{{ site.title }}

Dean of Library Services

Dean of Library Services

Iowa State University Job Location: Iowa Date Created: 10-22-2014

Iowa State University, one of the nation’s leading land-grant institutions and a member of the Association of American Universities, invites applications and nominations for Dean of Library Services.

Iowa State is a student-centric major research university, and offers a rich student experience with unlimited academic and social opportunities in a comfortable, friendly, and supportive campus environment. Its 34,000 students come from all 50 states and 103 countries, and the Ames, Iowa, community is consistently ranked among the top small cities in America for its exceptional quality of life.  See www.iastate.edu. 

The University Library, a unit within the Division of Academic Affairs, serves the entire campus with a $23 million budget, 110 faculty and staff, and 100 student assistants. The Library includes the Parks Library, which houses the main collections and library services including special collections and university archives, the Veterinary Medical Library, and Design Reading Room.  The Library has over 3 million volumes, and subscribes to more than 91,000 electronic journals and nearly 450 databases to support the university's mission to create, share, and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a better place. The Library’s electronic resources are globally available to faculty, staff, and students. See: www.lib.iastate.edu.

The Library welcomed over 2 million visitors in fiscal year 2014.  Assistance to library users is provided at public service desks in Parks Library and in the branch facilities.  A digital repository contains over 22,000 items and has had over 2 million downloads.  It provides global access to scholarship generated by students, faculty, and alumni, and assists investigators in meeting agency requirements for scholarship and data to be made broadly available.  Teaching activities include a one-credit hybrid undergraduate Information Literacy course, taken by 7,000 students annually, that is nationally known for its efficiency in delivering a high quality curriculum to first year students. 

The Library's comprehensive collections support research and study at the master's and doctoral levels across the university. As a charter member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Library’s resources are part of a national collection supporting comprehensive research in many disciplines, particularly in science and technology, and including collections in entomology, botany, economics, agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Provost, the dean is responsible for advancing excellence, supporting the development of strategies and action plans, and generating internal and external support. The dean also is expected to be a leader in attracting and advancing excellent and diverse academic librarians and library staff, and to build collaborative and sustained relationships both inside and outside the university.

Candidates must have a Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution or international equivalent, or an equivalent level of library leadership experience, and a distinguished record of accomplishment in higher education, private sector, professional practice, or public service commensurate with the expectations for appointment as a tenured professor.  The preferred candidate will have a record of proven leadership experience; effective communication, team-building, and consensus-building skills; a demonstrated commitment to collaboration; experience in, or commitment to, fundraising; and expertise to guide organizational development and to creatively address issues at the forefront of library and information services.

Iowa State University has retained the services of Greenwood/Asher & Associates to assist with this search.  The successful candidate is expected to begin duties on or about July 1, 2015.  Although the search will remain open until the position is filled, preliminary screening of potential candidates will begin immediately.  To ensure consideration applications must be received by January 1, 2015.  Please send nominations and applications, including a cover letter, vita, and the names and contact information of five references, to: 

Jan Greenwood or Shelley Sullivan
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc.
42 Business Center Drive, Suite 206
Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Phone: 850.650.2277        Fax: 850.650.2272
Email: jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com; shelleysullivan@greenwoodsearch.com

Candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.  All nominations and applications will be held confidential until finalists are publicly announced.

Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, 515 294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

Learn More »

Affiliates