Sunday, March 31, 2013

Assistant Dean for Scholarly Communications and Collection Development

This highly visible senior administrative position is one of three assistant deans and reports to the Dean of Libraries/Vice President for Information Technology. The Assistant Dean for Scholarly Communications and Collection Development provides dynamic and visionary leadership, management, planning, policy development, and strategic direction of all aspects for the library-wide scholarly communication activities, including the college liaison program, archives and special collections, and collection development. The Assistant Dean is a member of the Libraries’ executive leadership group and represents the Dean of Libraries as appropriate.  This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead the development and management of library collections and instruction and outreach services within the rapidly evolving environment of higher education.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Primary responsibilities include:
  • Oversees the College Liaisons, Collections, and Archives and Special Collections departments (13 faculty librarians and archivists, 5 staff) and works with the coordinators of these units to develop and carry out strategic initiatives; manages an annual collections budget exceeding $6 million and a collection of more than 2 million volumes.  Negotiates contracts with vendors and consortia on behalf of the Libraries.
  • Leads a team of faculty and staff in designing work processes and services in support of learning, teaching, research, and collections. Implements innovative instruction and outreach models for a diverse and growing undergraduate population in eight academic colleges.
  • Cultivates and promotes new and progressive models of scholarly communication and collection development, including open access, demand-driven acquisitions, data management, and an increased focus on building primary source collections in physical and digital formats.
  • Initiates library-wide discussion on scholarly communication, collection assessment, and outreach liaison activities. Represents the Libraries in campus-wide planning for scholarly communications initiatives, and in local, regional, and national arenas as appropriate.
  • Promotes alternative publishing models and consults on author’s rights. Provides support to librarians engaged in activities related to scholarly communication, open access, and copyright.
  • Maintains currency on emerging library and scholarly information trends and practices.
  • Oversees the production of select statistical and other reports for the Libraries, the university administration, and external organizations as appropriate, including those focused on annual collections expenditures and instruction and outreach activities.
  • Serves on the Libraries’ executive leadership group together with the Assistant Dean of Digital Library and ePublishing Services, the Assistant Dean for Resource Delivery Services, the Dean of Libraries/Vice President for Information Technology, and the Director of Academic Computing and Network Services.
  • Works closely with the Libraries’ executive leadership group and others in the Libraries to assess and enhance service quality, including development of metrics and analysis of data.
  • Participates in library fundraising and donor activities in collaboration with Library Development, the Dean of Libraries, and Archives and Special Collections; works with these units and the Dean to identify potential collection donors, solicit and acquire collections, and develop and use private funds for collections.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required: MLS or equivalent from an ALA accredited program is required with a minimum of five years of experience in administering a major unit within a research library and a strong record of scholarship and service. The successful candidate will have substantial library experience in progressively more responsible positions; experience and knowledge of collections and services that support learning, teaching, and research; knowledge of scholarly communication issues; demonstrated leadership to effect change in a challenging, complex, and evolving information environment; effective supervisory and team building experience; ability to work well with a diverse employee and user community; ability to work in a rapidly changing environment in collaboration with university IT staff; successful experience in working in a collaborative and collegial research library environment; strong analytical and decision making skills; knowledge of the application of information technology; superior interpersonal skills; and experience in effective planning and budgeting.

Preferred: Experience with consortial collaborations, grant writing, and cultivating donor relationships; experience providing services to faculty and graduate students.

RANK AND SALARY:

Faculty status and responsibilities. The successful candidate must have a significant record of scholarly accomplishments and relevant professional service for the minimum appointment of tenured associate professor.  Rank is dependent upon qualifications. Insurance benefits are available for appointments of half-time or greater, and faculty and administrative professionals may select from several options for medical, dental, life, and personal disability insurance, as well as retirement plans.  Full-time faculty and administrative professionals earn 24 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave annually.  Optional deferred compensation.  Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.

UNIVERSITY DESCRIPTION: Colorado State University was established as the land-grant institution of the State of Colorado in 1870.  Student enrollment is approximately 25,000, and the University employs 1,400 academic faculty, 1,900 administrative professionals, and 2,000 classified staff.  Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, a dynamic community with a population of approximately 135,000, and situated 65 miles north of Denver, at the western edge of the Great Plains and at the base of the Rocky Mountains.  Averaging 300 days of sunshine per year, with low humidity and moderate winters, Fort Collins is ideally located for a variety of recreational, cultural, and family activities. 

LIBRARIES DESCRIPTION: William E. Morgan Library, located in the center of the main campus, offers nearly 300,000 square feet of research and learning space and houses a large part of the print collection, which includes books, maps, journals, technical reports, government documents, archives, and manuscripts. There is also a branch library at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. With its diverse collection of resources and a broad range of research services, the Libraries connect the campus community to information and knowledge critical for research, teaching, and learning. 

A wide selection of electronic resources, including specialized databases, electronic journals, and more than 394,000 e-books are available from the desktop 24/7. The Libraries also offers a locally-developed RAPID ILL system that links the collections of more than 200 research libraries around the world. The Libraries have established a  consortial digital repository, Digital Collections of Colorado (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu) that has positioned the library as a central contributor to the management of research and institutional data. Digital collections include thousands of images and primary resource materials that are multidisciplinary in scope. Finding aids and selected images are also available electronically for noted special collections in the Water Resources, Agricultural and Natural Resources, and University  archives.

The University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, and the Greater Western Library Alliance, and has a comprehensive online presence at http://lib.colostate.edu.

TO APPLY:  To apply, send a letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position, plus a current resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references, by e-mail to Sande.Innes@Colostate.edu.  Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled; however, to ensure full consideration, application materials must be received by May 3, 2013 at 5:00pm.  The search may be extended if a suitable candidate is not identified.

Colorado State University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community.  To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment.  Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history.

Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.

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