Dean of Library Services

Position Description: Fort Hays State University, a regional comprehensive teaching institution, invites applications and nominations for the Dean of Library Services.  The role of the library dean is to be an administrative leader, collaborator, communicator, and a successful teacher scholar. A successful candidate will be an ethical academic leader who will respect the culture and history of this student-centered institution, understanding the practice of great teaching and advising, the impact of research on the education of our students, and the role of professional service. A successful candidate will be a strong team member who prizes students, advocates for library faculty and staff, appreciates and demonstrates accountability, and utilizes data to inform decisions and measure success. The dean will maintain a strong commitment to the educational role of libraries in the 21^st century.  The dean reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and serves as a member of the Academic Council, the President’s Cabinet, the Senior Leadership Team, and other university groups and committees related to administrative and planning activities. The appointment is a 12-month academic administrative position. Applicants may find this position unusually attractive because of a number of features of the position or the library:

• the opportunity to participate in the planning and execution of a significant library renovation
• our involvement in the development and use of open educational resources
• our strong collaboration with faculty
• our connection to student success and the curriculum
• our outreach initiatives
• and our connection to research through participation in undergraduate research and hosting of the FHSU Scholars Repository.

Expected Leadership and Managerial Activities Leadership:

• Lead the vision, strategizing, and goal setting for Forsyth Library in alignment with the university vision, mission, values, and strategic plan
• Facilitate collegial governance and healthy morale of the library, including the hiring, development, and supervision of direct reports
• Develop and maintain professional relationships and proactive communication with faculty, staff, students and other constituents
• Support activities relevant to research, professional development, community service/involvement, and campus activities for faculty and staff
• Advocate, represent, and serve as the voice of the library both internally and externally
• Lead with accountability, courage, and a focus on solutions
• Facilitate student relationships and initiatives
• Collaborate with the FHSU Foundation to cultivate and steward donor relationships
• Participate in the processes of planning and executing a library renovation (planning starts in 2020) 

Management:

• Manage, empower, and evaluate personnel
• Effectively manage library budgets and financial resources
• Ensure quality and assessment of library processes and programs
• Maintain open and honest two-way communication across the entire university
• Support institutional and college diversity and inclusion, including recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students
• Develop collegial working relationships with administration, library, other academic affairs units, and university support units
• Keep abreast of the developing trends and needs of academic libraries
• Promote faculty, staff, and student academic citizenship and institutional values within the library and university learning community
• Commit to succession planning 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an ALA accredited program or its equivalent
• Record of academic and professional achievement that includes publications and warrants tenure and rank as full professor of librarianship
• Five or more years of professional academic library experience 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated strong commitment to the educational role of 21^st century libraries at a regional comprehensive teaching institution
• Supervisory experience in an academic library or related institution
• Experience with library initiatives including information literacy, open education resources, scholarly communication, undergraduate research, promotion, tenure, program accreditation, community engagement, student success, or professional development
• Experience with university initiatives including partnerships (internal or external), internationalization, distance learning, or strategic planning
• Demonstrated commitment to building a diverse and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate donor relationships or grant development for the library
• Demonstrated commitment to shared governance, consensus-building, transparency in leadership and management, and data-informed decision making
• Participation in library and information science organizations
• Experience with planning and implementation of library renovation 

Rank:  Commensurate with experience  Appointment Date: Negotiable  Application Deadline:  For full consideration, all materials should be received by April 15, 2020  Salary: Negotiable  Benefits: Competitive benefit package; see http://www.fhsu.edu/humanresourceoffice/Prospective-Employees/  Application Process:  To apply for this position, please visit https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted. Required Application Documents:  Applicants should submit a cover letter addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications, a resume/CV, a one-page statement of the applicant’s view of the role of the academic library for the next 10 or 15 years, and names and contact information of at least three professional references. Applicant documents should be submitted in a single PDF. If you have questions regarding the position or would like to nominate a potential candidate, please contact: Dr. Paul Faber, Search Committee Chair pfaber@fhsu.edu 785-628-4234  About the Library: Forsyth Library fosters learning, scholarship, and enduring connections to history, culture, and heritage. Library initiatives are guided by the core values of social, civic, and professional engagement, recognition of the changing needs of the learner, intellectual freedom, and support of faculty and student research. Through library instruction, research consultations, and faculty collaborations, students learn to effectively and responsibly gather, evaluate, and use information for scholarship and problem solving, contributing to student success and academic excellence. The library employs 18 full-time faculty and staff and 30+ students to provide resources and services to FHSU students, faculty and staff on campus, online, and across the globe. Physical and electronic resources, government publications and special collections support the teaching and research of the university. Special Collections include the University Archives and the Center for Ethnic Studies and concentrations in children’s literature, great plains research, military history, and rare books. Among its resources, Forsyth has rich digital collections (http://contentcat.fhsu.edu/) to make materials from special collections virtually accessible, and an institutional repository (http://scholars.fhsu.edu/) to preserve and showcase scholarship from the university community, open educational resources, and digitized archival materials. As a university partner in delivering accessible quality education, Forsyth Library advocates for and promotes the use of open educational resources and supports creation through the Open Textbook Grant Program. Additional information about Forsyth Library is available at http://www.fhsu.edu/library.  About Fort Hays State University: Founded in 1902, FHSU is a leading, forward-thinking university of the Midwest, with student enrollment of more than 15,500 (including 4,500+ on the Hays campus, a unique China partnership program with enrollment of 4,000 students, and on-line enrollment of over 7,000).  Over 400 faculty and more than 500 professional and staff support and guide degree and certificate programs for the associate’s, bachelor's, and master's programs, and for the Doctorate of Nursing Practice, representing 31 departments within these academic divisions:

• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship
• College of Education
• College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
• Peter Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics
• Graduate School

Fort Hays State University provides exceptional opportunities for students from Kansas, the region, and the world, and the University attracts goal-oriented students who want premier learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom combined with one-to-one attention and support. FHSU students graduate with the knowledge, professional skills, and confidence to have a competitive edge in their chosen careers. Upon graduation, 95% of FHSU students find a job or placement in graduate school.  About Hays, Kansas: Candidates will discover a locale where professional satisfaction and career achievement are paired with an optimal quality of life. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas, a vibrant, growing community of over 20,000 that takes great pride in the University’s presence. Hays is a celebration of historic and contemporary contrasts, evidenced in its frontier roots highlighted throughout the city and local museums and in its redeveloped downtown area where residents enjoy one-of-a-kind restaurants, unique shopping, and a vibrant arts scene. This community’s commitment to the future inspires Hays businesses to reinvest locally. A welcoming and family-centered community, Hays offers premier healthcare services, a growing high-tech and retail business community, and excellent Pre-K and K–12 schools in both the private and public sectors. The City of Hays has long been known as a safe community, and the FHSU campus is recognized by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2018 as one of the Top 100 Safest College Campuses in America. For entertainment, recreation, education, employment, or simply for a comfortable place to live, residents of all ages will find in Hays the elements that contribute to a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling lifestyle. Notice of Non-discrimination – Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status. Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check. Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.

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