Head of Library

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement the library's strategic vision and goals aligned with the university’s mission and academic priorities.
• Lead the library team in delivering high-quality services to faculty, staff, and students, and ensure alignment with university-wide initiatives.
• Serve as the primary advocate for the library within the university, promoting its role in supporting academic success, research, and lifelong learning.
• Collaborate with senior academic and administrative leadership to ensure that the library effectively meets the evolving needs of the university community.

2. Library Operations and Management

• Oversee all aspects of library operations, including acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, and interlibrary loan services.
• Ensure efficient management of library resources, including physical and digital collections, to maximize accessibility and usability.
• Develop and manage the library budget, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to support operational needs, staff development, and technology initiatives.
• Implement and oversee library policies and procedures that reflect best practices and are responsive to changing needs.

3. Personnel and Staff Development

• Lead, supervise, and mentor a diverse team of library professionals, staff, and student workers.
• Foster a positive and productive work environment that encourages professional development, collaboration, and innovation.
• Promote ongoing staff training in emerging trends and technologies in academic libraries and information management.
• Conduct performance reviews and manage staff recruitment, retention, and performance management processes.

4. Academic and Research Support

• Ensure that library services support the academic needs of the university’s diverse student and faculty population.
• Collaborate with faculty to integrate library resources into the curriculum and enhance student engagement with library services.
• Foster a culture of research support by ensuring the library provides access to relevant academic databases, journals, and other scholarly resources.
• Lead initiatives to promote digital literacy and information management skills across the curriculum.

5. Technology and Innovation

• Lead efforts to integrate emerging technologies and digital resources into library services, ensuring the library remains at the forefront of innovation.
• Oversee the implementation of library management systems, digital repositories, and other technological tools that improve the user experience.
• Assess and implement new technologies to enhance resource access, manage collections, and provide online services to remote or off-campus students.
• Stay abreast of trends and developments in academic libraries, digital scholarship, and information management.

6. User Experience and Community Engagement

• Ensure the library offers excellent customer service and creates an inviting, accessible space for all users.
• Collect and analyze user feedback to continuously improve library services and resources.
• Develop outreach strategies to engage students, faculty, and staff in library activities and services.
• Cultivate partnerships with academic departments, student organizations, and other university units to enhance library engagement and visibility.

7. Compliance and Accreditation

• Ensure library services comply with institutional, state, and federal regulations related to academic libraries and information access.
• Maintain knowledge of accreditation standards and ensure the library supports institutional accreditation processes.
• Monitor trends in copyright, intellectual property, and fair use to ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards in library operations.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS), Information Science, or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 5-7 years of professional experience in academic libraries, with a minimum of 3-5 years in a leadership or management role.
• Proven experience in library operations, resource management, and staff leadership.
• Experience in managing budgets, strategic planning, and implementing new technologies or systems in a library setting.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop staff.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• A deep understanding of academic library services, trends, and technology.
• Knowledge of information literacy, digital libraries, open access, and scholarly publishing.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage complex projects.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Free parking
• Health insurance
• Maternity leave
• Parental leave