum and library dedicated to the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th president. When it opened in 2005, the museum quickly became known for the ground-breaking nature of its exhibits and innovations in historical story-telling.

Along with its focus on Lincoln, the museum also hosts exhibits on related topics, including the American Presidency, politics, and Illinois and American history.

In addition to a crowd-pleasing museum that has earned 5/5 stars on the TripAdvisor website, the ALPLM houses a scholarly library dedicated to both Abraham Lincoln and Illinois history.  The Library is 126 years old and is the former Illinois State Historical Library. It is the repository of the world’s largest collection of pre-presidential, Lincoln-related documents as well as artifacts, maps, manuscripts, newspapers, diaries, video footage, sheet music, photographs, oral histories and published materials. The library houses thirteen million books, documents and artifacts on eight miles of linear shelving. These include over 1,500 documents written in Lincoln’s own hand, among them the Gettysburg Address, and over 500 newspapers preserved on over 90,000 reels of microfilm.

The ALPLM has a private 501c3 foundation which is the principal fundraising body for the ALPLM. It supports the educational and cultural programming of the ALPLM, fosters Lincoln scholarship through the acquisition and publication of documentary materials relating to Lincoln and his era, and promotes a greater appreciation of history through exhibits, conferences, publications, online services, and other activities designed to promote historical literacy.

The museum is owned and operated by the State of Illinois and therefore falls under state personnel and procurement rules.

Attendance at the museum increased by 8.4% between 2014 and 2015. By the end of September 2015, attendance totaled 249,230. Campus attendance should hit approximately 300,000 by the end of the year. The museum anticipates its four millionth visitor at the end of 2015 or early 2016.

The FY15 operating budget for the ALPLM was $14.75 million

The museum and library are housed in three buildings, one each for the museum, library and a visitor center in a historic train station in Lincoln’s adult home, Springfield, Illinois. The museum boasts 46,000 square feet of permanent exhibit space and 3,500 square feet of temporary exhibit space.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The director will:

  • Provide leadership and administration of the ALPLM, implementing best practices as espoused by the American Alliance of Museums and the American Library Association.
  • Oversee the creation and implementation of a new strategic plan for the institution.
  • Work hand-in-glove with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation to raise funds for acquisitions, operations and a long-term endowment.
  • Ensure that the museum continues to lead in innovative, attractive and educational exhibits and programming and that the library continues to be a valuable resource to scholars and the general public.
  • Develop new marketing efforts to attract new visitors and supporters.
  • Increase revenue from admissions, onsite sales, programs and new endeavors.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with other national and international museums, history-related organizations, governmental departments, representatives of state and federal agencies, and the general public.

Location:

Springfield, Illinois

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following qualifications:

  • Significant museum management experience or experience running a complex public service institution such as a university, presidential library or major cultural institution.
  • Lincoln or American history expertise preferred, as demonstrated by public history experience, or published articles and books.
  • Demonstrated success in large dollar fundraising.
  • Demonstrated success increasing attendance and organizational memberships.
  • Expertise in educational programming.
  • Desire and ability to contribute to the cultural and civic life in Central Illinois.
Job Information
  • Springfield, Illinois, 62701, United States
  • 26026068
  • December 2, 2015
  • Executive Director
  • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
  • Directors/Administrators
  • No
  • Full-Time