A.J. McFadden Dean of the Claremont Colleges Library

The Claremont Colleges (the Colleges), a distinguished consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges and two graduate institutions, located just outside of Los Angeles, California, seeks the A.J. McFadden Dean, (the Dean) of The Claremont Colleges Library (the Library). Reporting to the chief academic officer of the lead College, Claremont Graduate University, and working with the Colleges’ academic leaders, faculty and library staff, the Dean will oversee the Library and its budget of $11.1 million. The successful candidate will lead the Library in a new era of library governance to support the Colleges’ collective academic missions and provide excellent library services to the consortium community. The Dean will lead in the continued development and advancement of the strategic vision that will ensure that the Library provides a robust and supportive infrastructure to meet the information resource and research needs of its diverse constituencies in the most effective and efficient way possible. The Dean will lead the future redefinition of core library strategy and services and enable a forward looking, service-oriented and exceptionally collaborative culture between the Library and the members of the consortium. This position marks the unique opportunity for an experienced librarian to support the Colleges from a pivotal central setting in a unique academic environment.

Based on the Oxford model the consortium combines the specialization, flexibility and personal attention of a small college with the resources of a university. The undergraduate colleges comprise Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps. The two graduate institutions are the Claremont Graduate University and the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. The consortium dates back to 1925 when Claremont Graduate University was founded in partnership with Pomona College, the oldest of The Claremont Colleges (1887).  All 5 of the undergraduate colleges are ranked in the top 50 of the 2013 US News & World Report rankings of liberal arts colleges, with three in the top 20.

The Claremont Colleges Library, the preeminent academic resource for The Claremont Colleges, is located at the heart of the seven campuses. Committed to fostering intellectual discovery, critical thinking, and life-long learning, the Library ties the academic community to varied cultural and scholarly traditions by offering user-centered services, building collections, developing innovative technologies, and providing an inviting environment for study, collaboration, and reflection.  The Library is supported by a staff that has a commitment to best practices and innovation and to the delivery of exemplary service to the Colleges’ students and faculty.

The new Dean will be coming to The Claremont Colleges Library at a time of significant opportunity, joining a new positioning of the Library within the framework of The Claremont Colleges that brings with it high aspirations and renewed institutional purpose.  In realizing this opportunity the Dean will take the lead to develop and implement a strategic plan and vision for the Library; integrate the Library into the fabric of each of the seven Claremont Colleges; clarify and define the focus of the Library collections; assess the Library’s space, facilities and information technology needs; provide outstanding leadership to a highly-skilled library staff; leverage the Library’s financial resources wisely and pursue additional funding to improve growth and service; and strengthen and expand the Library’s participation in library consortia relationships.

The successful candidate will bring an understanding of and significant experience in addressing the major challenges facing academic research libraries today, including rapid changes in scholarly communication and the storage and delivery of information, creative and efficient use of physical space and the changing role of academic libraries as places, providers of information, and supporters of research and instruction.  The Dean must have the ability to support multiple constituencies (especially faculty, students, and staff) with differing needs and appreciate the need for effective cross-divisional/cross-functional team development.  He/she must have a proven managerial ability in a complex organizational setting, including the capable management of fiscal, human, and physical resources. An ALA accredited MLS degree or equivalent academic preparation is required.

Applicants should send a detailed letter of application and a curriculum vita to 4616@imsearch.com.  Electronic submission of applications and correspondence is strongly preferred.  Inquiries and nominations can be submitted to the same email address or one can contact the search firm representatives at the address or phone number listed: Deborah Hodson or Beverly Brady, 649 Mission Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA  94105-4128. Phone: 415-655-4900.  For more information about The Claremont Colleges, please visit their website: www.claremont.edu.  For more information on The Claremont Colleges Library, see www.libraries.claremont.edu.

The Claremont Colleges are Equal Opportunity Employers.  Women and individuals from racial, ethnic minority, and other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Contact Us: 4616@imsearch.com