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Chair, Department of Special and Area Studies Collections

Chair, Department of Special and Area Studies Collections

University of Florida Libraries Job Location: Florida Date Created: 02-11-2013

POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT POSITION: Chair, Department of Special and Area Studies Collections RANK: Chair and Associate University Librarian or Chair and University Librarian REPORTS TO: Associate Dean, Scholarly Resources and Research Services SALARY: Actual salary will reflect selected professional’s experience and credentials Minimum Salary at the Chair and Associate University Librarian rank is $80,000 (inclusive of administrative stipend) Minimum Salary at the Chair and University Librarian rank is $87,000 (inclusive of administrative stipend) REQUISITION #: 0901670 DEADLINE DATE: The search will remain open until filled Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2012 Please note that this posting has specific instructions for the submission of application materials - see our website at: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/careers.htm or the APPLICATION PROCESS section below for further details. Failure to submit the required documents may result in the application not being considered. JOB SUMMARY The George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, seeks applications and nominations for the position of Department Chair for Special and Area Studies Collections. The successful candidate will be a forward thinking leader who is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the changing nature of librarianship for special collections and area studies collections. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Scholarly Resources and Research Services, this position is a key member of the Library team, ensuring organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and development of policies for library operations. The Department Chair for Special and Area Studies Collections is a tenure track library position which will provide leadership, strategic vision and direction for the department by blending traditional academic library practices with innovation to expand collections and usage, redesign spaces, and increase available resources. The Chair works collaboratively with departmental colleagues to assess strengths and weaknesses in the various collections, determine priorities, establish policies, and develop departmental service plans that enhance and support the academic mission of the University. The library encourages staff participation in reaching management decisions and consequently the Chair of Special and Area Studies Collections will serve on various committees and teams. To support all students and faculty and foster excellence in a diverse and global society, the Chair will be expected to include individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, genders, and perspectives in work activities. The Chair of Special and Area Studies Collections will pursue professional development opportunities, including research, publication, and professional service activities in order to meet library-wide criteria for tenure and promotion. RESPONSIBILITIES • Collaborates with the Dean of University Libraries, the Associate Dean for Scholarly Resources and Research Services, and the Associate Dean of Development and Advancement to enhance the outreach mission of the department by shaping both the physical housing of the collections and their availability in digital environments. • Works with departmental faculty and staff to define needs, set priorities, develop policies, and establish goals, objectives, strategic plans, and budgets to ensure effective management and development of services and collections. • In conjunction with the Dean of University Libraries and the Associate Dean of Development and Advancement, seeks financial support for the department’s collections and operations. • Oversees and coordinates the work of the units comprising the department of 23 faculty and staff plus graduate assistants who have responsibility for acquiring and managing the Libraries’ special and area studies collections. Curators and subject liaisons in this department also provide reference, research support, exhibits, and instructional services. • Leads special collections staff to establish policies and procedures for the delivery of public services in the Special Collections Research Room and to determine appropriate measures to safeguard special collections materials. Ensures that special collections materials are housed in conformance with established practices and standards for rare and unique materials. Represents the Libraries’ special collections at appropriate professional meetings and among special collections units in Florida’s state universities. Coordinates with curators of the Area Studies collections and serves as liaison of their programming and work to the administration of the Libraries. • With department faculty and staff, oversees symposia, lectures, and exhibitions that showcase and enhance the curricular and scholarly use of the University of Florida’s special and area studies collections within the academic and research communities. • Fosters a collaborative work environment, encouraging personnel to work within and across departments in the University Libraries to support the goals and initiatives of the Libraries’ strategic plan. • Participates actively in the cooperative management of the Libraries through service on the Library Council (library deans/administration and the chairs of departments), and other library consultative bodies. Participates in University of Florida committees as appropriate. • Creates innovative library spaces, particularly designing a new reading room and new staff work areas. • Establishes and maintains on-going contact with faculty, researchers, students, and potential donors. • Participates in appropriate professional organizations on the state, regional and national levels and pursues professional development goals, including publication, in order to meet requirements for tenure. QUALIFICATIONS Required: • ALA-accredited MLS or equivalent advanced degree in a relevant field • Appointment at the Associate University Librarian rank requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; and appointment at the University Librarian rank requires 12 or more years of relevant experience at an advanced level • Experience in leadership of special collections and/or area studies • Demonstrated ability to lead a team and to promote teamwork among colleagues • Demonstrated success in supervision, including the ability to lead and engage staff through the process of organizational improvement and change • Commitment to user-oriented service • Experience in effective planning and budgeting • Ability to cultivate and maintain effective relations with donors • Demonstrated knowledge of digitization practices related to special collections and area studies • Evidence of fostering staff professional development and growth • Excellent interpersonal skills • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with faculty, students, administrators and the general public • Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to adapt and work creatively in a complex, rapidly changing academic environment • Strong potential for meeting the requirements of tenure and promotion (outlined at http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/cdh) Preferred: • Additional advanced degree in a relevant field • Successful track record in project development and management • Successful grant writing experience • Demonstrated experience employing digitization practices to enhance special collections and area studies collections • Record of including individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, genders, and perspectives in research, teaching, service and other work THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA The University of Florida (UF) is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. The state's oldest and most comprehensive university, UF is among the nation's most academically diverse public universities. UF has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service. It is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities that belong to the Association of American Universities. UF traces its beginnings to a small seminary in 1853 and is now one of the largest universities in the nation, with more than 50,000 students. For more information, please consult the UF homepage at http://www.ufl.edu. GEORGE A. SMATHERS LIBRARIES The George A. Smathers Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), and LYRASIS. The library staff consists of more than 400 FTE librarians, technical/clerical staff and student assistants. The George A. Smathers Libraries organizational chart is available at: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/backpage.html. For more information about the Libraries, please visit http://www.uflib.ufl.edu. DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL AND AREA STUDIES COLLECTIONS The Dept. of Special and Area Studies Collections combines the Libraries’ traditional special collections with its premier area and cultural studies collections. Special Collections holds the primary source research collections of the University of Florida, which include the Harold and Mary Jean Hanson Rare Book Collection, the P. K. Yonge Library of Florida History, the Popular Culture Collection, the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, the University of Florida Archives, and manuscript collections supporting the different special and area studies collections. Area Studies is comprised of the Latin American Collection, the African Studies Collection, the Isser and Rae Price Library of Judaica and the Asian Studies Collection. Together, the collections contain over 750,000 volumes, more than 50,000 rolls of microfilm, over 8000 linear feet of manuscript and archival material, and a growing presence of unique digital holdings. The collections provide direct support to academic programs at t

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