University Librarian

The University of San Diego (USD), a private Roman Catholic institution based on a beautiful campus in San Diego, California, seeks an experienced library administrator to serve as University Librarian (UL). Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the UL serves as a member of the USD faculty and oversees all operations for the Helen K. and James S. Copley Library. The successful candidate will lead the Copley Library to become a more effective, technologically innovative resource working in support of the academic mission of the university’s students and faculty.

Since 1952, USD has strived to provide students with a high-quality academic experience inclusive of all faiths, rooted in the Catholic values of honesty, integrity, and service. Situated on a lush 180-acre campus known as Alcalá Park, on a hill with sweeping views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean, USD encompasses the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Law, School of Leadership and Education Sciences, School of Nursing & Health Science, and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. The university enrolls 5111 undergraduate, 184 paralegal, 1461 graduate, and 1112 law students in more than sixty degree programs led by 381 full-time and 427 part-time faculty members. Under the leadership of President Mary Lyons, USD has made significant advances in both its academic and financial strength and is poised to reach a new tier of excellence. For more information about USD, please see www.sandiego.edu.

USD’s main library is the Helen K. and James S. Copley Library, which houses more than 500,000 books and bound periodicals and holds subscriptions to 2,500 journals and a wide range of media and digital resources. The UL seeks the advice of the Faculty Library Committee and works in close cooperation with the Chief Information Officer of USD and with the Director of the Pardee Legal Research Center, which is the primary library for the School of Law. In addition to housing collections, the Copley Library provides a wide range of services to the USD community, including study space, meeting facilities, co-curricular programming, computer labs, and other resources. USD also participates in local and national library consortia, including the San Diego Library Circuit Consortium, the Catholic Research Resource Alliance, and the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium.

The successful candidate will be only the third University Librarian in USD’s history, and will have an outstanding opportunity to take the University into a new era. This position requires an experienced library administrator with a strong understanding of the evolving role of university libraries in the 21st century and a clear compelling vision for how Copley Library can more effectively serve faculty and students working across the university and beyond. The UL must have a Masters of Science in Library and Information Science or its equivalent and hold a second advanced degree before consideration for tenure. Other required qualifications include a history of decisive and innovative leadership, including managing and developing human, financial, and physical resources; an understanding of technology applications and their ability to support, enhance or replace traditional library services; the ability to be an effective spokesperson for Copley Library and USD, and outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

All correspondence, including applications, nominations, and general inquiries, should be e-mailed to the attention of Beverly Brady and David Bellshaw at 3931@imsearch.com. E-mail correspondence is strongly encouraged. Applications should include a letter of interest, CV or resumé, and a separate list of references. All correspondence will be held in strict confidence.

Beverly Brady and David Bellshaw
Isaacson, Miller
649 Mission Street, Suite 500
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415.655.4900
Fax: 415.655.4905



** The University of the San Diego is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination. **