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Assistant/Associate Professor and Head Librarian, Collections Management

Assistant/Associate Professor and Head Librarian, Collections Management

University of Illinois at Chicago Job Location: Illinois Apply By: 10/29/2021 Date Created: 09-14-2021

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO


The Collections Management Librarian provides leadership and coordination in the development, management, and assessment of collections to support the research, clinical, teaching and learning needs of the University and leads the development of a comprehensive information resources strategy. This is a tenure system faculty position. This position reports to the University Librarian and Dean of Libraries and supervises 1.0 FTE Health Sciences collections librarian (prospective hire). The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive, professional and team-oriented approach to working with faculty and staff colleagues. This tenure-track appointment includes the expectation that the faculty member will be actively engaged in and significantly contribute to the profession through research/scholarship and service related to professional and scholarly interests. This includes publication, presentation, and committee work at various levels. Support for scholarship and professional development, including funding, research leave, and mentoring, are provided to foster candidate success (https://library.uic.edu/about/employment/faculty-support). Expectations are further outlined in the norms for tenure track appointments (https://uofi.app.box.com/v/ptlibnorms).

About UIC

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 33,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. In fall 2019, UIC added its newest college Chicago’s John Marshall Law School becoming part of UIC. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. The university is in the midst of a $750 million campaign and recently released a campus master plan that will reimagine UIC’s campus. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

Specific responsibilities include:

Vision/leadership

  • Lead the development and implementation of collection development strategic priorities and policies for the University Library.
  • Develop and manage a robust collection of electronic books, article databases, journals and other resources in support of stakeholder needs and the University’s strategic mission in collaboration with liaison librarians.
  • Establish a vision for open-access and transformative agreements policies and coordinate payments.

Budget management

  • Provide oversight and management for the collections budget of $9-10 million, including establishing fund allocations each year and monitoring collections expenditures. Manage endowment and gift funds of $200,000 in consultation with Library Administration.
  • Directly manage two funds that currently account for 46% of the collections budget, including evidence based/patron driven acquisitions programs and journal packages.
  • Guide and support liaison librarians managing the remaining 54% of the budget, including training, policy, consultation on best practices and multi-subject projects. Collaborate with Library Communications and liaisons to promote new resources and communicate cancellations.
  • Collaborate with the Library's Finance Director in the areas of contract negotiation and administration and collections budget management as related to the Library's overall financial picture.
  • Partner with Resource Acquisition and Management department to facilitate licensing of purchases and timely payments. Oversee and document workflows, processes, and best practices for electronic resources acquisition, licensing, implementation, assessment, and budget.

Analysis/assessment

  • Collaborate with the Collections Analysis and Assessment Librarians to provide usage statistics and other assessment data to identify needs, evaluate current and potential licenses and to support renewals, alternative access options, and withdrawal. Monitor new trends, acquisition models, and types of resources as the field of collections development evolves.

Service

  • Serve as the UIC Library’s collections liaison to multiple consortia, participating in cooperative collections negotiations and projects.
  • Serve on relevant University committees and represent the library at national and regional meetings.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited library school program
  • Two years of experience with a demonstrated increase in collections responsibilities, including budget management

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Effective negotiation and vendor relationship management skills
  • Strong business and financial acumen
  • Ability to engage effectively with consortial partners
  • Collections analysis skills

SALARY/RANK/CONTRACT:

Salary commensurate with experience and rank. The minimum salary for a full-time twelve-month tenure track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor is $65,000. The minimum salary for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor is $71,500. Benefits for a twelve month appointment include 24 days vacation; 12 days annual sick leave with additional disability benefits; 11 paid holidays; medical insurance (contribution based on annual salary; coverage for dependents may be purchased); two dental plans available; life insurance paid for by the State; participation in one of the retirement options of the State Universities Retirement System compulsory (8% of salary is withheld and is tax exempt until withdrawal); no Social Security coverage, but Medicare payment is required. This appointment is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and UIC United Faculty Local 6456, IFT-AFT, AAUP.

For fullest consideration, apply by October 11, 2021 with cover letter, C.V., and name and address of at least three professional references. The position close date is October 29, 2021. Your cover letter should address how you support a diverse and inclusive library environment and collections. All applicants must submit an online application through https://jobs.uic.edu/. To apply, click on the following link: https://jobs.uic.edu/job-board/job-details?jobID=153238

The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899

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